Improving the move-on from hostels for the homeless into the private sector was the task set to the ten contestants of this year’s Local Government Challenge.

 The competition gives employees in the LGA’s member authorities the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and potential through a series of challenges.

In the second of five challenges, designed to reflect local, national and global issues of political and public relevance, the competitors were tasked with improving the move-on for homeless people from hostels into the private sector, for Hertfordshire County Council.

The Apprentice-style challenge, which is filmed and able to view on www.policyreview.tv/lgchallenge, saw teams Fusion and Olympic visit homeless people and those who work with them in order to learn more about their needs and concerns.

The winner of The Local Government Challenge 2012 is awarded a scholarship from the Bruce Lockhart Leadership Programme, worth up to £10,000.

With the judges not wholly bowled over by either team, they awarded the prize to Fusion, having declared Olympic the winning team in the first round, meaning it’s neck and neck for the teams – and the individuals within them.

Follow the contestants’ progress on Twitter: #lgchallenge and/or #lgintel.