Positive outcomes from first Pwc Local Government Change Academy following completion of training.
The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) is delighted to announce the successful completion of the inaugural PwC Local Government Change Academy.
Introduced to the public sector in Northern Ireland for the first time, the Academy builds on its established success across local authorities in Great Britain.
NILGA’s support in bringing this programme to the region enabled local government officers to engage in structured, hands-on learning applied to real organisational challenges, leading to noticeable improvements in their confidence and capacity to lead transformational change.
The cohort-based approach established a consistent and collaborative method for transformation across councils, creating a network that supports ongoing improvement. Officers enhanced their skills in change leadership, project management, communication, behaviour change, and impact measurement, thereby increasing organisational capacity and fostering more agile, effective service delivery.
Cllr Billy Webb, NILGA President, stated: “We congratulate every participant who completed the PwC Local Government Change Academy. Their dedication to strengthening their leadership skills and adopting new ways of working has been remarkable. Along with my NILGA Executive colleagues, we have been driven by a clear desire to see this initiative delivered for the benefit of our local government officers. I commend each participant on their achievements and have every confidence that they will now drive meaningful, lasting transformation and improvements across their councils and the communities they serve.”
Katie Johnston, Local Government Leader at PwC UK, said: "It's been a privilege to welcome leaders from across Northern Ireland's councils to our Belfast office, united by a shared ambition to build the skills needed to drive real innovation in public services. What makes this truly powerful is the network it creates giving organisations the space to collaborate, exchange ideas and draw on each other's expertise as they rethink how they serve their communities. Bringing councils together in this way has created a powerful platform for lasting change.”
The Academy has provided a practical and positive boost to local government transformation efforts, equipping officers with the tools, mindset, and shared approaches needed to drive meaningful and lasting improvements.
ENDS
