Barry Quirk, chief executive of Lewisham Council and chairman of SOLACE, said: “The Leeds Castle Leadership Programme is the best idea on local government leadership to emerge in the past decade.”

The Leadership Centre's unique Leeds Castle Leadership Programme takes good leaders and by supporting their development, increases the leadership capacity of the sector and its ability to improve the lives of local people. 

It targets chief executives and senior politicians in local government, customising the learning so participants can apply the knowledge to their real-life issues.

The level of skills and capacity attained by the cohorts will raise the bar for the entire sector, within their local authorities and across their localities, fundamentally shifting their thinking on leadership so they can create great places to live that in turn improve the lives of citizens.

Equally the collective impact of raising the leadership abilities of such a set of people will also boost the reputation and influence of local government with central government partners and the general public – not only invigorating performance, but its scope and impact.

It has instantly been catapulted onto the world stage as the faculty delivering the programme is made up of the best in the world.

The programme runs over ten days (split into three blocks) and includes contributions from key players who are dealing with major issues of the day as well as pertinent scenarios of the future, and the chance to work on live major policy issues.

Designed as an intensive UK residentail course the programme also includes (if the cohorts wish it) a short stint abroad to explore a tough leadership issue.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the link between leadership, council success and locality. They will also explore personal insights that will raise their self-awareness and emotional intelligence, increasing their ability to lead effectively.

They will be exposed to some of the best thinking and research about leadership, and to leaders in other sectors and other countries and the challenges with which they deal.

The programme has proved so popular that two further programmes are planned for this year:

• Cohorts 1, 2 & 3 took place between March 2007 - March 2008 with an alumni event taking place on May 6-7 2008.  
• Cohort 4: Ten days split over May, July and October
• Cohort 4: Ten days split over November, January and March