Run by the Local Government Association (LGA), the Local Government Challenge is an annual competition that tests the leadership skills of the next generation of top executives and celebrates the amazing talent in the sector. Over six months, ten local government officers undertake five real-life challenges at councils, culminating in the final at the LGA's annual conference. In this final, four finalists pitch their project proposals to delegates and a judging panel. The winner takes away the prestigious Bruce-Lockhart scholarship worth up to £10,000.

Our 2020 cohort began the competition at the start of that year, completing two of the five challenges.

The first challenge took place in February at Surrey CC, where the contestants developed a business case to help mitigate the effects of climate change through land use and consumer habits as part of Surrey's ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050. Team captains Zoe Galvin (Kent CC) for Team Resilience and Joe Kinsella (Calderdale DC) for Team Trailblazers led the first challenge and, it was Trailblazers who came out on top. However, contestants from both teams received personal commendations from the judges.

In March, we set off to Pembrokeshire CC for our second challenge and first ever in Wales. The contestants developed a plan to support post-16 learners to ensure that ‘every learner achieves more than they thought possible'. Captains for this challenge were, Emma Shepherd (previously Croydon LBC) for Team Trailblazers and Jack Kennedy (Basingstoke and Deane BC) for Team Resilience. The judges named Team Resilience as the winner for their focus on the aspirations of the students and their proposed digital platform.

In light of the pandemic, we had to pause the programme with the score tied at 1-1 between the teams. We're now excited to announce that as national restrictions continue to ease, we will be restarting the programme in February 2022.

We are also delighted to provide an update from our reigning champion, Rob Comber and the transformation and innovation team at Kent CC, on his winning Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship project ‘Summer Slide'.

He says: ‘Cast your mind back to summer 2020. If you worked in a school, your pupils had suffered the most turbulent academic year in post-war memory, and you were exhausted. While some schools were looking to the summer break with huge relish, others knew there were families in their community for whom the six weeks ahead presented a daunting prospect. We developed Summer Slide to support students at a greater disadvantage.

‘Originally the concept focused on summer learning loss but as the pandemic progressed, it became clear that the priorities for any summer programme would be for social interaction and mental wellbeing.

‘Two schools in Dover piloted a two-week summer school with a lead facilitator running activities for the most vulnerable children, ranging from cricket coaching, nature walks and mental health workshops to creating an art installation and even a juggling workshop! Year 11 pupils in both schools were employed to act as mentors and support with the activities. We also ensured the children were fed every day with a balanced, nutritionally beneficial diet provided by a local caterer.

‘One pupil at Astor Secondary School, Dover, said: "Life is not always perfect. Summer school is the best thing I have ever done that I have enjoyed, it has been amazing." Students commented that they felt their social skills and confidence had improved and they also realised the importance of spending time with their friends and family, away from technology and their phones.

‘While the long-term outcomes are still being measured, in the short-term, there were reports of greater emotional regulation and confidence amongst children who had pushed their boundaries and bonded with their peers, as well as improved presentation and leadership skills for the year 11 mentors.'

Looking ahead, applications for the next cohort will open in summer 2022. Each year, we search for ten contestants and five host councils to take part. The programme celebrates and showcases the talent we have in local government and encourages applications from officers who will share their diverse range of capabilities and expertise in the challenges and with the wider sector.

It's not just officers that get something out of this programme. Our host councils receive valuable consultancy by developing a challenge specific to a real-life local issue, drawing on the expertise of ten council officers, who will work together on innovative solutions and offer fresh perspectives.

Michael Barrett and Virginia Ponton are members of the Local Government Association's leadership team

@LGAcomms

Want to get in touch to host a challenge, apply or nominate a colleague? Visit the Local Government Challenge website or email lgchallenge@local.gov.uk

• The Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship has kindly been supported by Essex CC and Kent CC since the Local Government Challenge's inception in 2009 in memory of former chairman of the LGA and leader of Kent CC Sandy Bruce-Lockhart.