Leeds Castle Leadership Programme

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

Local Government Leadership'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 their learning so it can be applied to participants' real-life issues.

The level of skills and capacity attained by the cohorts will raise the bar for the entire sector, not just within their local authorities but across their localities. It will fundamentally shift their thinking on leadership so they can create great places to live and improve the lives of local people. Equally, the collective impact of raising the leadership abilities of such a cohort will also boost the reputation and influence of local government with central government partners and the general public – not only invigorating performance, but broadening the scope and impact of their work.

On the programme, 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 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 residential course the programme also includes (if the cohorts wish it) a short stint abroad to explore a tough leadership issue.

The programme has proved so popular that the seventh cohort is now recruited and will take place over 10 days between June and November 2010.

Leeds Castle Alumni

The programme alumni are a group of 105 senior leaders and chief executives who completed the programme between March 2007 and November 2009. The alumni have met a number of times since the programme's inception, to refresh the skills learnt on the programme, work on topical issues and spend time strengthening their network of top political and managerial leaders in local government. Issues explored include the leader-chief executive relationship, the future role of local government and changing the relationship between councils and their residents.

Further events are planned for September and November 2010.

For more information contact Virlina Choquette on 0207 187 7382 or Virlina.choquette [at] localleadership.gov.uk.