Tri-Sector Challenge 2025
13 October 2025 | Sarah cope
On 2 October, 14 teams of aspiring leaders from councils across the South East and London gathered at Sandown Racecourse for the Tri-Sector Challenge. It was a full, hands-on day designed to stretch real-world leadership skills. Teams met with a council leader, handled live media moments, juggled shifting priorities, solved problems at pace, presented clear ideas, and built partnerships with a busy mix of stakeholders.
We were joined by a brilliant group of assessors, experienced local authority officers and councillors, who observed, challenged, and coached throughout. Their guidance is what makes the day both demanding and genuinely transformative. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and insight.
Why it matters
Local government needs confident, collaborative leaders who can navigate complexity while keeping residents front and centre. The Tri-Sector Challenge gives emerging talent a safe, stretching space to test judgement, communication, and teamwork, then take those lessons straight back to their councils.
On the day, participants experienced:
- Briefings from a council leader and senior officers, with priorities that changed as the day unfolded
- Live media handling and press engagement
- Stakeholder mapping and partnership building across sectors
- Presentations and Q&A with supportive critical friends
- Focused feedback from assessors on behaviours, communications, and leadership
The WINNERS
Best Team
- Winner: Test Valley Borough Council Team 1
- Runners-up, Maidstone Borough Council, New Forest District Council, Oxfordshire County Council Team 1, Oxfordshire County Council Team 2
Behaviours
- Winner, Test Valley Borough Council Team 1
- Runners-up, Arun District Council, Oxfordshire County Council Team 1
Communications
- Winner, Maidstone Borough Council
- Runners-up, New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council Team 1
Leadership
- Winner, Oxfordshire County Council Team 2
- Runners-up, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council
Shining Star
- Winner, Susmita Dave (Oxfordshire County Council Team 1)
- Runners-up, Immy Colley (Test Valley Borough Council Team 1), Jamie Kavanagh (Oxfordshire County CouncilTeam 2), Shelley Wilcken (Maidstone Borough Council)
Sponsors Interaction
- Winner, Elmbridge Borough Council,
- Runners-up, Test Valley Borough Council Team 1, Wealden District Council
Congratulations to all the winners and every participant who stepped up to lead.
Huge thanks to the assessors for their generous expertise, and to the sponsors and partners for their continued support of leadership development in local government.
Save the date
The Tri-Sector Challenge returns on 22 October 2026, venue to be announced soon. If you want to develop your future leaders, register your interest and we will share booking details as soon as they go live.
Interested in entering a team or supporting the event? Send us a message to start the conversation.
The Tri-Sector challenge is designed and run by Rich Wills