Public Sector Leadership
Events, courses and programmes to develop skills, knowledge and networks for the most senior leaders in public service.
We offer a selection of events, courses and programmes to the top tiers of the largest public sector and civil service organisations (CEO equivalents). More information about eligibility can be found at the bottom of this page.
These are designed to help leaders:
- enhance their practical, evidence-based knowledge and expertise around facing complex systems challenges
- build strong networks between peers and break down silos between the Civil Service and wider public sector
- inspire and encourage measurable improvements in public service delivery.
Over the past year, our primary focus has been to support Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) across the public sector. As we are now in the 2026-27 period, we are looking to expand our offer to provide a wider breadth of support at the most senior levels, including Deputy CEOs and equivalent roles.
If you would like to participate in any of the programmes below or discuss your eligibility, please contact us at psl@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
National Leadership Forum (NLF)
The National Leadership Forum brings together senior public sector leaders to address the complex, systemic challenges facing the UK. Following the success of our national conferences, we are expanding the NLF to include place-based events that focus on regional collaboration and local impact.
NLF: UK - 25 November 2027
Our annual CEO conference will be in Manchester on 25 November 2026. This exclusive one-day event is designed specifically for public sector CEOs navigating the country’s most complex challenges. Join to hear from thought-provoking speakers offering fresh perspectives on the challenges and innovations shaping our country.
Location: Manchester
Format: In-person one-day conference.
Register for NLF: UK 2027: Click here to register for NLF UK
- Systems Leadership - join discussions focused on collective problem-solving across the public sector
- Relevant Insights - gain insights from fellow leaders navigating complex challenges, and equip yourself with actionable insights and strategies.
- Networking - connect with peers across the UK public sector and build valuable relationships to enable collaboration and innovation
Regional Leadership Forums (RLF) and National Leadership Forum (NLF) Wales
These forums will be intimate, half-day sessions designed for CEOs across the relevant areas to discuss how national policies are affecting our local communities. They will focus on breaking down silos and building a shared vision.
- Local Solutions: Influence how the needs of the region/area are reflected in national priorities.
- Breaking Silos: Build a shared understanding of how regional organisations overlap and fit together.
- Stronger Connections: Dedicated time to build the connectivity required for place-based success.
Locations and Dates:
- RLF East of England. 24 February 2027. Bury St Edmunds - Register here
- RLF West Midlands. 21 April 2027. Birmingham - Register here
- RLF Yorkshire & Humber 13 May 2027. Leeds - Register here
- RLF South West of England 30 June 2027. Exeter - Register here
- RLF South East of England 8 July 2027. Woking - Register here
- NLF Wales - 15 September 2027 - Register here
Format: Half-day conference, including time for networking and focused roundtable discussions.
Interested in a forum in your region?
If you are a public sector leader in another part of the UK and would like to see the Regional Leadership Forum come to your area, we would value your input.
Register your interest in future regional events and help us shape the NLF’s place-based strategy by email to psl@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Watch highlights from NLF: UK 2025 to see the quality of discussion, peer-to-peer networking, and the calibre of speakers that define the NLF. Our regional events, while more intimate in scale, carry the same commitment to high-level strategic insight and collaborative leadership.
National Leadership Forum, November 2025
Public Leaders Programme
The Public Leaders Programme is a year long leadership programme for Public Sector CEOs from across the UK. It provides an opportunity for leaders to enhance their knowledge, connect and work together as a public sector community. Aiming to address key challenges faced by leaders the focus is on:
- building relationships and networks across the public sector
- improving core skills for systems leadership at the executive level
- enhancing capabilities to make principled, ethical decisions aligned with public service values
- improving knowledge of factors strategically shaping the UK
- enhancing the capability to innovate and lead modernisation in a rapidly changing world
Coffee Connect
Our popular networking programme continues to run monthly. Once a month, we pair participants with a leader from a large public sector organisation or Civil Service department. Participants get in touch with each other to arrange a convenient time to connect (by phone or video). Participants are offered the opportunity to opt out each month if they aren’t available.
We run two schemes, one for CEOs and another for Deputy CEOs (or equivalent level roles).
Bespoke Support
We are currently designing high-impact cross-sector initiatives to address the unique geographical and strategic challenges for leaders across the UK. These interventions are smaller, more responsive and more bespoke than our other offers, allowing us to make a greater impact on specific topics.
Place-based Support : Enhancing place-based collaboration to improve citizen outcomes and ensuring local expertise effectively shapes national policy. We are currently delivering two 24 hour place-based away days (six months apart) for leaders across the Thames Valley and are planning to deliver a series of similar place-based away days in 2027.
Thematic Support: Convening leaders to solve complex, intertwined crises at a system level through shared vision and collective action.
We work closely with leaders to ensure our support is targeted and meets the specific needs of your place or sector. If you would like to have a conversation about how we could work with you on specific themes or locations, please email us at psl@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Aspirant Public Leaders Programme
The Aspirant Public Leaders Programme (APLP) is a new 12-month executive development programme for Deputy CEO-level public sector leaders from across the Civil Service, Education, NHS, Local Government, and Emergency Services.
The programme provides a confidential, cross-system environment for leaders to build peer networks, address complex governance challenges, and drive cross-agency collaboration. By integrating place-based learning and national policy insights across regional hubs, APLP equips executive leaders to navigate system transformation, deliver public value, and shape the future of UK public service leadership.
CEO Community Calls
Over the past 18 months we have hosted a series of CEO Community Calls, hosted by Catherine Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office. Following the success of our most recent call with the Cabinet Secretary in October 2026, we are now planning a series of calls for 2027 and will share further details and registration links in due course.
Peer Mentoring Programme
In collaboration with the College of Policing we are piloting a cross public sector peer mentoring programme. A limited number of places will be available; please express your interest via psl@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Eligibility requirements for our courses
We work with representative bodies from across the public sector to agree and review the criteria we use to determine eligibility for our programmes.
Currently, CEO leaders (and equivalent level roles) of the largest public sector and civil service organisations in the UK are eligible to participate in our programmes*.
The following is a list of the roles which would typically be eligible for our public sector leadership development programmes.
- CEOs in the National Health Service, including NHS Trusts, Ambulance Trusts, and Integrated Care Boards
- Vice-chancellors of universities with over 10,000 students
- Principals or CEOs of large further education colleges (turnover of £30m+)
- CEOs of academy chains (25 or more linked schools or 10,000 or more students)
- Chief Executives of upper-tier and unitary authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Metropolitan Districts, Unitary Authorities, Combined Authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, County Councils, and London Borough Councils. In order to reflect Local Government Reorganisation, we also welcome the SROs for the new LGR council areas, and we will include the CEOs when appointed.
- Chief constables of police services
- Chief fire officers of fire and rescue services
- Permanent Secretaries and Directors General of Central Government Departments and ALBs (SCS3 and SCS4)
- CEOs of the 10 largest ALBs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Chief Executives of Crown Dependencies
- Permanent Secretaries/ equivalents of Overseas Territories
- Three and four star military officers
*The exception to this is for Coffee Connect which offers two separate schemes; one for Chief Executive Officers and another for Deputy Chief Executive Officers (and equivalent level roles) from eligible organisations. We are expecting to expand our offer to provide a wider breadth of support to Deputy CEOs and equivalent roles from 2027.