Arriving at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester on a cold November morning, the icy air and the warmth of the welcome we received felt like a fitting metaphor as we gathered for the ADEPT Autumn Conference. Even in challenging times, there is comfort in our profession when we come together to share experiences and knowledge.
ADEPT’s annual conference is always a highlight of the year, but this year’s felt particularly significant as we launched the celebrations to commemorate our 140th anniversary.
Our shared history, the evolution and enduring purpose of place leadership, as well as the promise of the future converged in Manchester, as we marked the unique history of the County Surveyors Society (CSS) and ADEPT.
We began the conference by reflecting on the journey of this institution. From its origins in 1885 through to today, ADEPT has stood for professionalism, collaboration and the belief that local leadership matters and can make a difference for communities across the country.
To mark our anniversary year I’d encourage you to explore the collection of essays that have been written on the many facets of place leadership which you can find here. These essays offer insight into our past and inspiration for the road ahead. You can also find out more about the ADEPT 140th Anniversary and its origins in the CSS here.
At this year’s Conference our theme centred around devolution, reform and strengthening place leadership, which for all of us felt very timely.
We were privileged to hear from representatives of the Manchester Youth Council whose call to action resonated deeply across the room. Lial and Zoe spoke with conviction about young people’s stake in the places we lead. They challenged us to be more than silent architects. They asked that we involve them in decision-making and make our processes transparent, as we listen and act with their future in mind. It was a powerful reminder that our work is not simply for this generation, but for the next.
In our opening plenary we heard how the landscape of local government is evolving, requiring partnerships not simply structures: trust, not simply accountability. It was a robust and honest discussion, grounded in the reality that our success depends far more on how we work together than on the particular ‘box’ each person sits within.
A standout moment came when Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham joined us fresh from the BBC Breakfast sofa. His address was compelling and direct with personal insights on Greater Manchester’s devolution journey.
Offering a live case study he highlighted the value of convening power, of place ambition, of moving from Whitehall dependency to local empowerment. His message was clear, that we in place leadership must believe in our places and then act on that belief. Making a clear decision that place-first NOT party-first is the only route to true success.
Across the plenaries we tackled big questions and shared honest discussions and experiences. We looked at building new towns fit for the future, not as utopian projects, but as grounded places with ambitions rooted in stewardship and leadership.
We reflected on the ‘summer of strategies’ many of us have experienced and asked how those strategies might translate into a decade of delivery. The profound issue of home-to-school transport was discussed as an issue that is inherently logistical, but also, vitally, one of inclusion, independence and equality of opportunity for children and young people.
We didn’t shy away from the harder conversations, about populism, about democratic legitimacy, about how our professional values are tested. We looked ahead to technology, to artificial intelligence and what that means for place leadership for all of us and those we pass the baton to.
The possibilities are immense, but so too are the questions about ethics, workforce, training and purpose.
What I found encouraging throughout the conference was the note of optimism that ran alongside our healthy dose of realism. Yes, our budgets are pinched, yes the pressures are many, yes the terrain is deeply complicated, but in our hearts we are innovators, collaborators and problem-solvers.
The fact that we gathered in Manchester in the face of an Arctic-style cold snap outside reinforced that underlying sense that when we come together to share, learn and adapt we can go forward together as a stronger team. We were even treated to a perfect example of regeneration and evolution of place outside the main conference room window, as an old 1960’s block was carefully dismantled to make way for a new community with modern needs.
The shared meals, the conversations in corridors, the exchanging of contact information to follow up on plans and suggestions, reminded me again that the value of events like this lies not only in the formal sessions but in the informal moments. The ideas we trade and the inspiration we pick up.
Reflecting on the conference, I’m heartened by the breadth of issues we covered and by the quality of discussion we shared. Whether we were talking about devolution, embracing youth voices, transport, strategy, technology or democracy, what emerged was the same imperative: to make the case loudly for our individual places and to shape a positive future for all.
As we move through our 140th anniversary year, I believe we have an opportunity and indeed a responsibility, to do more than mark the moment.
We need to actively translate reflection into action, using our shared history as a springboard for fresh ambition and determination. We must commit to connecting, collaborating and building places that work for everyone, especially those whose voices are often unheard.
To all my fellow place directors and to everyone who joined us in Manchester I extend a heartfelt thank you for your energy, your openness and your willingness to engage.
The challenges ahead are real, but so is our collective capacity to meet them. Let’s carry the optimism we felt during the conference into our everyday work and keep building places worthy of the people who live in them.
Here’s to the next chapter.
