Hello PPMA members and friends

As we near the end of our 2025 Awards Showcase Webinars and Blog Posts series, we’re delighted to spotlight Solace, winners of the Best Talent Programme award. In this feature, the Solace team share insights into their innovative AMPlify talent development programme and the impact it’s making across the sector.

“What happens when ambition meets opportunity – and the system is designed to let it flourish? That’s exactly what AMPlify has achieved. The groundbreaking talent development programme, designed for underrepresented leaders in local government, was awarded Best Talent Programme at the PPMA Awards, a recognition that celebrates not only its outcomes but the cultural shift it is helping to ignite across the sector.

The challenge AMPlify was created to tackle is clear: local government senior leadership doesn’t yet reflect the communities it serves. “We know that our workforce at senior levels doesn’t look like the diverse communities we serve,” says Kim Wright, Chief Executive of Brent. Without diverse voices at the top, decision-making suffers, inclusivity falters, and organisations struggle to respond effectively to the complex needs of their populations. AMPlify aims to change that.

Launched in 2022 through a partnership between Solace, E-Quality, and the LGA, AMPlify is more than a leadership programme – it’s a movement. In three short years, it has supported 46 participants and their line managers across 27 local authorities, giving talented individuals from minoritised backgrounds the tools, skills, and networks to progress into senior roles while also driving wider organisational change.

Why AMPlify Works

The programme draws on insights from the Solace report, Understanding and Improving Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Local Government Workforce (2022), which highlighted the barriers ethnic minorities face: bias, lack of mentorship, and few structured pathways to leadership. AMPlify confronts these barriers head-on with a three-strand approach that combines leadership development, personal growth, and organisational culture change.

The results speak for themselves. Of the first three cohorts, 33% of participants have secured promotions, stepping into senior leadership positions. Beyond career progression, the programme has boosted employee engagement, retention, and organisational performance, demonstrating that investing in diverse talent pays dividends for both individuals and institutions.

Voices from the Cohort

For the participants themselves, the programme is nothing short of transformational. Delegates report newfound confidence and self-belief, saying it helped them “expand my visibility” and “advocate for myself.” One shared that it inspired them to “aim higher” and reinforced the belief that “it is possible” to reach senior leadership roles.

Networking and peer support are equally important. The cohort provides a “safe space for support,” helping participants build long-lasting relationships with like-minded colleagues across the sector. These networks are more than just contacts – they are communities of encouragement, collaboration, and shared learning that continue long after the programme ends.

Professional growth is another consistent theme. Delegates describe strengthened personal brands, increased visibility, and strategic thinking skills that allow them to tackle complex organisational challenges. One participant reflected, “AMPlify supercharged my strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, enabling me to manage with greater efficacy and innovation.”

What Makes AMPlify Different

AMPlify is not a typical leadership programme. Its impact comes from several innovative elements:

  • Inclusive Co-Design: Participants, senior leaders, and line managers all shape the programme, ensuring relevance and sector-wide buy-in.
  • Reverse Mentoring: Senior leaders learn from participants about diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI), creating a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
  • Action Learning Sets: Delegates tackle real-world challenges in collaborative groups, applying leadership insights immediately.
  • Focus on Intersectionality: The programme addresses overlapping barriers such as ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, and family dynamics.
  • Psychological Insight: Participants are supported to navigate “invisible” barriers like bias and imposter syndrome, empowering them to thrive in complex environments.
  • Manager Engagement: Line managers are trained to mentor and advocate for their underrepresented staff, helping embed a culture of inclusion.

Transforming Organisational Culture

AMPlify doesn’t just aim to change individuals – it aims to changes organisations. Senior leaders report that participants’ presence has prompted broader cultural reflection and encouraged inclusive practices across teams. Paul Hanson, Chief Executive, observed:

“Participants of AMPlify have been able to take higher profile roles and show leadership across the organisation, which has prompted a positive response from colleagues of all backgrounds. Senior leaders making space for participants’ voices has had a real impact on culture.”

Looking to the Future

With more cohorts planned, AMPlify is poised to expand its reach further. Its dual focus – developing diverse talent and embedding inclusive leadership – ensures that local government can better reflect and serve the communities it represents. By fostering confidence, strategic thinking, and robust professional networks, the programme is building a new generation of leaders who challenge barriers, inspire innovation, and model inclusive behaviours across the sector.

Winning the PPMA Best Talent Programme award is a recognition of the programme’s impact. AMPlify has delivered measurable outcomes in career progression, organisational performance, and cultural change. Most importantly, it has empowered a generation of leaders from underrepresented backgrounds to thrive, advocate for themselves, and inspire others.

AMPlify proves what is possible when leadership development, diversity, and inclusion are approached holistically. By continuing to invest in programmes like this, local government can build leadership teams that genuinely reflect the communities they serve, foster inclusive cultures, and ensure long-term organisational success.

As AMPlify looks ahead one thing is clear: a new wave of diverse, empowered leaders is already reshaping local government for the better.”

Find out more about the AMPlify programme here.