East Midlands Combined County Authority 

Case Study written by Andrea Davis, Civil Service College 

 

Introduction

East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) established its Leadership Academy to strengthen leadership capability and support leaders across the region to respond confidently to change and increasing complexity. 

As part of this ambition, EMCCA wanted to create a shared development experience that addressed the real challenges leaders were facing: leading teams through uncertainty, communicating effectively, navigating difficult conversations and change, and creating cultures based on trust, accountability and collaboration. 

EMCCA partnered with Civil Service College (CSC) to design and deliver a bespoke leadership development programme shaped specifically around these priorities. The programme brought together 25 participants across two cohorts, representing EMCCA, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service and Derby City Council. 

 

The Challenge 

EMCCA wanted to equip leaders with the confidence and capability to lead effectively through ambiguity and organisational change. 

Participants represented a broad range of leadership and professional roles, including Heads of Service and senior roles across transport, procurement, economy and growth, performance and risk, culture, children's services, adult social care and organisational development. This diversity meant the programme needed to be relevant across different organisational contexts while addressing common leadership challenges. 

EMCCA's priorities included strengthening leadership communication, helping leaders handle conflict and honest conversations, understanding how people respond to change, and enabling leaders to adapt their leadership approach to different people and situations. 

There was also a cultural dimension: supporting leaders to create greater psychological safety within their teams and move away from blame towards greater accountability, openness and learning. 

 

CSC's Response 

Following a detailed scoping process, Civil Service College designed the bespoke Leading Through Change programme around EMCCA's specific leadership priorities. 

Delivered between June and July 2026, the programme combined four interactive workshops with facilitated online Action Learning Sets between modules. These provided opportunities for participants to reflect on their learning, discuss live leadership challenges and share successes and barriers with peers. 

Rather than focusing on leadership theory alone, CSC combined practical leadership frameworks and behavioural insight with reflection, discussion, peer learning and real workplace examples. This enabled participants to connect the learning directly to situations they were encountering in their own organisations. 

Continuity was another important feature of the programme. Experienced CSC facilitator Mel Owers delivered the complete learning journey across both cohorts, enabling themes and discussions to build over time and providing participants with a consistent facilitator throughout. 

The result was a tailored learning experience designed not simply to introduce leadership concepts, but to give participants practical approaches they could apply in their day-to-day roles. 

 

The Results / Outcomes 

Feedback across the programme was consistently strong. Overall learning was rated 4.7/5 for Modules 1 and 2, 4.8/5 for Module 3 and 4.9/5 for Module 4. Trainer delivery was also a significant strength, achieving 5.0/5 in Modules 3 and 4. 

Participants also reported high levels of confidence following the sessions, with post-session confidence scoring 4.6/5 across the first three modules and 4.7/5 in the final module. Practical tools, peer learning and the ability to relate the content to real leadership situations were consistently identified as strengths. 

The relevance and practical application of the programme were reflected strongly in participant feedback: 

“The content was highly relevant, and I have come away with valuable ideas and practical approaches that I can apply in my role.” 

Another participant highlighted both the learning and the quality of facilitation: 

“It was a brilliant programme. I really enjoyed the learning and how you facilitated this in a way that was so clear and easily applied to practice.” 

Participants consistently valued opportunities for discussion and reflection with colleagues, alongside practical tools and models they could use within their teams. Feedback across the programme showed that participants were leaving with approaches they felt able to apply to their day-to-day leadership responsibilities. 

The response from EMCCA was also positive. The programme commissioner received feedback describing the programme as excellent, highly effective and a fantastic pilot. Building on the success of the initial programme, EMCCA is now looking to develop a second phase of the Leadership Academy, providing an opportunity to build on the learning and momentum established through the first two cohorts. 

 

Key Takeaways / Lessons Learned 

• Bespoke design created relevance: CSC worked with EMCCA to build the programme around the leadership challenges and priorities identified during the scoping process. 

• The programme reached leaders across organisational boundaries: 25 participants from four organisations came together across two cohorts, creating opportunities for shared learning and different perspectives. 

• Practical application was central to success: Participants consistently valued approaches, tools and discussions they could relate directly to their leadership roles. 

• Continuity supported the learning journey: A consistent facilitator, four connected workshops and Action Learning Sets enabled participants to reflect, apply learning and build on themes throughout the programme. 

• The pilot created momentum for further development: Positive participant and client feedback has been followed by EMCCA looking to develop a second phase of the programme. 

 

By working closely with EMCCA to understand its leadership priorities, CSC created a tailored development experience grounded in the realities of leading through change. The combination of bespoke programme design, consistent facilitation, practical application and peer learning resulted in strong participant feedback across both cohorts. 

With 25 leaders from four organisations participating, consistently high evaluation scores and EMCCA now looking towards a second phase, the programme provides a strong example of how targeted leadership development can support leaders across organisational boundaries while creating momentum for continued development.