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Become a peer

The LGA offers local government a range of peer-supported improvement programmes, including Peer Challenge and Councillor Mentoring and we welcome interest from both senior officers and councillors in becoming peers.


Peer challenge is a core part of the LGA's sector support offer to councils and includes a range of free and charge/subsidised tools and support for councils.

From the public, private and voluntary sectors people give their time and expertise to act as peers on improvement projects such as peer challenges and leadership mentoring to help local government improve and learn.

Corporate Peer Challenge: The role of an officer or member peer

Peers understand the current challenges faced by local government and they bring credibility, trust and mutual respect to the improvement process. They engage and listen, explore and question, and work as a team to bring innovative ideas and experiences from elsewhere.

Peers not only support and challenge local government they also benefit from the places they visit and always take back learning and practice that will help their own organisations.

You can read about the experiences of local government officers, elected members and others who have participated as peers in the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge programme.


What do peers do?

Sector-led improvement, including peer challenges, are managed and delivered by the sector for the sector. Peers are at the heart of the peer challenge process. They provide a 'practitioner perspective' and 'critical friend' challenge. Working as a team, and supported by an experienced LGA peer challenge manager, peers spend time onsite at a council to help with it with its improvement and learning. Through a series of meetings and workshops, peers and the council work together to discuss their current priorities and future plans. The LGA peer manager and peers produce a presentation and short report to feedback to the council their findings and recommendations. Peers help build capacity, confidence and sustainability by challenging practice and sharing knowledge and experience.

A role description summarises the officer peer role and responsibilities.

If you are interested in supporting the children’s programme find more information about becoming a peer for Children’s Services.

Member Peers

If you are a Councillor, you will need to speak to the relevant LGA Political Group Office to become a Member Peer

Member peers are involved in a range of peer support activity in addition to peer challenges, including support to new leaders and administrations following a change of control, mentoring and councillor development.


A call for officer peers

To deliver our sector-led improvement programme we need your help.

The LGA is committed to ensuring that our peers bring diverse and varied voices to help local government improve. We understand that one size does not fit all and bringing together people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and with different life experiences is key to delivering improvement and innovation.

We welcome interest from all people working in a senior leadership role across local government, health and the voluntary and community sector but particularly encourage individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those with a disability to express an interest in becoming a peer.

In addition, the specific skills and expertise continually changes and currently we welcome interest from chief executives, and from directors or senior officers with current roles and/or experience of one or more of the following:

  • finance
  • governance
  • equality and diversity
  • transformation
  • commissioning and procurement
  • economic growth
  • voluntary and community sector.

To express your interest go to our peer recruitment page.