Ten officers are taking on the LGA’s latest Local Government Challenge
The LGA’s popular competition, Local Government Challenge, is a development programme for aspiring local government leaders.
The programme takes a cohort of 10 officers to five real-life challenges at councils across the country. It culminates in a final event at the LGA’s annual conference, in Liverpool (1-3 July), where the four finalists will pitch project proposals of their own design to delegates and a judging panel.
They will be vying for the prestigious £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship, which enables the winner to fulfil their proposal back at their home council.
For the challenges, the officers work in teams and are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, putting forward fresh ideas and perspectives on the real-life issues with which the host council is grappling – all the while establishing a network of peers for the future.
The 2025 cohort represents varying levels and service areas from across local government, and the programme will broaden knowledge and hone the key skills required to succeed as a leader.
You can find out more about our new cohort of LG Challenge hopefuls below, and we can announce that the first challenge will be hosted by Buckinghamshire Council in January.
Cllr Martin Tett, Buckinghamshire’s Leader, said: “The challenge is a fantastic chance for participants to stretch themselves. I am a firm believer that councils should take every opportunity to learn from each other as part of how we continue to develop as organisations and as a sector as a whole.”
The Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship has kindly been supported by Essex and Kent County Councils since the inception of the LG Challenge in 2009, in memory of Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, a former Leader of Kent County Council and Chairman of the LGA.
Follow the journey of the LG Challenge hopefuls on the LGA’s YouTube channel, and on LinkedIn.
Mike Campbell
Senior Transformation Programme Manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest
“I applied because I am eager to test my strengths and develop areas that will help me become a more impactful, modern public servant. I look forward to learning from the innovative work other councils are doing, and bringing those insights back to benefit the residents of Waltham Forest.”
Angelo Da Costa Mengowako
Commissioning Officer, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
“This is a unique chance to delve into diverse local issues across the country, promoting collaborative problem-solving with peers. I am excited to work alongside this year’s cohort to identify and implement solutions that enhance our communities, deepening my understanding and practical application of public policy.”
Adeel Hussain
Registration and Nationality Services Manager and Proper Officer, Surrey County Council
“The LG Challenge presents an exciting and ambitious step in my journey towards senior leadership within local government. It is a unique opportunity to develop critical leadership skills, test innovative ideas, and contribute meaningfully to local government’s evolving landscape.”
Rebecca Dentith
Business Change Analyst, North Yorkshire Council
“LG Challenge is a unique opportunity to work with, and learn from, people across different authorities and services areas, and to work collaboratively to address real issues affecting the public sector. I look forward to learning from my cohort and furthering my knowledge and understanding.”
Amy Lipley
Senior Policy and Insights Officer, Basildon Borough Council
“I applied for the LG Challenge to further develop my leadership and innovation skills in a high-stakes environment. The opportunity to tackle real-life challenges across diverse councils excites me, as I believe it will enhance my ability to create impactful policies and empower communities.”
Shohum Dave
Senior Auditor and Fraud Analyst, Fareham Borough Council
“I applied to the LG Challenge as I saw it as a great opportunity to help me develop my leadership and problem-solving skills. I thought it would be a great way to meet new people and to discover innovative ways of dealing with challenges that can benefit Fareham Borough Council and the local community.”
Jess Finnin
Cohesive Communities Manager, London Borough of Havering
“The breadth of services we provide with the resources available can sometimes be nothing short of monumental. Taking part will be an opportunity to tackle things head on and will give the opportunity to take that learning and those new connections back with me.”
Aoife O’Gorman
Regeneration and Place Programme Officer, Warwickshire County Council
“Visiting councils and tackling shared issues with a team drawn from across the country is a fantastic opportunity to engage with new ways of thinking, and to learn from each other. Above all, though, the LG Challenge seemed like a fun way to gain experience and push myself out of my comfort zone!”
Harriet Vitty
Lawyer – Education and Special Educational Needs, Liverpool City Council
“I applied to take part because it sounded like a unique and exciting opportunity to gain experience and acquire skills in areas that are not currently part of my day job. I consider that the LG Challenge will provide me with invaluable experience, making me a better local government lawyer.”
Helen Potter
Insight Manager, Telford & Wrekin Council
“I applied for the LG Challenge as a unique opportunity to get an insight into the work of other councils, to push myself out of my comfort zone into new challenges, gain inspiration from seeing other leaders in action, and to experience situations that I wouldn’t encounter in my day-to-day role.”
- Find out more about Local Government Challenge.