The LGA can help councillors lead change
The LGA’s Transformation Leadership Essentials course was a game-changer for me.
I attended the February 2025 course because I was keen to increase my knowledge of introducing change and seeing it through to implementation in different areas of the council. I thought this would be beneficial to my role as a councillor, especially now, as councils face the challenge of local government reorganisation.
The course shifted my perspective on what true transformation means – not just cutting costs, but creating a council that operates more efficiently, delivers better outcomes, and genuinely improves resident satisfaction.
I learned the critical role of being a transformational leader and how to inspire that mindset across the council.
The course challenged me to reflect on how innovative we already are and where we can push further. It reinforced the importance of clearly communicating the ‘why’ behind transformation, both internally and to our stakeholders, because without that clarity, change loses momentum.
Another key takeaway was the scrutiny aspect of transformation: why it matters and how to do it well.
Real-world examples brought the theory to life, showing what successful transformation looks like in practice.
Networking with colleagues from across the country was invaluable; hearing their experiences – what worked and what didn’t – gave me practical insights to accelerate change in my own council.
Using the knowledge I gained on the Transformation Leadership Essentials course, I was better able to approach challenges by using the benefit of other councillors’ hindsight on what worked and what didn’t, and using those insights to expedite transformation in an efficient manner.
Overall, this course didn’t just teach me concepts – it equipped me with the tools and confidence to tackle challenges head on. If you’re serious about driving meaningful change, I highly recommend it.
The LGA’s Transformation Programme
Councils are undertaking transformation to fundamentally change their systems, processes and skills to achieve measurable improvements in efficiency, effectiveness and resident satisfaction.
The LGA’s transformation offer gives councils direct support with learning and development opportunities, helping boost capacity and capability within local government.
We aim to help authorities achieve their transformation goals, deliver efficiencies and drive continuous improvement across a range of service areas.
With our transformation programme, we are offering councils:
- partners and peer support
- learning and skills
- data-driven tools and benchmarking.
Responding to feedback from the sector, the programme also features a range of councillor-focused development opportunities.
We also run a quarterly Councillor Transformation Network, which gives councillors a safe space to network, discuss issues and trends affecting councils, and hear from each other and guests on new policies, programmes, and practices. To sign up, email transformation@local.gov.uk.
See www.local.gov.uk/transformation for more on our support offer.
- The next Transformation Leadership Essentials course takes place from 7-8 February at the Hilton Sheffield City. For more information, please contact transformation@local.gov.uk and, to sign up, contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk