Councillor Induction and Development
ractical workshops to help new councillors understand their role, manage its demands and make a difference in their wards.
Putting together an induction programme means balancing what councillors need to know straight away with what they will learn through experience. There is plenty to cover, limited time and a group of people arriving with very different backgrounds.
New councillors need more than briefings on council services and meeting procedures. They need practical ways to handle residents’ expectations, manage competing demands and work effectively with officers—so they can start helping residents and leading in their communities from the outset.
Our workshops bring these challenges to life through real examples, discussion and techniques councillors can use straight away. Having spent 24 years as a councillor, Liz understands the pressures first-hand and brings experience, humour and honest insight to help new members start well.
Get in touch to discuss workshops for your induction programme.
Workshops to complement your induction programme
Your programme will include council briefings and specialist training on subjects such as planning, licensing and scrutiny. Our workshops sit alongside these, helping councillors handle the everyday realities of elected life. If you need wider support, we can also arrange training through our associates.
The stages below suggest how an induction programme can develop and where our workshops could fit. Timings are flexible, and every workshop can be delivered online or in person.
Feel free to use our ideas when planning your induction programme, whether or not you book us to deliver any sessions. If you use any of our drawings or diagrams, please credit LG Progress.
For more on the thinking behind this approach, read Leadership in Practice: Why councillor induction programmes often start in the wrong place.
Our five stages show how support can develop as councillors find their feet, establish good habits, build knowledge and confidence, take on new responsibilities and get results.
The stages are flexible and overlap, helping you plan learning around your members’ needs. Explore our suggested approach for practical ideas on what to include at each stage and where our workshops could complement your programme.
Feel free to use or adapt our suggestions, whether or not you book us to deliver any sessions. If you use our drawings or diagrams, please credit LG Progress.
Stage One: Getting started
After the congratulations have been given, photos taken, declarations signed and early introductions, it's time to get down to business.
An early introduction to the whole job helps new councillors understand what they are there to do, what is expected of them and how to manage its demands.
Our introductory workshop brings together the 3S’s of councillor roles, 5C’s of responsibilities and 4P’s of wellbeing. These give members a practical starting point, connecting their work in the ward with their wider council role and their own wellbeing.
We can introduce all three in one session or explore particular areas in more depth to complement your induction programme.
Stage Two: Establishing good habits
Establishing good habits early helps councillors manage competing demands, organise their work and build effective relationships. Practical support at this stage helps them find ways of working they can sustain. For example, our workshops include:
Casework and time management
"The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Councillor Galaxy" gives councillors practical ways to manage the competing demands of the role, including casework, priorities and maintaining a life outside the council.
Working with Officers and Partners
"The Curious Incident of the Officer in the Chamber" helps members understand the different roles of members and officers, building trust, challenging constructively and communicating effectively.
Stage Three: Building knowledge & Confidence
As councillors gain experience, they discover where they need more knowledge, skills or confidence. Further development helps them learn from challenges, broaden their understanding and put ideas into practice. For example, our workshops include:
Effective Community leadership
"The Good, the Bad and the Influential" helps new councillors to understanding their community, reaching beyond the usual voices and building the relationships and support needed to make things happen.
Building confidence and resilience
"The Confidence of Dorian Gray" establishes how self-doubt and the inner critic can take over, how to break unhelpful patterns and develop practical ways to stay confident and resilient.
Stage Four: B
As councillors take on additional roles, they may need different skills and support. Whether this happens straight after election or later in their term, focused development helps them prepare, understand expectations and work through new challenges. Support could include:
Chairing Skills
"Zen and the Art of Chairing" covers how to get the business done while managing different voices, difficult behaviour, fair decision-making and the rules that govern meetings.
Mentoring
Individual support gives councillors space to discuss challenges, explore their approach and prepare for new responsibilities. Drawing on her experience in council leadership and national roles, Liz helps members think through decisions and develop confidence in their own judgement.
Stage Five: Getting Results
Making a difference often means bringing people together around a shared ambition. As councillors develop their priorities, support can help them turn ideas into action, work through obstacles and recognise progress.
MAking a difference
"It's a Wonderful Councillor Life" helps councillors identify the difference they want to make, turn ambitions into practical steps and recognise the impact they can have.
BESPOKE facilitation
We also develop bespoke workshops and facilitate discussions for councillor groups, partners and top teams. Whether you need to agree priorities, strengthen working relationships or move a shared project forward, we create space for honest discussion and help turn it into practical next steps.