PwC UK and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) are delighted to announce the launch of the PwC Local Government Change Academy.
Building on the successful delivery of the Academy across local authorities in Great Britain, NILGA is proud to support the launch of the first public sector Change Academy in Northern Ireland.
This comprehensive learning and capability-building programme is designed to help local government officers confidently navigate complex transformations with speed and impact.
The PwC Change Academy combines PwC’s expertise in change management, professional skills, design thinking, leadership, and transformation with practical, hands-on learning experiences.
The academy is created to provide local government participants with the skills, tools, and mindset needed to effectively lead change in the evolving local government sector.
“Our local government sector is facing significant levels of change, from digital transformation and workforce shifts to evolving expectations and increasing financial pressures,” said Cllr Billy Webb, NILGA President. “I welcome NILGA’s initiative in supporting the PwC Local Government Change Academy. This programme will empower our local government officers and teams not only to manage change effectively but also to embed it, turning strategy into sustained outcomes for councils and communities.”
Katie Johnston, local and devolved government leader, PwC UK, said: “We are very pleased to be launching the PwC Local Government Change Academy and supporting local government officers, alongside NILGA, as they navigate complex change. The Change Academy draws on our experience working with councils across the UK, combining proven methodologies with practical learning to empower participants to deliver real and sustainable transformation.”
Helen Carmichael, PwC Change Academy Director for Northern Ireland, said: “Across Northern Ireland, councils are moving from talking about change to delivering it. With ten officers from four councils coming together in this cohort, we’re building the confidence, skills and shared methods that turn good ideas into better services, faster. It’s a practical boost to our reform agenda, equipping teams to navigate complexity and embed improvements that residents can see and feel.”
Participants will gain practical skills in key areas, including change leadership, project management, communication, behaviour change, and measuring change impact. The academy combines PwC’s proven methodologies with interactive learning approaches to ensure immediate application on the job.