Next Generation Labour alumni experiences

ClIr Mahroof Hussain MBE
Rotheram

I had the privilege along with several others of being on the first Next Generation programme in 2006. The Next Generation programme differentiates itself from other leadership courses because it equips councillors with political skills and not just management skills. After all it's the Labour politics that gave us the desire to represent our communities.

As a recently elected Cabinet member on Rotherham Borough Council, the Next Generation programme gave me the perfect opportunity to help develop my skills for a senior political leadership role. Learning from visiting speakers, political learning sets and the collective knowledge and skills of the cohort certainly developed my political acumen and gave me a bigger and better understanding of how others approach potentially difficult and sensitive political situations in a friendly and supportive environment. Networking has proved to be extremely valuable in developing me politically and by gaining access to senior party members and discussing policy with policymakers has raised my profile within the Labour Party. The networks give me access to councillors, activists and senior political figures when needed. We held high profile meetings with Government Ministers and council leaders at Party Conference where we able to share our personal experiences and contribute towards the debate on the Councillors Commission and Local Government White Paper. We also developed some of our own proposals on some of the policy discussions and presented them to the Local Government Minister.

Since graduating from the Next Generation programme I have been elected to the Labour Party's National Policy Forum, received an MBE in the 2008 New Years Honours List for services to Local Government and become a candidate in the 2009 European Elections representing Yorkshire and Humber. I am now in my third year as a Cabinet member on Rotherham Borough Council. The desire to help people is what drives me, politics is the vehicle that allows that drive to be realised. The Next Generation programme has given me the necessary tools to step up and take on those leadership roles. I would recommend the Next Generation programme for any aspiring local government politician. The contacts, networks and friendships you develop certainly come in useful when carrying out your duties as a councillor in your ward or your council.

 

Cllr Florence Nosegbe
Lambeth

I participated on the first cohort of the Next Generation programme shortly after my election in 2006 and this has contributed to my development as a councillor. I currently work in local government and so have some knowledge about the different structures and the relationship between councillors and officers. I had also participated in training events with former councillors in the run-up to my election and following on from Lambeth Labour’s success at the 2006 election; we had a big task of transforming a failing council and serving the people that elected us. There was not enough time to look at individual councillor development beyond the courses provide by the council. The Next Generation programme provided me with an opportunity to gain new skills needed to assess big political problems. I have learnt more about myself and developed my leadership skills. My enhanced qualities have enabled me to tackle important political decisions which are an integral part of my current role.

Next Generation gave me the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and examine some of the barriers which councillors face in trying to achieve political and professional development. The learning sets and 360 feedback sessions gave me a better understanding regarding other people’s perception of me – something which is very important when dealing with both residents and people in the local community. The residential session’s element of the programme was very useful and I was able to meet key local government Ministers and leaders. I had the opportunity to share my own personal experiences and contribute towards the debate on the Local Government White Paper. As a cohort, we were also able to present some of our own proposals on some of the policy discussions and advice on support for councillors from the main political parties. As a councillor representing an inner London Borough, it was very useful discussing issues with colleagues from other London Boroughs and from across the UK. I am now able to discuss issues with other colleagues, sharing examples of best practices and drawing upon other’s opinions on an issue which I may discuss with my own colleagues in Lambeth. The programme has enabled me to build on my confidence and develop my public speaking skills.

When I participated on the programme I was the Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Committee. I have taken on a leadership role on the council and since 2007 I have been the Deputy cabinet member for young people. I led the campaign to elect the first ever Youth Mayor in Lambeth’s history in November 2007 and have represented the council on a number of internal and external events, including a session about increasing BAME representation at the LGA Conference. I am currently taking part as one of the borough ambassadors for London Council’s ‘Be a Councillor’ campaign. This campaign is aimed at increasing representation from London’s diverse community into council chambers across the capital, in the run up to the London 2010 Local elections.

The Next Generation programme is an excellent networking opportunity and I still keep in contact with other colleagues on the course and meet up regularly. I am a firm believer in continuous learning and personal development and I would recommend this programme to any Labour councillor who is ambitious about having the skills to become a more effective and confident elected representative.

 

Cllr Nick Small
Liverpool

Having first been elected as a councillor in the all-out elections in 2004 and reelected two years later, I took part in the first Next Generation programme in 2006/07. I found the whole programme really useful and a good investment of my time, but three things really stand out.

First of all, there is the opportunity to network with other councillors in a similar position to you and to meet with local government opinion formers. The participants on the first Next Generation programme came from many different parts of the country, different types of authorities and had diverse backgrounds, experiences and ambitions, but everybody could learn something from each other.

Next Generation also gives participants access to the movers and shakers in local government like council leaders, government advisers, policy makers and senior councillors. I have keep in touch with lots of people from the programme and still find it useful to catch up to talk through things which come up. Secondly, the programme’s focus on political skills is unique to Next Generation. This is the only course I have seen which unapologetically gives those taking part the practical skills you need to succeed in an intense political environment. I was able to take back a lot of what I learnt from the programme and use it in a very practical way to make me a better councillor.

Finally, the action learning sets were invaluable. The issues I brought to my group was how to use my time better to focus on certain aspects of being a councillor I wanted to develop and how to get a better work-life balance. I was able to talk these issues through with other participants on the programme in a very easy, informal atmosphere. It can be quite demanding for councillors to give up their weekends to take part in a year long programme like Next Generation, but I would have no doubt in recommending the programme to others.