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In a newly published article on Project Management Global, Frank Lee, ICW's CEO, and Tara Sinclair, Communications Manager at TRU West Alliance, highlight how structured collaboration - underpinned by ISO 44001 - was key to the success of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).

This major railway infrastructure project brought together multiple delivery partners, including ICW Executive members Network Rail, BAM and Amey. In recognition of their collaborative efforts, the TRU Alliance was assessed and achieved the first-ever ICW Leading Edge collaborator validation award in June 2024.

Key Takeaways:

• Standards like ISO 44001 are essential tools for embedding collaboration into business processes, leadership, behaviour and culture - enabling safer, stronger, and more resilient outcomes.
• A structured approach to collaboration is a powerful differentiator. When applied strategically, it drives innovation, improves relationships and delivery, and boosts efficiency across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

For organisations and their project teams navigating increasing complexity, risk, and evolving supply chains, the message is clear: structured collaboration is no longer optional - it's essential.

Read the full article published by Project Management Global: The Truth About Standards – Unlocking Collaborative Power.

Last week, the Institute for Collaborative Working visited Sellafield at Hinton House, Birchwood, to share updates, exchange insights, and explore new opportunities to strengthen our relationship.

Highlights included:

• ICW reflections on developments and opportunities for cross-sector engagement and sharing.
• Sellafield updates on their 'Programme and Project Partners' initiative, Key contract delivery transitions and their Supplier Relationship Management programme.
• Productive discussions on the ICW Nuclear Forum status and key topics for future impact.
• Plans for the ICW Chairman and CEO to visit the main site in Cumbria.

Andy Van Schaick, Commercial & Supply Chain Leadership at Sellafield, said:

"Working with ICW helps us challenge ourselves, refine our approach, and deliver better outcomes for our stakeholders and suppliers. Our membership is about driving continual improvement, through sharing and learning across sectors, with other organisations with similar values and aspirations, to deliver greater value through collaboration. The ICW's passion for embedding collaboration principles to all types of business in a range of industries is evident. This ranges from free to use collaboration tools, the offer of their professionals who can provide sound advice on such matters as well as facilitating network connections."

Frank Lee, ICW Chief Executive, said:

"Sellafield are a significant and valued member of the Institute, and we can see how their leadership and teams continue to demonstrate what structured, value led collaboration looks like in action. It's exciting to see their maturity journey progressing and the positive impact it's having in their partnerships and supply chain development programme."

Our Chairman, Lord John Hannett, was delighted to host a lunch at the House of Lords last Thursday for Rachel Ellison, Claudio Tassistro and Odilon Serrano, MICW from our Executive Network member Mott MacDonald, along with our good friend Nicola Benjamin from Project Management Global Ltd.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to exchange insights on the importance of collaboration in managing and delivering complex infrastructure programmes and projects - those that drive better outcomes for communities, organisations, and the wider economy. It also served to strengthen valuable cross-sector relationships.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a rich and thoughtful discussion.

We were delighted to co-host this inspiring on 2nd July at The Shard, in collaboration with Developing Business-Aware Academics and University of Warwick.

The event provided a unique opportunity to bring together senior leaders from industry, academia, and policy to explore how the UK's world-class research community can help address real-world challenges and drive positive societal and economic change.

We were honoured to open the event with remarks from Frank Lee FICW, CEO of ICW, and Professor Alison Truelove, Project Director of Developing Business-Aware Academics.

The Keynote address by Lord Jim Knight, former Parliamentary Cabinet Minister and respected industry leader, set the tone for a day full of insight and energy. A dynamic panel discussion followed, featuring:

• David Payne, Springer Nature
• Professor Helen Berry, University of Exeter
• Simon Reid, Babcock International Group
• Oliver Walmsley, Warwick Innovation District
• Debbie Johnson, Innovate UK

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day a success - your passion and collaboration made all the difference. A special mention to Kirsty Kelley, University of Exeter.

At ICW, we believe that collaboration is the key to unlocking innovation and driving meaningful impact. We look forward to continuing the conversation and strengthening the connections between research and real-world impact.

Photos from the Event

ICW is pleased to welcome GLA Group as a new member of our Executive Network.

The GLA Group is made up of the Greater London Authority and its functional bodies (Transport for London, Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, London Fire Commissioner, London Legacy Development Corporation and Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation) - all dedicated to serving London, and Londoners. The aim of GLA Group Collaboration is to remove operational and cultural barriers to joint working, enabling GLA Group organisations and key partners to be willing and able to work together as effectively and efficiently as if they were part of the same organisation.

ICW's CEO, Frank Lee, said: "I am delighted to welcome the Greater London Authority (GLA) Group to the Institute for Collaborative Working. Collaboration is vital across organisations, where complex challenges demand joined-up thinking and shared outcomes. By embracing structured collaboration through ICW, the GLA Group are strengthening their ability to deliver better, more integrated ways of working—bringing real benefits to Londoners now and into the future."

Charly Hutson, Director of GLA Group Collaboration, added: "We are working to build collaboration into the core of what we do, in order to be more efficient, effective and to provide the best value for money. We are delighted to join the Institute of Collaborative Working to help us meet these aims.

Find out more about GLA Group here.

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