Heading into its eleventh year, the Local Government Association's Local Government Challenge continues to seek out the best and brightest local government officers to compete in 5 real-life challenges at authorities in England and Wales. Each contestant will be competing for the prestigious £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart scholarship that is announced at the LGA's Annual Conference in Harrogate, 2020. The winner will have the opportunity to translate their very own ideas into a reality back at their home council.
Here we introduce you to the 10 contestants and discover what motivated them to apply for the LG Challenge 2020.
Stephen Bahooshy, Senior Commissioning Manager, Croydon London Borough Council
I enjoy learning and experiencing new activities and working with different people from different divisions. I know that the LG Challenge will be enjoyable (and possibly stressful at times), and I want to push myself into new situations to hone my skills.
Hani Cox, Policy and Scrutiny Officer, Cumbria County Council
The LG Challenge will enable me to grasp a personal ambition to promote Cumbria, to establish valuable contacts, develop innovative proposals and solutions to strategic problems, and test my personal drive for results for people and places.
Hannah Futter, Business Manager, Surrey County Council
I have coordinated and observed problem solving on some of the most challenging strategic issues that the local authority faces. What I hope to get out of being an LG Challenge contestant is a chance to lead on problem-solving myself, push forward my own ideas and navigate the political complexity that comes with that.
Zoe Galvin, Carers' App Project Officer, Kent County Council
I'm excited to visit new places and work with new people. I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to step out of my comfort zone to build resilience in myself, my teammates and the sector. I expect to finish the challenges teeming with ideas and insights about how we can come together to deliver fantastic value for our residents.
Rose Hampton, Communications Officer, Staffordshire County Council
I applied for the LG Challenge to expand my horizons and to gain a greater exposure to the challenges faced by local authorities on a national scale. I was also drawn to the incredibly exciting opportunity to work in a team environment with like-minded people from across the country that all have different backgrounds and experiences.
Jack Kennedy, Economic Development Manager, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
I am keen to learn about how others approach problems and issues, particularly ones that are potentially out of scope of the work of a borough council. As someone who is passionate about developing my skills, I hope I can bring back a new skillset that will be of benefit to the businesses and residents of Basingstoke.
Joe Kinsella, Transformation Officer, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
The opportunity to collaborate with fellow contestants from across the country and gain understanding from their perspectives and lived experiences, is one I wanted to seize. I am proud to be representing Calderdale in the LG Challenge. Let's see what 2020 has in store - I'm sure it'll be an exciting journey!
Felicity Robson, Functional Fire Fighter, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
I applied to take part in the LG Challenge because I believe it will present situations that both challenge my intelligence and problem solving skills. I am looking forward to meeting people from various backgrounds and walks of life. The opportunity to experience different councils and authorities around the country is interesting and exciting.
Lewis Sheldrake, Senior Commissioning Manager, Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council
The LG Challenge presents the unique opportunity to work with colleagues from across the country in a structured programme that will test and develop my competencies further. I am confident that taking part will enable me to affect positive change, inspire others and deliver improved outcomes in local government.
Emma Shepherd, Disability Strategy Lead for Employment, Croydon London Borough Council
This would be a great opportunity to develop me, as an officer to learn from amazing people. It is a wonderful opportunity to work on challenges around the country; see what other council's do and make a real difference through the challenges.
