Local Authority Leadership Development
Equip your leaders to deliver better services, navigate change and inspire teams.
Reed Learning partners with local authorities to deliver impactful leadership development for managers, heads of service, and directors. Whether you're driving transformation, improving service delivery, or building leadership capability across your organisation, we offer tailored programmes that meet the unique challenges of public sector leadership.
What we offer
We provide a flexible portfolio of leadership development services for councils, including:
Multi-module programmes for first-line, middle and senior managers
Designed to support transformation, cultural change and service improvement
Delivered in partnership with expert facilitators and sector specialists
1:1 coaching for senior leaders and directors
Team coaching to improve collaboration and strategic alignment
Delivered by accredited coaches with public sector experience
Short, high-impact sessions on topics such as:
Leading through change
Inclusive leadership
Strategic decision-making
Resilience and wellbeing
Co-designed with your HR and OD teams
Tailored to your council’s values, priorities and leadership frameworks
Can include diagnostics, action learning sets, and peer networks
We save councils time and money, and strengthen their L&D engagement, reporting and compliance
Outsourced booking and management of all training
Consolidated monthly invoicing with detailed management information
Outcomes you can expect
Stronger leadership capability across services
Our programmes are designed to build confident, values-led leaders who can navigate complexity and drive service excellence. Through tailored learning journeys, experiential workshops, and behavioural profiling, leaders develop the skills and mindset needed to lead with impact across diverse service areas. Croydon Council saw measurable improvements in leadership trust and capability across 430 managers – proof that strategic investment in leadership works.
Improved team performance and engagement
We equip leaders with practical tools to motivate, develop, and support their teams. From managing conflict and wellbeing to fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures, our approach helps leaders unlock potential and boost morale. Croydon’s managers reported increased confidence and engagement, with sessions rated 8.8/10 for facilitation and 8.3/10 for value.
Greater confidence in managing change and complexity
Change is constant – and our programmes prepare leaders to embrace it. We focus on emotional intelligence, resilience, and the psychology of change, enabling leaders to guide their teams through uncertainty with clarity and compassion. Croydon’s transformation journey demonstrated how targeted development can shift mindsets and build change-ready leadership.
Enhanced alignment with council values and strategic goals
Every programme is co-created to reflect your organisation’s unique values and strategic priorities. We translate these into actionable leadership behaviours, ensuring cultural alignment and strategic delivery. Our work with public sector partners shows how bespoke leadership development can embed values and drive meaningful organisational change.
How to get started
Explore Options – Speak to one of our public sector specialists
Co-Design Your Programme – Tailor content, format and outcomes
Deliver & Evaluate – Training delivered by expert facilitators, with impact measured
Delivery formats
In-Person – At your offices or a dedicated venue
Virtual – Live online sessions
Blended – Combine digital and face-to-face learning
We adapt delivery to suit your workforce, geography and budget.
Pricing
We offer flexible pricing based on:
Cohort size
Delivery format
Level of customisation
Trusted by local authorities across England
Our experience across these councils gives us deep insight into the challenges and opportunities facing local government leaders.
We’ve partnered with:
Case Study: Croydon Council
Reed Learning was selected as a strategic partner to support Croydon’s five-year transformation plan. Working with Passe-Partout and the Local Government Association, we delivered a bespoke 10-module programme for 430 middle managers, focused on human-centred leadership, resilience and operational effectiveness.
We selected Reed Learning as our strategic partner due to their expertise in workforce development and alignment with our values.
Chief People Officer, Croydon Council
You can find out about the Invest programme in this short video:
Frequently asked questions
We provide a range of programmes designed specifically for councils, including leadership development for senior officers, councillors, and emerging leaders. Each programme focuses on practical skills and strategic thinking to help local authorities deliver better outcomes for their communities.
We also offer a wide range of 'off-the-shelf- courses that can be adapted. Click here to find out more.
Absolutely. We work closely with you to understand your priorities - whether that’s transformation, governance, or community engagement - and design a programme that aligns with your objectives. Customisation ensures your investment delivers measurable impact.
The case study of our work with Croydon gives an example of this. Click here to find out more.
If you are looking to utilise your Apprenticeship Levy the best place to start would be a conversation with our dedicated Apprenticeship Team. We’ll guide you through the process to make it simple and compliant. To book a meeting enquire here.
We have the option of accrediting courses through the Chartered Management Institute. We also offer a wide range of professional qualifications and apprenticeships. To find out more click here.
Flexibility is key. We offer in-person workshops, fully virtual programmes, and blended learning options to suit your workforce and operational needs. This means you can choose the format that minimises disruption while maximising engagement.
Our expert team can give advice on what formats will translate into the greatest impact.
We use robust evaluation methods, including feedback, performance metrics, and organisational impact assessments. This ensures you can demonstrate ROI and justify your investment to stakeholders.
Recent examples include Investors in People survey metrics and utilising SHL OPQ tools.
Our programmes cater to both elected members and officers, with tailored content for each audience. We also offer joint sessions to foster collaboration and shared understanding across leadership teams.
Programmes range from short, intensive workshops to longer-term development pathways. We’ll recommend the right structure based on your goals, resources, and timelines.
Start a conversation with our team.
