Become a peer

Watch: The value of being a peer challenge member peer

If you’re a councillor interested in becoming a peer, your route into the programme is slightly different.

Member peers support a wide range of activity, including:

• leadership mentoring
• councillor development
• support for new administrations following a change in political control
• support for top teams in councils, for example senior leadership teams
• corporate and service-specific peer challenges.

To become a member peer, please contact your LGA Political Group Office:

• Conservative Group - [email protected]
• Labour Group - [email protected] or [email protected]
• Liberal Democrat Group - [email protected] or [email protected]
• Independent Group - [email protected] or [email protected]

If you're interested in supporting children's services as a peer, visit our Children's Services Peer Challenge page.

Watch: Gabrielle Mancini explains the professional development opportunity of being a peer challenge peer

To deliver sector-led improvement, we need your help.

We’re looking for diverse, experienced senior leaders from across:

• local government
• health
• voluntary and community sectors.

We particularly welcome interest from:

• people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds
• disabled individuals
• those with lived experience and different life paths.

We’re also actively recruiting for peers with experience in:

• finance
• governance
• local government reorganisation
• combined authorities
• children's services
• housing
• equality and diversity
• community engagement and community cohesion
• commissioning and procurement
• transformation and change
• economic growth
• voluntary and community sector leadership.

Are you a chief executive, director or senior officer with this experience?

Express your interest in becoming an officer peer

If you would like to discuss before completing the form, please email [email protected].

Watch: How the LGA's strengthened Corporate Peer Challenge is helping local authorities across the country

Are you ready to take the next step?

Apply to become a peer

“I never cease to be inspired by the rich variety of approaches, ideas, perspectives and insights that can be gained from participating in a peer challenge. Both from the host organisation but also from other members of the peer team. If you work in local government and you’ve not experienced a peer challenge, why not?!” 

Andy Donald, Chief Executive, London Borough of Haringey

“The quality and quantity of insight you get by being part of a peer team is unique.  No other single experience in my career has been as rewarding and thought-provoking as the week spent as part of a peer team.” 

Dan Hawthorn, Executive Director Homes and Communities, London Borough of Camden

“I found the whole experience to be really worthwhile – it’s challenging but it was a great experience to have the time to delve into the workings of another council and take back the learning into my own council, as well as adding value to the review being undertaken. The LGA were really supportive and helped me through the process and there was a fantastic team approach to the whole review from start to finish. I’ve made some new contacts to add to my network and picked up some knowledge and experience from my fellow peers. I would definitely recommend it to anyone giving this some thought.” 

Dawn Garton, Director for Corporate Services (Section 151 Officer), Melton Borough Council

“Having just completed a peer challenge I can absolutely recommend the experience. It’s a few days of research before the challenge and then a few intense days during the review but I guarantee you get out of it more than you put in. The chance to network with fellow local government and other professionals is priceless, both within the council being reviewed and within the peer team. You never leave a peer challenge without learning something and always take away some best practice that you can apply to your own organisation.” 

Sarah King, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, Eastleigh Borough Council

“I’ve been a peer as a Finance Director on Corporate Peer Challenges and Finance Peer Challenges. It’s incredibly useful learning because in reviewing how another organisation does things you gain ideas from your own. Even if you don’t agree with the other organisation’s approach you have the opportunity to discuss with colleagues how they deal with the issue and reflect on your own practice. If you like practical hands-on learning, rather than lots of academic theory there is no better place to learn. You also bring back good practice and if your own peer challenge is coming up you get a chance to learn what makes a peer’s job easier and how to get the best out of your review. That knowledge is invaluable to your own organisation’s success.” 

Jane Eaton, Chief Executive, Horsham District Council

“I've taken part in several peer challenges, both on specific areas and looking at councils corporately across the board. I have always found them interesting, sometimes even inspiring and they always provide food for thought and learning for me to take back to my own council. It is an opportunity to compare and contrast other councils with your own, learn from best practice and challenge ourselves to do better and differently. I would really recommend taking part - it's time well spent." 

Councillor Ruth Dombey, former Leader, Sutton Council

“This is the richest form of personal development I have experienced to date, being part of a Corporate Peer Challenge team for a week, taking part in an intensive sector led improvement initiative, facilitated by a superb LGA peer challenge manager led by an exceptional Chief Executive and with a strong peer team of public sector colleagues. I would recommend being part of the process to anyone seeking to improve their own practice, broaden their sector knowledge and keen to share their skills, insight and knowledge with other councils." 

Perry Holmes, Director Legal and Governance, Wiltshire Council

“I’m proud to have been part of the LGA peers team invited into Staffordshire County Council in 2018. The Team brought experience and insights from across the country to bring challenge and share learning with colleagues in Staffordshire as they planned the delivery of their ambitious vision and medium term budget. Like many councils, Staffordshire had a lot of successful practice to share and also areas of improvement. Peer challenge is such a powerful tool both for those subject to the peer challenge and also for the peer challenge team who gain new learning and time to reflect with peers about the challenges we face in our own councils." 

Adrian Smith, Chief Executive, Nottinghamshire County Council

“The peer challenge programme is an excellent development opportunity for all members of the peer team. The knowledge that you gain from discussions with your peers is invaluable and can be used to benefit your own organisation. I can thoroughly recommend the experience." 

Paul Wilson, Chief Executive, Derbyshire Dales District Council

Watch: Councillor Stephen Cowan (Labour), Hammersmith & Fulham Council

Watch: Councillor Anna Charles-Jones (Independent), Stockport Council

Watch: Councillor Dan Swords (Conservative), Harlow Council

Watch: Councillor Ryan Priest (Liberal Democrat), Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Watch: Shazia Hussain reflects on trust and mutual respect when becoming a peer challenge peer

Our new peer ambassador toolkit gives you everything you need to spread the word about peer work and encourage colleagues to get involved.

Inside you'll find:

• example social content
• top tips for advocacy
• how to demonstrate the positive impact of peer challenge on local authorities and peers.

Peer ambassador toolkit