Friendly competition showcases officers’ leadership potential
The Local Government Challenge – the LGA’s leadership development programme for council officers in England and Wales – is once again approaching its final stages, with the 2026 programme showcasing the creativity and leadership potential of 10 officers from across the country.
Announced in December, this year’s cohort was selected to take part in five real-life, council-hosted challenges designed to tackle pressing issues while developing the vital skills needed for future leadership.
As the programme has progressed, participants have already completed four of the five challenges, each set in a different council and focused on a distinct strategic priority.
The journey began in January at Lambeth, where contestants arrived without prior knowledge of the brief, heightening the sense of anticipation.
Grounded in the Lambeth 2030 Borough Plan, the challenge centred on how digital innovation and artificial intelligence could support inclusive growth, equity and long-term sustainability.
Team Athena proposed ‘Future Ready Lambeth’, a values-led organisational development approach placing workforce confidence, governance and accountability at the heart of digital transformation.
Team Paradigm, meanwhile, focused on strengthening culture and leadership capability through its ‘From basics, to bold, to gold’ model. In a closely contested decision, Team Athena’s strategic clarity and emphasis on governance secured the first win.
In February, the cohort travelled to Torbay for the ‘Coastal Vision Challenge’, focusing on uniting the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham under a shared identity while improving connectivity and environmental quality.
Drawing on the Torbay Local Plan and wider destination strategies, both teams presented ambitious solutions.
Team Paradigm’s ‘Three Towns, One Bay’ proposal, with its emphasis on neighbourhood working and consistent infrastructure such as wayfinding and digital platforms, ultimately took the win.
Team Athena’s ‘Connected Coastal Communities’ proposal also impressed, particularly its community-led approach and flagship ‘On Your Doorstep’ initiative to improve access and engagement.
March saw the competition move to Stockport, where the focus shifted to communication and engagement during the borough’s major regeneration programme. Contestants were challenged to develop a unified narrative that could build trust and shared ownership among the borough’s residents.
Both teams proposed compelling, people-centred approaches, but once again Team Paradigm secured victory, with the competition’s judges favouring its practical, deliverable ideas and clear implementation roadmap.
The fourth challenge, held in April at Warwickshire County Council, turned attention to the council’s Creating Opportunities programme and how the council could further tackle inequality and improve social mobility.
Split into two briefs, teams explored ways to strengthen support for care leavers and expand opportunity across priority communities.
Both teams developed proposals to create more joined-up, accessible systems, with a strong emphasis on partnership working, practical delivery and improving long-term outcomes for residents, with Team Athena coming out on top.
Now anticipation is building for the one final challenge remaining in June at Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Four finalists will be selected to present individual proposals at the LGA’s annual conference in Bournemouth (7-9 July), where the overall winner will be announced – book your place on the LGA website.
- Find out more about the event and register your interest for next year’s competition