Education and training services. Training programme services. Vocational training services. Management training services. Personal development training services. The Improvement and Development Association (IDeA) is a Limited Company but with no share capital and is wholly owned the Local Government Association (LGA). Together they, amongst other things, work with councils to support promote and improve local government. The Local Government Association (LGA) is a strong advocate of graduate recruitment. We believe it is an essential way in which councils can bring in much needed drive, enthusiasm and talent to a workforce in the throes of the largest change in its history. The National Graduate Development Programme (ngdp) is the LGA's highly regarded national management trainee programme for high-calibre graduates wishing to pursue a career in management in local government. The LGA coordinates the ngdp nationally and provides the infrastructure for its delivery. We market and recruit – in order to attract, select and place high quality applicants in local authorities. We also manage and commission the learning and development element of the programme to ensure the highest quality learning. Graduates are employed by councils over two years and undertake placements in front line, operational and strategic roles, where they are encouraged to challenge, innovate and improve services. In parallel, over the two years trainees participate in a high-quality, accredited, national learning and development leadership programme so they can implement their learning whilst working on real projects in councils. The IDeA is seeking to appoint a supplier to design and deliver the accredited leadership development programme for ngdp Cohorts 16 and 17 - developing potential future leaders and managers within local government and equipping them with the skills, understanding and competencies required to be effective as change agents in their councils and to realise their leadership potential. This may be extended to cohort 18 subject to the requirements of the IDeA.