About Us
About the Place
Nestled in the very heart of West Yorkshire, the borough of Kirklees stands as a vibrant and diverse area that perfectly balances heritage, landscape, and modern ambition. This is a place where tradition meets transformation, where centuries of industrial innovation and cultural richness continue to shape a forward-looking, confident community. Kirklees is uniquely positioned, offering an exceptional blend of location, connectivity, and character that makes it one of the most distinctive areas in the north of England.
From the bustling energy of its towns and urban centres to the tranquillity of its valleys and moorland edges, Kirklees captures the full variety of Yorkshire life. Its historic market towns, each with its own identity and story, sit within a landscape of striking natural beauty, while excellent transport links place Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield all within easy reach. This combination of strategic location and local charm creates both choice and opportunity: a place to live well, to do business, to explore, and to belong. Whether you are drawn by its industrial heritage, its creative spirit, or its future-facing ambitions, Kirklees offers an inspiring setting where people and place come together to thrive.
Towns, Villages & Character
Kirklees is made up of two major centres Huddersfield and Dewsbury, alongside a rich network of other towns and villages such as Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite.
Each place brings its own flavour:
· Huddersfield offers a blend of university life, cultural venues, historic architecture and modern renewal.
· Dewsbury has its market town heritage, an urban frame combining older buildings with regeneration potentials.
· Holmfirth and the valleys offer countryside lifestyle, scenic trails and a strong sense of local community.
· Towns such as Batley and Cleckheaton provide more affordable living options, strong community networks, and direct access to both urban and rural amenities.
What this variety gives is flexibility, whether you're looking for a vibrant town centre, a village on the moors, a commuter base or a local community hub, Kirklees can deliver.
Heritage, Landscape & Regeneration
Kirklees has a deep industrial heritage. The Heavy Woollen District, the textile mills, the canals, the rugged terrain, you’ll find evidence of that past in the built environment, in the brick and stone, in the narrow valleys and in the architecture. It’s a place that has lived through change and is now adapting again.
The landscape variety is a real strength: moorland views, scenic rural landscapes, rivers and valleys, walking and cycling routes. The shifting landscape gives place to different lifestyles all within one borough.
At the same time, regeneration is clearly underway. Strategic investments are shaping towns and supporting new growth, in line with the Council’s ambition. Whether town-centre renewal, transport hubs, housing growth or cultural assets, Kirklees is positioning itself for the next chapter.
Location & Transport
Kirklees occupies a strategic position in the Leeds–Manchester–Sheffield corridor, making it one of the key places in the North of England for both living and working. The borough is well-linked via rail and road: major routes and rail-links connect Huddersfield and Dewsbury into the wider region, enabling relatively swift journeys to Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and beyond.
Moreover, the incoming transport and infrastructure agenda (including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s programmes) is shifting the dial on connectivity, meaning work and economic opportunities are set to grow which enhances the appeal of living here.
About the Council
Working for Kirklees Council means engaging in an organisation that combines scale, ambition and purpose. It’s a place where the work you do matters for people, communities and place and where you’ll be part of a values-driven organisation at a pivotal moment in its future.
Political, Governance & Regional Context
Kirklees Council is a metropolitan borough council and a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). It comprises 66 councillors representing 23 wards across the borough.
· Labour – 23 seats
· Conservative – 16 seats
· Liberal Democrat- 10 seats
· Independent – 7 seat
· Community Alliance – 6 seats
· Green – 4 seats
· Kirklees Community Independents Group – 3 seats
As a major local authority with links into the regional economy, transport system, housing market and growth infrastructure, Kirklees operates at a scale that offers senior professionals visibility and breadth of influence. You will be working not just locally but in a place tied into the wider Yorkshire and Northern agenda.
Our Council
The Our Council programme at Kirklees Council has been instrumental in strengthening and refreshing the organisation’s culture, creating a positive and unified way of working across all teams and services. Guided by seven key principles: getting the basics right, focusing on customers, being kind, inclusive and proud, living within our means, collaborating and connecting, taking responsibility, and listening and responding, the programme helps everyone understand their contribution to the council’s shared goals.
It has fostered a sense of pride, purpose, and connection among employees, encouraging openness, collaboration, and accountability. By embedding these values into everyday practice, Our Council has built a supportive and motivated workforce that delivers high-quality, efficient, and people-focused services, reinforcing the strong, positive culture that defines Kirklees Council today.
Vision, Values & Behaviours
Kirklees Council’s vision is: “a district that combines a strong, sustainable economy with a great quality of life – leading to thriving communities, growing businesses, high prosperity and low inequality where people enjoy better health throughout their lives.”
Its core values are:
· Kindness: We are kind so that our behaviour makes each other feel included, happy and well.
· Inclusion: We provide equal access to opportunities and resources for all people; we remove barriers, discrimination and prejudice.
· Pride: We work with pride to achieve positive outcomes for colleagues, citizens and our places.
On the behaviour side, the Council emphasises honesty, supportiveness, communication, respect, flexibility and positivity.
In practical terms: this is a culture that values how things are done, not just what is done.
Strategic Ambition –
Council Plan 2025-26
Kirklees Council’s most recent Council Plan (2025-26) sets out clear outcomes and priorities.
Shared outcomes include:
· Shaped by People - We make our places what they are.
· Best Start - Children have the best start in life.
· Well - People in Kirklees are as well as possible for as long as possible.
· Independent - People in Kirklees live independently and have control over their lives.
· Aspire and Achieve - People in Kirklees have aspiration to achieve their ambitions through education, training, employment, and lifelong learning.
· Sustainable Economy - Kirklees has sustainable economic growth and provides good employment for and with communities and businesses.
· Safe and Cohesive - People in Kirklees live in cohesive communities, feel safe, and are protected from harm.
· Clean and Green - People in Kirklees experience a high quality, clean, sustainable, and green environment.
In short: the Council unites people, place, economy, inclusion, sustainability and delivery into one coherent narrative.
Delivery Agenda & Why This Matters for You
From a leadership perspective, the scale of ambition is significant: regeneration of town centres, a drive for inclusive growth, transport and infrastructure upgrades, housing investment and digital service transformation are all high on the agenda. For example:
· The Place Directorate plan emphasises sustainable and inclusive economic growth, housing regeneration, transport strategy, infrastructure improvements and town-centre renewal.
· The Council is committed to an “efficient and effective” outcome, meaning it expects services to be well-run, smart, customer-centred and forward-looking.
· It is actively working to ensure its planning, housing and economic activities align with its inclusive economy strategy and the Council Plan.
Kirklees combines opportunity, scale and a strong sense of place. It’s a borough with real character, shaped by its industrial heritage, natural landscape and diverse communities and one that continues to evolve through regeneration and investment.
For those looking to build a rewarding career in local government, Kirklees Council offers the scope to make a visible difference. It’s an organisation with clear priorities, regional influence, and a values-led culture that supports collaboration and personal growth. The work is challenging and meaningful, with the chance to deliver real outcomes for people and places.
Professionally, you’ll find an environment that values expertise and initiative, where leaders are trusted to act and supported to succeed. Personally, you’ll find a place that offers quality of life, good connectivity and a strong sense of community.
Kirklees is a place where you can do important work, contribute to change, and be part of a council that is ambitious for its people and its places.