Ashridge Local

Ashridge Local - a new service for local government

Building on our contribution to the Local Government Improvement and Development's (LGID) “Academy for Executive Leadership” and “Future Leaders” programmes as well as organisation consultancy assignments, we have established Ashridge Local.

The new unit brings together faculty and associates from across Ashridge dedicated to supporting local government managers and leaders. Using Ashridge experience and expertise we aim to empower organisations and individuals in this increasingly important part of the public sector through:

  • Support to organisations and individuals -providing tailored programmes and consultancy
  • Partnerships – developing dialogue and learning transfer between stakeholders
  • Innovation - drawing on experience from work with local government, the wider public sector and the private sector.
  • Research - around the challenges being faced by local government and how they are being met effectively.

Introducing The Aspiring Leaders Programme

Ashridge are partnering The National Skills Academy for Social care to deliver The Aspiring Leaders Programme. The Programme is an important part of the NSASC's wider Leadership and Management programme to cultivate the sector leaders of the future.

Read more about The Aspiring Leaders Programme

The Academy for Executive Leadership (AEL)

The Academy for Executive Leadership is part of the LGID's innovative programme for Chief Executives, directors and heads of service, delivered jointly with Ashridge and SOLACE Enterprises.

Registration for programmes for 2010 of this highly successful three module course for senior executives in local government and partner organisations is now open. More information on the programme including dates, brochure, stories of impact and participant podcasts.

The Future Leadership Programme (FLP)

The Future Leadership programme (FLP) is for ambitious middle managers in councils, fire and rescue services, and local strategic partnerships. It addresses the role of leadership in changing organisational cultures. The FLP is delivered in partnership with the Office for Public Management (OPM).

For more information on the programme including dates, brochure and podcasts of the participants and tutors

Leading in the Locality

Throughout the year we have been interviewing leaders in the local authority, education, housing and health sectors and asking them about the challenges they are facing in the current climate. Please follow this link to watch the videos of the interviews.

Aligning supply and demand for training for Local Authorities

Ashridge has completed a research project in supply and demand for training.
Final report

Following this work Ashridge is launching work on the strategic commissioning of learning and development. Outline of work

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Photographs of external views of the buildings of Ashridge.

What our colleagues say

'Ashridge provided a fine location and environment to think away from the office, to be stimulated to learn and to enjoy my course - a great combination.'

Steven Halls, Chief Executive, Three Rivers District Council

‘In the current challenging times, leaders in public service are tested to their limits. Staff look to them for reassurance, guidance, direction and stability when everything around them is uncertain and complex. Ashridge leadership programmes have given me insight to understand why and how I lead my teams through the best of times and the worst of times. The quality of Ashridge surroundings and the depth and rigour of intellectual challenge has stimulated ideas and tools that I use every working day. If you are going to invest time in your gift as a leader, invest it at Ashridge.’

Susan Johnson, Chief Executive, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue

'As a busy CEO, my time away from the office has to be very well spent - useful, enjoyable and value for money. Ashridge offered me a unique experience - I found it challenging, refreshing and inspiring. The balance of a relaxed environment with an injection of passion has had a profound effect on me - definitely giving me a renewed enthusiasm on my return to the pressures of daily life. There are difficult times ahead for all of us in senior leadership roles and my experience is that Ashridge is exactly the right place to spend some time preparing the realities of this new era.'

Graham Turner, Chief Executive, North Somerset Council

'Ashridge is the place I go if I need my mind to escape the container of my conditioning and fears. Its not so much a place to think outside the box and more somewhere to dissolve it.'

A.L.J. Pratt OBE JP, Chairman, South East Economic Development and Skills Board