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President's Update

This blog page features updates from ADEPT's President, Angela Jones.

Latest post

President update 3rd November- latest news from ADEPT

Hello everyone,

I’ve just returned from two weeks’ leave – it’s always good to take some time to recharge before the busy run-up to the end of the year.

Before I went, I joined the Engineering Board to say hello and catch up on their latest work – thank you to everyone who made me so welcome. A big thank you as well to Andrew Cook for representing ADEPT as Ambassador at Highways UK. I understand it was the biggest event yet, with plenty of great conversations and connections across the sector.

I'm pleased to report that the National Traffic Managers' Conference on 8th October was a great success. The theme, 'Adapting to change: the role of the traffic manager', clearly struck a chord - thank you to everyone who joined us.

Hannah and I have been busy meeting with MPs and the momentum is building nicely. Since June, we've met with seven MPs, with a further 10 meetings in the diary and 14 more in the pipeline. These conversations are proving invaluable for raising ADEPT's profile and showing how we can support government on place matters.

I also wanted to remind you about the Autumn Conference, as the booking deadline is quickly approaching (5th November). Taking place on 21st-22nd November at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, this is shaping up to be an unmissable event. We're delighted to have Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, joining us as a keynote speaker, alongside other expert voices. We'll be exploring devolution, local government reform, resilience and innovation – if you haven't already booked, I'd encourage you to do so here.

In response to strong demand, we’ve added two new training dates for the ADEPT Carbon Leadership Programme on 20th and 27th January 2026. The programme, supported by DfT, continues to fund local highway authorities to measure and identify how to reduce their carbon emissions. Find out more.

I’m also pleased to share that we are now accepting applications for the 2026 Leadership Development Programme, designed for senior leaders to develop the skills needed to shape the future of their organisations and places. Delivered with SOLACE, it combines practical workshops, reflective learning and networking opportunities.

For more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk

More posts

  • President update 1st August - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    My first few weeks as President of ADEPT have been exceptionally busy and productive! Over the last month, I’ve been to the LGA Conference, caught up with colleagues at the corporate partner event and leadership alumni gathering and taken part in some great conversations around devolution and local government reform. 

    Read more >

  • President update 1st July - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    I hope you are all well and looking forward to taking some time off over the summer to recharge.

    Over the last month, it was good to meet the presidents of the other local government bodies - ADCS, ADASS, ADPH and the LGA - to talk about the outcomes of the May local elections. I also hosted my first Leadership Team meeting, where we discussed the themes for the Autumn Conference. 

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  • President update 3rd June - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    I am delighted to be writing my first update as President of ADEPT! It is a real privilege to take on this role and I am thrilled to be working alongside such dedicated professionals committed to improving our places and communities.

    Read more >

  • President update 31st March - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    Spring has finally arrived and with it comes a fresh wave of activity and progress. 

    I attended the National Flood Resilience Forum chaired by Minister Emma Hardy, focusing on enhancing flood resilience across the UK. I also participated in the MHCLG Local Government Funding Reform Strategy group, where we discussed the upcoming business rates consultation and funding changes planned for April 2026. 

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  • President update 3rd March - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    I don’t know about you, but February has flown by! This month has been packed with developments across several key areas.

    At our leadership team meeting, we received an important update from the LGA, focusing on devolution and local government reorganisation, highlighting the challenges of managing both simultaneously. Sonika Sidhu, Deputy Director for Place at the LGA, will be attending future discussions as they develop their own support offer, which we are keen to complement for ADEPT members.

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  • President update 3rd February - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    Gosh, a month into 2025 already but didn’t January feel like a very long (and busy!) month? 

    We recently had a really productive meeting with the joint presidents’ of ADASS, ADCS and ADPH plus the LGA. Together, we are preparing a joint pre-spending review submission to highlight the vital link between place based services, people services and health. It’s helpful too that ADEPT has a seat on MHCLG’s local government funding reform strategic group.

    Read more >

  • President update 6th January - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone, Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I'm really optimistic about the potential ahead of us. This new year brings important work and exciting opportunities for ADEPT and our members. Despite the challenges, our collaborative spirit and commitment to creating better places remains stronger than ever.

    Read more >

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