News

We are delighted to welcome AWE as a new Executive Network member of the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW).

Frank Lee, CEO of ICW, said: "AWE's commitment to collaborative working reflects their dedication to building trusted partnerships that deliver lasting value, and ICW is delighted to welcome them as members in support of this shared ethos."

The benefits of AWE's membership include gaining insights and expertise from a wide-ranging community across business, academia and industry - in addition to access to training, focus groups, events and resources tailored to improving collaborations and their impact.

Lord Hannett OBE, Chairman of ICW, added: "AWE has a critical national mission and at the heart of that is collaborative working, so I am really pleased to see them continuing to lead, innovate and excel in collaborative practices."

Find out more about AWE Nuclear Security Technologies here.

ICW welcomed delegates, some of whom travelled all the way from Canada and Saudi Arabia, to Warwick University this last week to undertake the ICW ISO 44001 Leaders course lead by Leigh Lawry.

The successful candidates will in due course be automatically enrolled as members of the institute.

The photo shows the candidates with Leigh and Dr Paul Conor the course invigilator.

Back row: Amy Halstead, Heather Catt, Frances Webb, Lucy Thorpe, Emma Thompson and Leigh Lawry

Front row: John Barry, Paul Connor, Christopher Farinaccio, and Abdulmajeed Almoagal

ICW is pleased to welcome AtkinsRéalis as our newest Executive Network member. We were delighted to see them represented at last week's ICW Reception at the House of Lords, alongside other Executive Network members.

AtkinsRéalis are a world-class engineering services and nuclear organisation, connecting people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems, in line with their corporate vision of "Engineering a better world, for the people and our planet". With a broad base of collaborative relationships with clients, industry partners, and the internal global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, they continue to create additional value across their markets in the built environment.

ICW CEO Frank Lee said:
"AtkinsRéalis have a long history of working collaboratively with clients and partners alike, and have been part of several successful ICW collaborative awards submissions over the years and. We look forward to working with them in the future."

Leeds University Business School and the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations.

The partnership was formally announced at the ICW's Annual Reception at the House of Lords on 14 May 2025 by ICW Chairman Lord Hannett - an event that brought together influential voices across industry and government to celebrate collaboration and shared progress.

This new agreement establishes a long-term framework for academic collaboration, research initiatives, and executive education development, with a shared focus on enhancing standards in collaborative working and contributing to national policy development in areas such as public procurement and supply chain management.

Through the partnership, Leeds University Business School will contribute to and help evolve the ICW's executive education portfolio, supporting the delivery and development of courses with a focus on both UK and international participants. The collaboration will also support the creation of co-authored content such as white papers and policy briefs, offer new opportunities for cross-disciplinary research, and strengthen engagement between ICW's member network and academic experts.

Professor David Loseby, Professor of Research Impact at Leeds University Business School and a recognised expert in behavioural science and procurement, attended the House of Lords Reception alongside Professor Chee Wong, Professor of Supply Chain Management.

"This partnership represents a strategic meeting of minds - built on a shared ambition to raise standards in collaborative working. By embedding this thinking into education and research, we can equip the next generation of business leaders with the skills to build more effective partnerships across sectors."
- Professor David Loseby

"A key mission of the Institute is to act as a bridge across academia, the public, private, and third sectors-bringing these communities together to develop collaborative capabilities and competencies at both organisational and individual levels. I am proud to be working with Leeds University Business School, a prestigious and highly ranked institution, and I am confident that this relationship will strengthen our ability to fulfil this mission-advancing the knowledge, reach, and practice of effective collaborative working."
- Frank Lee, ICW CEO

As part of the agreement, both organisations have committed to fostering real-world impact. This includes developing pilot projects with ICW member organisations, contributing to the nationally endorsed Collaboration Playbook, and promoting best practice in the field of collaboration through events, mentoring and joint publications.

The partnership also opens new avenues for student benefit - helping students understand the principles of collaborative working and how they can apply them throughout their careers.

Quarterly meetings between the two organisations will begin in June 2025 to coordinate the roll-out of activities.

To learn more about Leeds University Business School, visit their website.

Celebrating Collaborative Success Together!

Basking in sunshine and shared purpose, today we had the great pleasure of welcoming ICW's corporate members, their guests, and speakers to the ICW Collaborative Working Reception 2025, hosted at the prestigious House of Lords.

The event kicked off with a warm address from Lord John Hannett OBE, ICW's Chairman, and brought together leaders and advocates of collaborative working from across sectors.

From the official launch of the Collaborative Awards 2025 to the unveiling of the 2025 edition of The Partner - our flagship annual publication - this special occasion highlighted the power and potential of strategic collaborations.

We were particularly inspired by the keynote address from Alan Cox, Managing Director at BAM UK & Ireland, who shared powerful insights on the importance of collaboration in overcoming industry challenges and how effective collaborative working creates long-term, tangible value.

Key highlights from the day included:

• Leading Edge Award presented to Modus Ltd and partners - Vercity, Amey, Skanska, and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
• ISO 44001 Certifications awarded to CGI and Mitie.
• ICW Fellowships presented to Edward Moore and Stephen Scott.

Their dedication and longstanding commitment to collaborative working continue to inspire our community and drive positive change across industries.

Our sincere thanks to BAM UK & Ireland, our valued Ambassador Member and event sponsor, for their ongoing support and leadership in this space.

With sunshine, celebration, and strong connections, the day was a true reflection of what collaboration means and what it can achieve.

To see more photos from the event, click here

Today we were delighted to co-host the 'Collaboration in Technology' event with our esteemed Executive Network member Sellafield Ltd, at Birchwood Park. The event opened with a warm welcome from ICW CEO Frank Lee.

This timely gathering explored how collaborative approaches drive technology adoption, accelerate innovation, and tackle industry-wide challenges.

Event highlights included:

Dr Eirini Etoimou (Sellafield) - The Importance of Collaboration in New Technological Solutions
Claire Cleaver-Jones - Advanced Technology at Sellafield Ltd
Anuj Puri & Sajesh Gopinath (UST) - Collaborating with customers in development and implementation of AI solutions
Stuart Crawford (NATS) - Bringing Organisations Together in a Collaborative Approach to Provide a technical solution

The event concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion on how collaboration drives progress on sustainability goals.

A big thank-you to all who participated and contributed to the success of the day!

It was a pleasure for ICW Chairman Lord John Hannett, and our Membership Services Director Adrian Miller, to host Colette Carroll (Managing Director, Atkins Realis) Richard Holm, FICW (Collaboration Lead, Atkins Realis), and Matt Page (Managing Director, BSI) for a thought-provoking lunch at the House of Lords on 22nd April 2025. Hearing the commitment of these leading organisations to collaboration, their achievements and aims, is truly inspiring.

We are excited to continue this journey together with our members, to drive collaboration forward and help make a real difference that improves economic and social prosperity.

As the impact of climate change continues to make headlines worldwide, it is clear that the most effective solutions will come from collective action, not isolated efforts. This is the philosophy driving NATS, a leader in the aviation sector, as they work to achieve their ambitious Target Zero promise. With a focus on reducing carbon emissions, NATS recognises the pivotal role its suppliers play in helping meet sustainability goals—and in April 2023, the company took a significant step forward by launching the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum.

The Forum's purpose is simple yet powerful: to foster collaboration, share best practices, and inspire collective action to address sustainability challenges within NATS' supply chain. From the very first meeting with 20 companies, NATS laid out a vision of creating a community where learning and innovation thrive. Today, the forum has grown to 40 diverse companies, spanning well-known global brands to small and medium-sized enterprises, all united by a common goal of reducing their environmental impact.

What sets this forum apart is its truly collaborative approach. Rather than being a top-down, NATS-led event, the Forum encourages equal participation and leadership among all members. In 2024, the forum was hosted virtually by two members, showcasing fresh perspectives and reinforcing the idea that collaboration should come from all corners of the community. By the end of 2024, 17 different subjects had been discussed, from carbon budgets to AI & sustainability, offering members valuable insights and a deeper understanding of global sustainability initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and COP 27.

A key aspect of the Forum's success has been its focus on inclusivity. NATS' Sustainability Team provides one-on-one master classes to help less mature companies develop their sustainability strategies. This hands-on support has already led to tangible results, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) committing to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Moreover, transparency has improved across the supply chain, with better visibility of suppliers' emissions, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals are now integrated into contracts.

As the Forum continues to grow, so too does the sense of community. Attendees have begun to form their own forums and engage in offline discussions, further fostering collaboration and shared learning. The feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the Forum's ability to bring new information, diverse perspectives, and actionable insights to the table. While sustainability remains at the heart of the Forum's agenda, there are plans to expand discussions to cover other crucial ESG topics in the future.

The success of the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum was recognised in 2024 when it won the Sustainability category at the Institute for Collaborative Working annual Awards, a testament to its collaborative nature and the positive impact it is having on the broader sustainability ecosystem.

As Claire Cole and Jake Goble, convenors of the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum, reflect on the Forum's achievements, they are filled with optimism about the future: "We have truly built a community of like-minded organisations committed to sustainability. Together, we are making meaningful strides toward a net-zero future."

Institute for Collaborative Working partners with DBAA

The Developing Business-Aware Academics (DBAA) project is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW).

The partnership will explore the modes of engagement between academic and non-academic partners, the potential of diverse research talent to meet business needs, and how best to collaborate to ensure mutual benefit.

The Institute for Collaborative Working brings together organisations, large and small, from across multiple sectors to build and develop effective business relationships, based on collaborative working good practice.

It is a recognised leader in collaborative working and expert in the international standard for collaboration in business - ISO 44001.

DBAA brings together academics, industry, non-profits and policy makers to encourage mobility of people and ideas, boost the economy, and enable a healthier, more sustainable and socially-just future for all.

Working in partnership with ICW enables us to bring together organisations across academic and non-academic contexts to gain insights on how best to create mutual benefit and successful cross-sector partnerships.

Find out more about working with Developing Business-Aware Academics on our Partners page or download our brochure here.

by Trevor Gore, Associate Director, ICW

7th of April is World Health Day, and the focus this year is "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: focusing on maternal health". Now whilst that doesn't sound a promising starting place for an article on collaboration, it did start me thinking...

Pregnancy isn't just about doctor visits - it takes a whole team. Obstetricians, midwives, nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers all play a role in supporting moms before, during, and after birth. Pharmacists, for example, can do more than just fill prescriptions. They can provide prenatal vitamins, vaccines like flu and Whooping cough, and advice on medication safety to keep both mum and baby healthy. They can also screen for conditions like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure-helping at-risk moms get the care they need sooner.

Many women feel unsupported after birth, especially regarding mental health, breastfeeding, and recovery. Closer working between maternity teams, health visitors, community pharmacists, and mental health services to provide more holistic postnatal support, requires a collaborative mindset with the new mother at the centre. The phrase "No decision about me, without me" became a key principle in UK healthcare policy, particularly under the 2010 NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. It emphasised patient-centred care, ensuring that individuals are involved in decisions about their treatment and care. In maternity services this means ensuring pregnant women are fully involved in decisions about their birth preferences (e.g., home birth vs. hospital birth, pain relief options), and what level of support is appropriate for them when they return home.

Healthcare doesn't stop at the clinic doors. Strong partnerships with local organisations, NGOs, and community groups can help address things like access to nutritious food, mental health resources, and safe housing. Peer support programs - where experienced moms mentor first-time mothers - can boost confidence and emotional well-being. Because sometimes, you just need to hear "You've got this": from someone who's been there. The number one source of information for the 1st time mum, is still her own mother.

The best healthcare happens when providers learn from each other. Cross-training sessions between doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can strengthen teamwork and improve maternal care and when healthcare professionals understand different cultural perspectives on pregnancy and childbirth, they can provide more personalised, respectful care. Sadly, we have seen too many examples of siloed thinking in maternity, leading to disastrous outcomes for both mother and baby.

Beyond medical care, policies make a huge difference in maternal health. When healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health advocates work together, they can push for: Better maternity leave policies: Increased access to contraception and more funding for maternal health programs. Public-private partnerships can also bring in much-needed resources to improve maternal healthcare services. When healthcare professionals, community leaders, and policymakers collaborate, moms get the care, support, and respect they need for a healthy pregnancy and a bright future. Because when we work together, everyone wins - especially the next generation.

trevor.gore@icw.uk.com