News

At the recent ICW Aviation Sector Lunch, we were pleased to award our prestigious Collaborative Pioneer Award to Tim Bullock of NATS.

The award recognises ICW members who have made significant contributions both to The Institute and to collaboration in general over a considerable period,.

A Fellow of the Institute and director of the board, Tim has been involved with ICW for over 10 years, and is passionately committed to collaboration.

Lord David Evans of Watford said: "Tim has been a truly fantastic supporter of the ICW. Over many years, he has worked tirelessly as a member of the ICW Board, encouraging others to join the Institute and experience the benefits of membership. When I was ICW Chairman, Tim was often by my side — offering a steadying hand through the ups and downs, with wise advice and loyal friendship. It gave me enormous pleasure to present this award to him."

Many congratulations Tim!

ICW Welcomes 8 New Members

ICW congratulates the following successful candidates on passing the latest ICW 44001 Leaders course held at Warwick University March 17-20th And welcomes them as Members of the Institute.

Alison Auld, Catrina Lynch, Ben Baxendale, Louise Lyford, Stuart McNamara, Mike Preston, Caroline Brown and Joanne Power.

The group are seen here with Leigh Lawry, the course Tutor, and Paul Connor, the adjudicator.

If you would like to consider doing the course, follow this link.

The ICW Aviation Sector Networking Lunch, proudly sponsored by NATS, brought together a group of organisations truly committed to collaboration in the industry, for an afternoon of new introductions, meaningful discussion and connection. The event was introduced by Lord John Hannett OBE, ICW Chairman, with an inspiring keynote speech from Fiona Hill, NATS Director of Airport Operations.

The aviation sector thrives on precision, efficiency, and trust to ensure that safety is always paramount. From air traffic management to infrastructure development and sustainability initiatives, working together closely and in collaboration ensures safer skies, smoother operations, and a more resilient future. In an industry where complexity meets innovation and rapid technological changes and opportunities, structured collaboration drives efficiency, innovation, and long-term success.

Bringing leaders together in exclusive venues, fosters an environment where ideas can flourish, partnerships can be strengthened, and meaningful conversations can take place away from day-to-day pressures. ICW events like this elevate industry engagement, enabling decision-makers to connect, share insights, and help shape the future of aviation in a setting that inspires excellence.

We look forward to welcoming industry leader members to more of these sector events in the future... advancing collaboration to make good things happen.

A special Aviation Sector Collaboration Luncheon will take place at the House of Lords this week, hosted by the Institute for Collaborative Working and sponsored by NATS, to celebrate the power of collaboration in the aviation industry.

The event highlights how partnership-driven approaches in air traffic management, airport infrastructure, and supply chain operations have been at the foundation of, and continue to drive, safety, innovation, resilience and sustainability.

Aviation has long been a pioneer in collaboration, with organisations like NATS leading the way in creating trust-based partnerships that deliver efficiency and value. These collaborations have advanced air traffic management systems, infrastructure deployment projects, sustainability efforts, and supply chain relationships. The luncheon will recognise outstanding collaborative achievements, encourage dialogue among industry leaders, and highlight best practices for building a more sustainable and resilient aviation sector.

The event aims to inspire future partnerships and innovations to ensure the continued progress of the sector, with ICW members at the forefront of this transformational change, through collaboration.

ICW is delighted to announce that BAM UK & Ireland will once again be the proud sponsor of our Annual Collaborative Working Reception at the House of Lords on 14th of May. This year, we are honoured to welcome Alan Cox, BAM's Managing Director, as our keynote speaker.

As an Ambassador Member of ICW, BAM consistently champions collaborative working, not just through active participation in our thought leadership activities but also through its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and knowledge-sharing. From strategic partnerships to on-the-ground engagement in our initiatives and site visits, BAM continues to push the boundaries of best practice in collaboration.

ICW Chief Executive, Frank Lee, said: "We are thrilled to have such a distinguished organisation as BAM - whose values so closely align with those of ICW - sponsoring our reception this year. We look forward to welcoming Alan Cox and many of his outstanding colleagues, including Gillian Peters and Brian Walton, to the House of Lords for what promises to be an inspiring afternoon.

"A huge thank you to BAM for their ongoing support and commitment to strengthening collaboration."

Please note: this is an Executive Network event and is by invitation only.

It was great for the ICW to be part of the Interchange Round Table on 'Collaborative innovation for sustainable value' at Interchange 25 (Connected | Transport | Infrastructure) in Manchester today.

Hosted by Skanska UK (Simon Cresswell) and the Rail Supply Group (Paul Corcoran), we joined a group of influential and committed organisations to discuss how we might realise greater sustainable value through collaborative and sustainable innovation.

Participating Organisations were - Amco Giffen, Buro Happold, Composite Braiding Ltd, Connected Places Catapult, Crown Commercial Service (CCS), Department for Business & Trade, Department for Transport, Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), High Speed 2 (HS2), Innovate UK Catapult, Institute for Collaborative Working, Network Rail, Rail Forum, Rail Industry Association (RIA), Rail Supply Group, Skanska, Unipart, WSP (HS2 and GCRE were not present but are part of the initiative).

At the heart of the conversation is the Rail Supply Group's Rail Sector Innovation Charter.

Great discussions with BSI Assurance this week!

As many of you know, ICW CEO Frank Lee always enjoys getting out of the office to visit our members and learn more about their work. This week, Adrian Miller, James Brener, and Frank had the pleasure of meeting with our Ambassador Member, BSI, where they were able to explore the fantastic work BSI is doing in sustainability, particularly the BSI Net Zero Pathway, as well as in digital trust—two crucial areas where collaboration is key to helping organisations address these challenges more effectively.

Their discussions also focused on enhancing collaboration in the UK, especially in supporting SMEs as a vital part of the government's growth agenda. Beyond the UK, they explored opportunities in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, looking at how we can work together to support our mutual members and clients.

A huge thank you to the BSI team for the warm welcome and for sharing the inspiring initiatives they are leading!

Strengthening Collaboration for a Better East Midlands

Frank Lee, alongside colleague Henry Pavey MBA, CTArcf, FICW, had the pleasure of meeting Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), for an exciting and insightful discussion on collaboration.

Together they explored how partnerships with EMCCA's supply chain—particularly in green energy, housing, and transport—can drive greater social value and deliver long-term economic benefits, especially for the region's most deprived communities.

A key theme was how greater collaboration across the devolved combined authorities nationwide could unlock even greater benefits for local communities.

It was also fantastic to meet Claire Spencer and Niamh Carey from Claire Ward's team and discuss how deeper collaboration between local authorities, businesses, educational institutions, and community organisations is critical to achieving EMCCA's ambitious goals.

By working together, we can:

• Leverage Resources - Enabling more effective and efficient project implementation.
• Align Strategies - Ensuring initiatives complement rather than compete, maximizing impact.
• Enhance Innovation - Bringing diverse perspectives to solve regional challenges and drive inclusive growth.
• Strengthen Advocacy - Creating a unified voice to secure funding and policy support at the national level.

Collaboration is at the heart of progress, and we’re looking forward to continuing these discussions to help drive meaningful change in the East Midlands!

We are delighted to announce that, as part of our desire to promote collaboration in the Middle East, supporting the region's ambitious development agenda, Graham Thomson has been appointed as ICW's Middle East Envoy.

The region is undergoing rapid transformation across key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, construction and technology. As projects grow in scale and complexity, the principles of collaborative working are more crucial than ever in ensuring sustainable success.

This strategic appointment aligns with ICW's mission to promote structured collaboration across borders, enabling organisations to navigate complex challenges and achieve long-term, high-value outcomes through effective partnerships. Our members will also benefit from the insights gained. These include emerging best practices, regional experiences and new approaches that can strengthen collaborative working across industries and geographies.

Graham is a recognised leader in alliancing models, digital contract management and enabling collaborative working practices. As a senior executive at Affinitext, an ICW-affiliated member organisation, he brings deep expertise in ISO 44001 frameworks and a wealth of practical experience in fostering collaboration across industries.

His ability to engage diverse stakeholders and drive real-world application of collaborative principles makes him an outstanding advocate for ICW's vision in the Middle East. We look forward to working closely with Graham to support members, partners and organisations across the region.

Please join us in welcoming Graham to this role as we take this exciting next step in ICW's global reach.

We are pleased to announce that our Chairman, Lord John Hannett, has been newly appointed to a prestigious Government position - as below:

"I am honoured to be appointed by the Prime Minister as the Official UK Government Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka.

"I look forward to strengthening trade ties, fostering investment opportunities, and supporting businesses that will drive growth and prosperity for the people of the UK and Sri Lanka.

"I am also excited to collaborate with government departments in both countries to deliver mutual benefits that contribute to the Prime Minister's vision of delivering economic growth for the UK. Building strong partnerships and creating lasting opportunities together."

ICW will be supporting the Chairman in this exciting new role, in any way we can.