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 move into the 2026-27 period, we are expecting 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 - 5 November 2026
Our annual CEO conference returns to London on 5 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: London
Format: In-person one-day conference.
Register for NLF: UK 2026: 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
NLF: North West - 18 June 2026 (Regional Pilot)
The inaugural NLF: North West is an intimate, half-day session designed for CEOs across the region to discuss how national policies are affecting our local communities. This pilot event focuses on breaking down silos and building a shared vision for the North West.
- Local Solutions: Influence how the needs of the North West 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.
Location: Manchester City Centre
Format: Half-day conference, including time for networking and focused roundtable discussions.
Express your interest: Attendance is by invitation for CEO-level leaders within the North West. To express your interest in attending this regional pilot, please email psl@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Interested in a forum in your region?
The North West event is the first in a series of planned regional pilots. If you are a public sector leader in another part of the UK and would like to see the National 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
Launched in January 2026, our flagship 12-month leadership programme is currently underway for our first cohort of public sector CEOs. We will open for applications for the 2027 intake in late spring.
The Public Leaders Programme is 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.
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.
Aspiring Chief Executives
We are currently in the design phase of a refreshed version of this programme (previously known as Leading Collaborative Organisations). We anticipate launching this offer in 2027, and intend to expand eligibility to Deputy CEOs and equivalent level roles.
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. This programme of calls is currently on pause as we refresh the format to better align with our new thematic and place-based priorities. We plan to launch a new series of calls later in 2026 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, or 5,000 students where higher education isn’t represented in that region
- 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)
- Local authority CEOs
- Chief constables of police services
- Chief fire officers of fire and rescue services
- Civil Service Permanent Secretaries and Directors General (SCS3 and 4)
- Three and four star military officers
- CEOs of the largest Arms Length Bodies and Regional Transport Authorities (SCS3 and 4 equivalent level roles)
- Chief Executives of Crown Dependencies
- Permanent Secretaries/ equivalents of Overseas Territories
*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.
Updates to this page
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Updated the contents on the entire page
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Updated the highlight video of the National Leadership Forum to the 2025 event.
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Updated the event details under the section: National Leadership Forum
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Updated the sections: CEO Community Calls Public Sector CEO Leaders Programme (Changed to Public Leaders Programme)
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Updated the eligibility section
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Updated the section: CEO Community Calls
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Added the following to the eligibility criteria: Chief Executives of Crown Dependencies Permanent Secretaries/ equivalents of Overseas Territories
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First published.