Elected Member Development

Empowering Elected Members to Lead with Confidence and Impact

At North West Employers, we believe that investing in the development of elected members is essential to building resilient, future-ready councils. Our comprehensive offer supports councillors throughout their journey—from induction and orientation to advanced leadership development. We provide tailored organisational support, personal skills development, and opportunities to strengthen political leadership capabilities. Whether newly elected or experienced in public service, our programmes are designed to enhance confidence, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead change in complex environments. By equipping elected members with the tools and insights they need to thrive, we help authorities deliver better outcomes for their communities. Our approach is people-centred, practical, and rooted in the realities of public sector leadership—ensuring elected members are empowered to shape policy, influence decisions, and drive growth across the North West.

NW Elected Member Development Charter

The North West Member Development Charter provides a clear framework to help authorities support the growth and development of their Elected Members. Councils commit to supporting the continuous improvement of Members by signing a declaration and submitting a portfolio of evidence reflecting their approach to this. When ready, one of our team will carry out an assessment to review your approach and confirm if you have met the Charter’s standards resulting in charter accreditation. The process is inclusive and adaptable, with no fixed deadlines, just a shared commitment to empowering Elected Members and enhancing their impact within their communities.

Women in Political Leadership

This four-module programme is designed for newly elected and experienced women councillors seeking to strengthen leadership skills, build confidence, and create supportive networks. It provides a safe space to share challenges, explore solutions, and develop practical strategies for success in local government.

Key Outcomes

• Enhanced understanding of local government structures and decision-making.
• Increased confidence in public speaking, campaigning, and influencing.
• Awareness of leadership styles and techniques for team building.
• Individual learning plans and clear next steps for development.
• A peer support network across local government.

Programme Highlights

• Session 1: Understanding roles, responsibilities, and time management; identifying mentors and creating development plans.
• Session 2: Crafting a political vision, storytelling, and influencing through effective communication.
• Session 3: Mastering speech writing and public speaking for diverse audiences, including practical exercises.
• Session 4: Exploring leadership qualities, styles, and strategies through case studies and action learning.

By the end, participants will leave with practical tools, improved confidence, and a strong network to support their political leadership journey.

Councillor+ Programme

This new programme, developed collaboratively with councillors and officers across the North West, is designed to complement local induction schemes and support councillors throughout their leadership journey. Delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams, it offers interactive learning and access to resources through the Basecamp community platform.

Key Outcomes and Programme Structure

The programme aims to enhance councillors’ understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and the interconnected nature of local government. It focuses on building leadership capability, fostering collaboration, and equipping councillors with practical skills for effective community engagement and governance.

Modules Include:

• Effective Community Leadership – Leadership styles and casework strategies.
• Councillor–Officer Relationships – Building trust and collaborative working.
• ICBs and ICPs – Understanding health and care system governance.
• Asset-Based Community Development – Leveraging community strengths.
• Unconscious Bias & Inclusivity – Promoting equity and diversity.
• Financial Awareness – Oversight and governance of council budgets.
• Presenting with Impact – Public speaking and influencing skills.

The programme concludes with a Finale Celebration to reflect on achievements and plan next steps.

Scrutiny Training

Overview and Scrutiny in local government ensures accountability and service improvement through separation of decision-making and oversight. Effective scrutiny relies on impartial advice, evidence-based decisions, community input, and informed members. This training offer aims to strengthen these principles and deliver tangible benefits such as transparency, better value for money, enhanced community engagement, and improved service quality.

Key Outcomes

• Understand the purpose and process of scrutiny, including selecting topics, developing questions, and evaluating outcomes.
• Gain skills in chairing, questioning, and stakeholder engagement for effective committee leadership.
• Learn best practices for designing and delivering scrutiny activities, including financial and media considerations.
• Build confidence in monitoring and influencing policy through evidence-based approaches.

Programme Structure

• How Scrutiny Works: Interactive session for backbench councillors covering fundamentals and practical tools.
• Scrutiny for Chairs and Vice-Chairs: Focused on leadership, communication, and strategic oversight.
• In-house Reviews: Four phases from policy audits and member support to skills assessment and bespoke training for members and officers.

Delivered by Judy Foster, an experienced LGA Member Peer, this programme equips councillors with the knowledge and skills to drive accountability and service improvement.

21st Century Councillor Research

In 2016, the University of Birmingham built on its 21st Century Public Servant research to explore how the role of councillors was evolving, and what support and development they would need to succeed. Now, nearly a decade on, that work has been revisited and updated to reflect the significant changes of the past ten years.

The latest research, led by Catherine Needham, Catherine Mangan, Dave McKenna, Ella Dunne and Rosanna Marr, draws on interviews with 50 councillors and was carried out in partnership with North West Employers.

Councillors are now working in a fast-moving and often challenging environment, shaped by new and emerging pressures. From the interviews, ten key characteristics of effective councillors were identified (see image to the right) — offering a practical framework to help councillors thrive in today’s context.

These characteristics are designed to support both individual and organisational development. For example:

• Personal development: councillors can use the framework to reflect on their strengths and identify areas for growth. It can also support mentoring, coaching and appraisal conversations.
• Member development programmes: the characteristics can help shape learning programmes, guide session topics, and inform research or survey design.

Overall, the aim is to provide a clear, flexible resource to support councillors in developing the skills and confidence they need to be effective in their roles today.

The full report and further resources can be accessed here: https://21stcenturypublicservant.wordpress.com