Retention & Culture

Build a Culture Where People Stay, Thrive and Deliver Their Best 

Tailored training and development programmes to help public sector organisations create inclusive, engaging, and resilient workplace cultures that attract and retain top talent.

Talk to Us About Team Training
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What We Offer

We help public sector teams design and sustain working cultures that support wellbeing, inclusion and high performance, especially in the face of change and pressure. Our practical, evidence-based training programmes are built around four capability areas:

Culture, Wellbeing and Inclusion

  • Building Inclusive and Respectful Workplaces

    Foster psychological safety, equity and a sense of belonging across teams and departments.

  • Embedding DEI into Organisational Culture

    Go beyond compliance to build inclusive teams that reflect and serve their communities effectively.

  • Promoting Staff Wellbeing and Preventing Burnout

    Equip managers and teams with tools to manage stress, support wellbeing and create sustainable workloads.

  • Supporting Staff Through the Menopause

    Create open, supportive environments with effective policies and conversations.

  • Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement

    Embed curiosity, learning and feedback into everyday work to encourage innovation and ownership.

  • Creating a Feedback-Positive Culture

    Normalise open, constructive feedback to build trust, accountability, and continuous personal growth.

People Management Skills

  • Performance Management

    Strengthen skills in setting goals, giving feedback and running effective performance reviews.

  • Coaching and Counselling Skills for Managers

    Develop a coaching mindset and use effective listening and questioning to support staff.

  • Team Building and Motivation

    Build strong, collaborative teams by developing trust, purpose and psychological safety.

  • Employee Relations Essentials

    Understand how to manage discipline, grievances, absence, contracts, working time, diversity and change consultation with confidence.

  • Career Development Conversations

    Equip managers to support personal career development, progression and internal mobility.

  • Managing High Potentials

    Deliver targeted development opportunities and masterclasses to retain and grow future leaders.

  • Introduction to Team Management

    Develop foundational skills in leading others, setting expectations and building trust.

  • Resilience and Change Leadership

    Support teams through uncertainty, change and challenge with clarity and empathy.

  • Managing Difficult Team Dynamics

    Recognise early signs of tension, disengagement or dysfunction and apply practical strategies to restore trust, communication and collaboration across your team.

Recruitment and Retention

  • Staff Retention Strategies

    Understand what drives turnover and learn practical approaches to retain top talent.

  • How to Retain Your Best People

    Recognise, develop and engage high performers to reduce attrition and drive loyalty.

  • Recruitment and Selection Skills

    Design and run effective recruitment campaigns, from job design to interviewing and onboarding.

  • Assessment Centres and Interviewing Skills

    Create robust, fair and inclusive selection processes through structured tools and techniques.

  • Effective Induction Programmes

    Help new staff feel connected and productive from day one.

  • Reward Management Essentials

    Understand how to manage salary reviews, pay scales and non-financial rewards to support motivation and fairness.

Communication, Collaboration and Influence

  • Influencing and Persuasion Skills

    Enhance interpersonal impact with techniques for persuading, negotiating and engaging stakeholders.

  • Peer and Stakeholder Relationship Management

    Build effective working relationships across levels, functions and external partners.

  • Cross-Team Collaboration and Tackling Silos

    Break down barriers and encourage unity and knowledge sharing across services and departments.

  • Time Management and Planning Skills

    Equip staff with tools to prioritise effectively, plan strategically and deliver under pressure.

  • Tackling Toxic Behaviours and Conflict Early

    Gain confidence in addressing difficult behaviours and building positive team dynamics.

  • Values-Based Leadership and Organisational Culture

    Align leadership behaviours with organisational values to build trust and purpose. 

Most Requested Sample Agendas

  • Successful Recruitment and Interviewing Techniques

    Learn to recruit and interview effectively to find the right candidates for your organisation. Develop practical strategies to identify talent, assess fit, and make confident hiring decisions.

  • Developing a Positive Team Culture

    Learn to build and sustain a positive, engaged team through effective communication. Develop practical skills in assertiveness, feedback, coaching and mentoring to motivate your team and enhance performance.

  • Applying Emotional Intelligence Techniques

    Develop your emotional intelligence to communicate more effectively and build stronger team relationships. Gain practical techniques to enhance self-awareness, manage emotions, and lead a high-performing team.

  • Building Resilient Teams

    Learn to build resilient teams that adapt and thrive under pressure. Develop practical strategies to boost confidence, manage stress, and foster optimism and well-being across your organisation.

Mix. Match. Customise.

You don’t have to choose just one. We can combine elements from across these topics to create a tailored programme that meets your team’s exact needs, development goals and working context.

Whether you're looking for a one-off session or for a shifting culture across a whole department, we’ll work with you to design something truly relevant, practical and impactful, built from the parts that matter most to your people.

Talk to Us About Retention & Culture Training

Feedback & Testimonials

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Greater Manchester Combined Authority

“As someone responsible for staff development, I found the sessions practical and easy to apply. It’s rare to find training that feels this personalised.”

- HR Business Partner

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University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

“The trainer worked closely with our team before the course to understand our goals. The result was a well-structured and impactful session that boosted confidence across our managers.”

- Organisational Development Lead

West Midlands Police

“ModernGov’s training has helped us improve communication and decision-making in our organisation, which is critical for our HR processes.”


- Head of People & Culture,

More Feedback…

Camden Council

“The course exceeded all my expectations. The trainer was knowledgeable and engaging, tailoring content to our specific needs which made it really relevant.”
- Learning & Development Manager

HM Prison & Probation Services

“The course enabled me to see what aspects are important to the working world and important to me as an employee. I will be able to use the skillset in my own life and working life.”
- Administrative Officer

National Crime Agency

“I thought the trainer was exceptional. She was interactive, experienced and built a very good rapport with participants. The handouts will be very useful also.” – Senior Office, National Crime Agency.
- Senior Officer

South East Regional Organised Crime Unit

“Amazing course, instant results. Can be transformational. Can't wait to try this in my life. Mark is an amazing lead.”
- Detective Chief Inspector

Regulator Of Social Housing

“This is a really useful course. Regardless of your knowledge in the subject, whether you're attending as a newbie or as a well versed 360 feedback practitioner, there's plenty of tips and tricks to substantiate your learning. The trainer pace is just right, the content is thought provoking and the takeaways really enable constructive, strategic conversations to be had that will take your organisation forward.”
- Learning & Development Manager

Centre Point

“This course was really insightful and has given me a lot to go away and think about - but also reassuring that I am currently doing some of these actions! It helped build relationships across teams with those on the course and it will be useful for us to reflect back on and hold each other to account.”
Organisational Development Officer

Thames Valley Police

“This course was a full day of interesting discussions and so many tips to help create Action Plans and meeting agendas, direction on how to lead within change using transition rather than change. Brilliant day!”
- Criminal Justice Operational Manager

Success Stories: Mini Case Studies

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NHS Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

University of Liverpool

  • Challenge: Leaders and managers sought to strengthen team morale and improve inclusivity during a period of change and increased workload.

  • Approach: Delivered a tailored training programme focused on building positive team culture through active listening, fostering inclusion, and recognising team contributions.

  • Results: Improved team engagement and collaboration, with participants reporting a more supportive and inclusive working environment.

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

  • Challenge: Staff experiencing menopause were not consistently supported, affecting wellbeing and workplace inclusion. 

  • Approach: Delivered a tailored training series for leaders and team leads focused on raising awareness, creating psychological safety, and promoting practical support for menopausal staff. 

  • Results: Greater awareness and understanding of menopause in the workplace, increased participation in support initiatives, and more confident leadership in fostering an inclusive environment. 

HM Prison and Probation Service

  • Challenge: Teams were working in isolation, leading to limited communication and collaboration across departments.

  • Approach: Delivered a tailored programme designed to break down silos and encourage cross-team collaboration through interactive workshops and facilitated sessions.

  • Results: Enhanced cooperation between teams and improved trust and openness reported by leaders across service areas.

Catch 22 (Victim First)

  • Challenge: The organisation wanted to strengthen team culture to improve collaboration, inclusion, and overall staff wellbeing. 

  • Approach: Delivered tailored workshops for people managers focused on fostering a positive team culture through active listening, inclusive practices, and employee recognition. 

  • Results: Enhanced sense of belonging and teamwork, leading to improved staff engagement and a more supportive workplace environment. 

HM Prison & Probation Service logo with a crest and text.
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Submit an Enquiry For Team Training

What Happens After You Enquire?

  1. We contact you within one working day to discuss your goals and training needs.

  2. We hold a quick consultation to understand your specific requirements.

  3. We create a tailored course proposal with clear details and pricing based on your needs.

Why It Matters?

Our programmes are grounded in real public sector challenges and tailored to your team’s goals, roles and working environment

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46% of public sector leavers cite workplace culture or leadership as a key reason for leaving

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Teams that feel heard and valued show greater resilience and collaboration during change 

Engaged, supported employees are 3x more likely to stay and perform at high levels 

Inclusive, values-led cultures improve service delivery and employee wellbeing

Here’s Our 5 Step Process 

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Step 1: Initial Consultation

We work with you to gain an in-depth understanding of your specific needs.

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Step 2: Planning

We provide a detailed plan, agreeing your timeline, budget and training needs.

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Step 3: Training Design

With you, we find the right course structure and develop training exercises and materials for your needs.

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Step 4: Programme Delivery

Using a delivery method that suits your needs (online or face-to-face), we make sure the course runs to your requirements.

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Step 5: Post-Course

Using feedback reports, we provide you with detailed insight into the effectiveness of the training. As well as recommendations and follow-up training support.

Retention & Culture – Frequently Asked Questions

  • At ModernGov, we deliver in-house retention & Culture skills training for a wide range of public sector and publicly funded organisations, including:

    • Central government departments and local government bodies

    • Local authorities and councils

    • Charities and third-sector organisations delivering public services

    • NHS organisations and private healthcare providers

    • Schools, academies and higher education institutions

    • Police forces, emergency services and public safety organisations

    • Justice and legal organisations

  • Both. Training can be delivered on-site face-to-face, either at client locations or at our facilities, or virtually, or through a blended approach.

    This flexible approach allows public sector organisations to select the delivery method that best meets the needs of their workforce, locations and requirements.

  • Programme length varies depending on the organisation’s needs. We offer flexible options, including half-day workshops, multi-day intensive programmes, or multi-session leadership pathways spread over weeks or months.


  • This training is suitable for leaders, managers, HR professionals and teams within public sector organisations who are responsible for culture, performance, workforce engagement, retention and people management.

  • Yes. Our in-house programmes can be designed for mixed groups, bringing together participants from different teams or departments while ensuring the content remains relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

  • Training is delivered by experienced facilitators and people development specialists with strong public sector experience, combining practical knowledge with evidence-based techniques to help teams improve culture and retain their best people.


  • Yes. All retention and culture training programmes can be fully customised to meet the specific needs of each organisation, whether that’s a government department, local authority, healthcare provider, emergency service, or other public sector body.

    Content can be adapted for team size, leadership level, organisational priorities, and workforce challenges.

  • Organisations can contact ModernGov via our enquiry form, email or phone to discuss training requirements. We provide a consultation to understand needs, customise content and recommend the most suitable delivery approach.

  • Yes. While ModernGov specialises in in-house training for public sector organisations, we also work with private sector organisations, particularly those operating in regulated environments or delivering public services.

    Programmes are tailored to reflect each organisation’s context, priorities and challenges.

  • Yes. Retention and culture training often includes recruitment and selection skills, helping teams design effective recruitment campaigns, run structured interviews and support induction to improve attraction and onboarding experiences.