Penna has sponsored The MJ Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of the Year Award for several years, and it's been a privilege to see so many enthusiastic SLT's submit applications and deliver presentations for this coveted award.

This year was similar in many ways but in one it was starkly different – the dynamic of the inspiring and humbling stories of leadership through the pandemic.

Our finalists had broken down barriers in their organisations, the public sector and communities, and delivered exceptional work at pace with kindness, equity and humility.

Local government deserves an award for its work during COVID – I hope a big ‘thank you' can suffice for now.

It was great to be back in person judging and to feel the passion from our six finalists: Telford and Wrekin, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth City, South Ribble and Chorley, West Lindsey, and Wigan councils.

Our SLT finalists had common strengths – from creating compelling strategic visions, leading from the front, enabling innovation and collaboration and having a grip of strong performance and financial management, to creating effective partnerships, and making a real impact for their communities.

Not surprisingly, there was a greater focus on inequalities, diversity and inclusion, transparency, performance management and organisation development. Having heard and tested our finalists, we were satisfied this was a deserving and quality shortlist of SLTs. Congratulations to them all. But there is only one winner, who I look forward to announcing on 24 June at The MJ Awards.

Julie Towers is managing director of Penna

Julie.towers@penna.com

This article is sponsored content for The MJ