In the early days, it was one of local government's best kept secrets. Despite the very best efforts of The MJ, the Local Government Association (LGA), Essex CC and Kent CC – and not least our brilliant winners – the Local Government Challenge and Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship just didn't seem to gain the wider traction they deserved.

Ten years down the line, all this has changed. After five stunning challenges and the final at the LGA Conference in Bournemouth in July, councils up and down the land are now queuing to host some of the brightest young talents in local government and to get them tackling real-world issues in their own councils. Never has consultancy been such good value!