A fantastic day at #PlaceUnwrapped, exploring what it takes to unlock the full potential of place-based leadership & create conditions for lasting change. Thanks to our speakers, & everyone who joined us for sharing ideas & challenging thinking throughout the day.

What really stands in the way of place-based working? Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Exec of LGiU challenges us to look beyond structures & ask how power, incentives and institutional behaviours can keep us trapped in "pilot limbo", rather than enabling lasting change. #PlaceUnwrapped

How do we combine national ambition with local innovation? Nigel Keohane, Head of Strategy at the Cabinet Office reflecting on the test and learn approach, building strong alliances and connecting top-down reform with bottom-up change. #PlaceUnwrapped

Helen Bailey, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Sutton, asks how we empower people to make the right decisions for their place, exploring the importance of holding creative tension and giving people the confidence to act, even when conditions aren't perfect. #PlaceUnwrapped

For Mark Rogers, Interim Chief Executive of Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority, effective partnership working starts with relationships. Building trust and social capital creates the conditions for innovation, resilience and long-term collaboration. #PlaceUnwrapped

Catherine Howe, Chief Executive of Dorset Council shares her experience of organisational change, reflecting on the importance of building integrated organisations, investing in prevention and creating a shared culture that puts people and place at the heart of public services. #PlaceUnwrapped

'The Place Agenda Unwrapped' is about to begin. Today we're exploring some of the biggest changes reshaping public services & what it will take to turn ambition into lasting change. Thanks to Arcadis for sponsoring today's event & hosting us and their amazing venue in London today. #PlaceUnwrapped

Congratulations to the latest Future Vision cohort, who are completing the programme today! A year of challenge, reflection, new perspectives and lasting connections. We can't wait to see how you'll use your learning to make a difference in the places and communities you serve.

Three great days at #LGAConf26. Thanks to everyone who visited the photo exhibition, joined our breakfast event and shared their ideas. If we didn't get the chance to speak, here's a snapshot of how the Leadership Centre is supporting places through change. 👇

It's been fantastic to see delegates taking time to explore the exhibition & share stories of the people who've inspired them in their own careers. Thanks to Thinking Place & @local.gov.uk for bringing these stories to life. If you're at #LGAConf26, do stop by & chat with the Leadership Centre team.

Conferences often focus on policies & structures. But lasting change is always about people. That's exactly what 'Inspiring People who make our Place' at #LGAConf26 celebrates and we're proud to be sponsoring the photo exhibition this year.

At the final session, participants reflected on their growth throughout & considered how they would carry their commitments to action forward. Congratulations to all who took part and made the programme possible. Register your interest here in attending the next programme here: shorturl.at/PkF0B

This week marked the final session of the latest Boosting Middle Leaders programme, which we deliver in collaboration with @local.gov.uk. Councillors & officers came together to explore real system challenges, leadership, collaboration & change. www.local.gov.uk/our-support/...

How do you apply leadership learning when it really matters? Rachel Dukes from Leeds City Council shares how a Leadership Centre programme for the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities shaped the approach she brought into an interview for a new role. www.leadershipcentre.org.uk/doing-things...

Fantastic to see both cohorts grow in confidence, perspective and connection throughout the programme. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible, and congratulations to all participants.

We’re delighted to celebrate our first two cohorts completing the Developing Strategic Leaders programme in the South West & South East. Created through a collaboration between the Leadership Centre and Solace, the programme supports emerging senior leaders to lead confidently in complex systems.

Huge thanks to colleagues at MIT and Suffolk University for their openness & generosity throughout the week. Thanks also to the British Consulate General Boston and Boston City Hall colleagues for sharing insight into diplomacy & civic leadership.

As our week in Boston draws to a close, our Future Vision Cohort 13 has been exploring leadership in complex systems, with time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Suffolk University shaping thinking on systems, AI, governance and change.

Delighted to see this kind of feedback. Two cohorts of our Developing Strategic Leaders programme, run in collaboration with Solace, concluded this week across the South East and South West. It was great to see such open, thoughtful groups reflecting, challenging and learning together.

🌏 Across the Atlantic and looking to the future! Our latest Future Vision Cohort is in Boston this week exploring leadership through a global lens. From innovation & civic leadership to AI, health equity & organisational change, the visit is designed to challenge thinking & build new insight.

We’re pleased to share that Max Wide has been appointed our Interim Chief Executive. Max brings extensive experience in transformation, leadership development & public service reform, alongside a deep understanding of our work and values. Read more: www.leadershipcentre.org.uk/leadership-c...

Thank you to all our contributors and hosts who shaped honest, stretching conversations. As we look ahead to our next module in Boston, USA, the question stays with us: how do we use power responsibly, relationally and courageously?

Last week our most recent Future Vision cohort gathered in Birmingham to explore power, relationships and cultural competence, and to reflect on what it truly means to be a 21st Century Public Servant. Over 3 days we explored how power operates within systems and how theory translates into practice.

What does it really take to become a community council in practice, not just in principle? Test Valley Borough Council invested in a bold, whole-organisation leadership journey to shape a genuinely community-led future. Find out more: www.leadershipcentre.org.uk/preparing-le...

We explored systems leadership, member and officer relationships, and resilience, with rich and open discussion throughout. Thank you to Shokat Lal, Chief Executive of Sandwell Council, for sharing such honest insights into the realities of leading a council.

The fourth cohort of Boosting Middle Leaders, run in collaboration with @local.gov.uk, is underway. An impressive group of councillors and officers coming together to step back from day to day pressures and reflect on what leadership is asking of us right now.

What happens when senior leaders create space to step back from the day-to-day & focus on how they lead together? Sheffield City Council worked with us on a year-long programme to strengthen collective leadership for Future Sheffield. Find out more 👇 www.leadershipcentre.org.uk/scc/

Participants explored narrative in leadership, place & systems, learned from leaders across North Wales, visited sites which brought theory into practice & shared their own public narratives. Huge thanks to all our hosts & contributors. We're already looking forward to the next module!

Last week we gathered for the latest module of Future Vision, spending two inspiring days at Gladstone’s Library and a final day at @wrexhamuni.bsky.social. The focus was on Public Narrative & Movement Building; exploring how to use story as a force for influence, mobilisation & change.

As the year comes to a close, we’d like to thank everyone we've had the opportunity to work with in 2025 - we’re proud of all that we’ve achieved together. Wishing you a peaceful festive season and a Happy New Year from all of us at the Leadership Centre.