News

The House of Lords provided the setting for a high-level business luncheon hosted by the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) on 22 April, bringing together leaders from across the UK public sector and its supply chain.

Welcomed by Lord John Hannett of Everton, this invitation-only event created a valuable forum for public sector collaboration, enabling open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and relationship-building among professionals committed to improving public service delivery. ICW also welcomed Ambassador members, including representatives from BSI, highlighting the growing global importance of collaboration standards.

Collaboration as a Strategic Imperative

In his address, Frank Lee, Chief Executive Officer of ICW, reinforced a clear message: collaboration is no longer optional; it is foundational to effective public service delivery.

As organisations respond to increasingly complex and interconnected challenges, including national security, economic growth, infrastructure delivery, the transition to net zero, and the delivery of social value, it is clear that these issues cannot be addressed in isolation. Effective collaboration across sectors, organisations, and geographies is critical to achieving sustainable outcomes.

A System-Wide Approach to Collaborative Working

Effective collaborative working in the public sector must operate across four key levels:

• Central government collaboration: aligning departments around shared outcomes to improve accountability, reduce duplication and deliver better value for money
• Public sector partnerships: strengthening links between government and arm's length bodies to connect policy with delivery capability
• Devolved and local collaboration: enabling national priorities and local insight to work together through shared data and aligned governance
• Public-private collaboration: moving beyond transactional procurement towards long-term partnerships with the government supply chain

This system-wide approach enables faster decision-making, improved programme delivery and more resilient public services.

Turning Strategy into Action: The ICW Collaboration Playbook

A key highlight of the event was the ICW Collaboration Playbook, a practical framework designed to embed collaborative working practices across organisations.

Developed with input from leaders across government, local authorities, arm's length bodies and industry, the Playbook provides guidance on:

• Leadership behaviours that enable collaboration
• Governance and decision-making frameworks
• Commercial models aligned to outcomes
• Data sharing, transparency and trust

The Playbook supports organisations in moving from intent to scalable, repeatable collaboration, improving outcomes across complex delivery environments.

The Tangible Benefits of Collaborative Working

Discussions reinforced the clear benefits of public sector collaboration, including:

• Improved value for money through shared resources and reduced duplication
• Faster and more aligned infrastructure and programme delivery
• Enhanced resilience through shared capability and risk management
• Stronger trust between government, partners and citizens

However, successful collaboration requires more than intent. It depends on leadership, governance, transparency and cultural change, shifting from organisational silos to shared outcomes.

Building a Collaborative Future for Public Services

The discussion at the House of Lords reinforced a critical point: collaboration is a strategic capability for government and its partners. As the UK public sector continues to navigate complexity and change, embedding collaborative working practices will be essential to delivering long-term value, resilience, and impact.

ICW extends its thanks to all attendees and looks forward to continuing to support organisations in advancing public sector collaboration.

ICW, in partnership with Babcock International Group, hosted an Executive Knowledge Exchange at Babcock's London headquarters on 19 March 2026.

The event brought together senior leaders from a number of sectors, including defence, construction, aviation, nuclear, and artificial intelligence, creating a dynamic forum focused on advancing collaboration as a strategic capability. Discussions explored cross-sector partnerships, SME engagement, and practical approaches to embedding collaborative working across organisations.

Simon Reid, Managing Director at Babcock International Group, chaired the session, highlighting that effective collaboration is no longer optional - it is essential for organisations working successfully with customers, suppliers, and SMEs. Frank Lee, ICW CEO, welcomed attendees and reinforced the value of cross-company and cross-sector knowledge sharing, noting how these exchanges strengthen both individual organisations and the wider collaborative ecosystem.

The session featured contributions from leaders across ICW's Executive Network, offering real-world insights and diverse perspectives on driving cross-sector collaboration. Key highlights included:

Simon Reid (Babcock International Group) - Simon shared the intent behind Babcock's SME Charter, illustrating how it fosters stronger collaboration with smaller suppliers and partners. The charter is openly available for use and adoption by other organisations via the Babcock website.

Denis Leonard (Graham Group) - Denis highlighted Graham's 'Collaborative Leading Edge' recognition, explaining how it supports the company's ambition to embed collaborative working practices at all levels.

Gary Shuttleworth and Emma Bevilacqua (Morgan Sindall) - They explored how Morgan Sindall is integrating ISO 44001 principles across its business, demonstrating both the challenges and successes of embedding collaboration strategically across projects and teams.

Anuj Puri (UST) - Anuj provided a forward-looking perspective on AI in collaboration, exploring how emerging technologies can enhance connectivity, decision-making, and cross-organisational working.

Q&A and Open Executive Discussion - Attendees engaged in a lively, interactive discussion, exchanging insights, debating challenges, and identifying practical ways to bring collaborative ideas back into their organisations.

The event reinforced ICW's commitment to championing cross-sector learning and collaborative practice, connecting leaders, and promoting actionable insights for improved organisational performance. ICW will continue to host Executive Exchange sessions in the future. Members are invited to get involved-whether to host, speak, or participate - and help shape the ongoing dialogue on collaboration.

The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) is pleased to announce that BAM, our long-standing Ambassador Member, will once again be the proud sponsor of our Annual Collaborative Working Reception at the House of Lords, taking place on 26 June 2026.

This flagship event brings together ICW Executive Network members, industry leaders, and partners from across sectors to celebrate the value and impact of collaborative working.

Frank Lee, CEO of ICW, said: "We are delighted that BAM - an organisation whose values closely align with those of ICW and which actively champions collaboration and the positive impact it can deliver across the infrastructure sector - is once again supporting our Executive Network reception. Collaboration is most powerful when diverse perspectives are brought into leadership and decision-making. This year, we are placing a special focus on recognising the vital role that female collaborative leaders and practitioners play in strengthening partnerships, shaping inclusive cultures, and delivering lasting impact across projects, organisations and sectors."

Gillian Peters, Preconstruction Director (Infrastructure) at BAM UK & Ireland, who represents BAM on the ICW's Ambassador Members Board, will attend the reception, alongside colleagues and partners committed to advancing collaborative working across the sector.

This exclusive, invitation-only reception at the House of Lords provides a unique opportunity for senior leaders to network at the highest level, celebrate excellence in collaborative working, and explore the future of collaboration.

ICW looks forward to welcoming BAM, ICW Executive Network members and their guests, including leaders from sectors where collaboration makes a real difference, to an event celebrating the power and value of working together.

The ICW March Leaders Course held last week at Warwick University was truly an international affair, with delegates coming from Canada, Australia, Wales, and England to do the course.

The 7 Delegates are seen here with the course tutor Leigh Lawry and the Exam invigilator Dr Paul Connor.

L to R: Tom Bastians (Australia), Brianne Fox (Canada), Paul Connor , Russel Hunter (Canada), Marla Gerein (Canada), Dafydd Guto Carrod (Wales), Leigh Lawry, Richard Fraser-Williams (Wales), and Mike Raynor (England).

The successful candidates will automatically be enrolled into the institute and have the use of the post nominal MICW after their name.

The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) recently brought together a group of outstanding female collaborative leaders for a business lunch at the House of Lords. The event was hosted by ICW Chairman Lord John Hannett of Everton, along with ICW CEO Frank Lee.

The lunch formed part of ICW's ongoing commitment to collaborative leadership, inclusive partnerships and cross-sector engagement. Bringing together senior women from across sectors and our executive network, the session provided a valuable opportunity for open dialogue, insight sharing and the exchange of perspectives on strengthening collaboration and delivering lasting value.

Supporting Collaborative Leadership and Inclusive Participation

ICW has long championed diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration as essential elements of successful partnership working. The lunch provided an opportunity to explore how ICW can continue strengthening its collaborative and inclusive culture, ensuring that talented professionals from a wide range of backgrounds feel welcome and represented within our collaborative community.

Key themes included:

• Encouraging member organisations to put forward talented female leaders to participate in ICW events, programmes and leadership initiatives.
• Strengthening the participation of women in collaborative leadership roles across sectors.
• Exploring opportunities to form an ongoing informal advisory group that ICW can consult as it continues to develop initiatives that support inclusive collaboration.
• The Value of Diverse Perspectives in Collaboration

A central theme of the discussion was the importance of collaborative leadership that draws on a broad range of experiences and viewpoints. Participants highlighted how organisations that actively engage diverse perspectives are better positioned to foster innovation, improve decision-making and deliver stronger outcomes across complex collaborations.

ICW is grateful for the leadership, candour and expertise shared during the lunch. These perspectives will help inform the continued development of ICW's inclusive and impactful collaborative community.

Building on Strong Foundations

The discussion also reinforced the strength of the existing ICW network and the organisation's ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for collaboration, leadership development and knowledge sharing.

ICW looks forward to continuing these discussions with its members and partners, building on strong foundations to support inclusive collaboration and strengthen partnerships across sectors.

We are delighted to welcome NRS to The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) Executive Network.

NRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority responsible for safely decommissioning the first-generation nuclear and research sites across the UK and restoring the sites for all our futures.

NRS also operates a hydro-electric power plant and are preparing to welcome the seven advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) sites, currently managed by EDF, for decommissioning. Hunterston B site, located in Scotland, will be the first AGR site to join NRS in April 2026, followed by the Hinkley Point B site, located in Somerset, in the autumn.

Dounreay, is located at the far north of Scotland and was Britain's former centre of fast reactor research and development. The experimental nature of many of its redundant facilities means the clean-up and demolition requires innovation as well as great care. The intention is to decommission Dounreay and leave it in a safe condition for future generations. The skills and enterprise it fosters are giving Scottish companies a platform to compete in the global decommissioning market.

Fiona Bruce, NRS Head of Commercial Strategy & Business Development, said: "At NRS, collaboration is fundamental to how we deliver our mission. As part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group, we work collectively across our sites, our supply chain and our wider partners to safely, securely and sustainably decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear facilities.

"Joining the ICW Executive Network strengthens our commitment to building trusted, long‑term partnerships that support innovation, enhance capability, drive change and deliver greater value for our communities and the UK taxpayer. Through shared learning, transparency and a consistent focus on outcome‑based delivery, we aim to help shape a more collaborative culture across the nuclear sector - one that enables us all to achieve more, together."

Frank Lee, ICW's CEO said: "We are delighted to welcome Nuclear Restoration Services to our Executive Network. As a critically important organisation within the UK's nuclear landscape, NRS brings valuable expertise and leadership, and we look forward to working together to strengthen collaboration across the nuclear sector, delivering safer, more innovative and effective outcomes for the benefit of UK society and citizens."

A new chapter in ICW history was written at Sellafield this week, when Leigh Lawry and Paul Connor delivered an on-site ICW 44001 Leaders Course at Hinton House, Sellafield's Warrington Office.

All nine female candidates, who were drawn from the Sellafield group of Companies and their supply chains members, reached and passed the required marks to pass the course and be enrolled into the Institute as members.

The new MICWs are shown here with Paul Connor and Leigh Lawrey. They are (L to R): Lesley Sewell, Sarah Dockeray, Rosemary Gott, Helen Hughes, Valerie Slack, Aleksandra Radecka-Taylor, Terri-Louse Calvin, Laura Wood, and Hilary Craig.

Congratulation to you all and welcome to ICW.

The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) recently hosted an invitation-only working lunch at the House of Lords, kindly supported by Leidos, our long-standing Ambassador Member.

The event brought together senior leaders from across the UK defence industry, including representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and government, to explore how stronger, more structured collaboration with SMEs can drive growth, innovation, and the long-term security of the United Kingdom.

Strengthening Collaboration Across the Defence Supply Chain

The event opened with a welcome from Lord Hannett of Everton, Chairman of ICW, followed by a keynote address from Adam Clarke, Leidos UK CEO. Adam highlighted the critical role SMEs play within the defence supply chain, emphasising that effective collaborative engagement is essential to unlocking specialist capabilities, strengthening operational resilience, and supporting sustainable growth across the sector.

Government Commitment to SME Engagement in Defence

The discussion was further enriched by insights from Lord Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence, who spoke about the vital contribution of the SME community to the UK's defence capability. He outlined the steps the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is taking to make collaboration more accessible for SMEs, including the introduction of a single point of contact initiative, and recognised the important role ICW plays in enabling collaborative working between industry and government.

Enabling Effective Collaboration Through Best Practice

The session concluded with a Q&A led by Frank Lee, CEO of ICW, and Jaynie Davies, Director - Leidos Supply. The discussion explored how organisations such as Leidos are actively supporting effective collaboration with SME partners and showcased the breadth of support ICW provides to help SMEs and larger organisations build stronger, more productive collaborative relationships. This included insights into ICW's defence-focused forums, designed to support knowledge sharing and best practice across the sector.

Building a More Resilient and Inclusive Defence Ecosystem

ICW looks forward to building on the conversations from this event and continuing to support collaborative relationships that strengthen a resilient, inclusive, and innovative UK defence ecosystem - one that fully recognises and enables the contribution of suppliers of all sizes. ICW also provides practical resources to support effective collaborative working, including its dedicated SME Toolkit.

The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) is pleased to announce that Galliford Try has joined the ICW Executive Network, reflecting their strong and demonstrable commitment to structured collaboration and the adoption of ISO 44001 Collaborative Business Relationship Management.

As a major delivery partner in the highways and wider infrastructure sector, Galliford Try’s focus on collaboration certification highlights the importance of culture, behaviours and governance in enabling successful long-term relationships and delivering sustainable value across complex programmes.

Their participation in the Executive Network brings valuable practical insight to our cross-sector community of leaders from public, private and third-sector organisations, all committed to embedding collaboration as a strategic capability rather than a transactional approach. And their active engagement in the ICW Highways Forum, where shared learning, leadership dialogue and practical collaboration across the sector are critical to delivering better outcomes for clients, supply chains and communities alike.

Frank Lee, ICW CEO, said:
"I am delighted to welcome Galliford Try into the Institute for Collaborative Working Executive Network. Their commitment to ISO 44001 and to collaborative ways of working, particularly within the highways sector, aligns strongly with ICW’s purpose and values".

Glennan Blackmore, Managing Director for Infrastructure at Galliford Try, commented:
"As an organisation passionate about collaboration and the fundamental role it plays in successful delivery, we are honoured to join the Institute of Collaborative Working, a well-respected and established group of thought leaders and change makers who are committed to driving collaboration across multiple sectors. We look forward to getting involved and supporting in any way we can."

Explore more about the ICW Executive Network

We are delighted to be hosting 'Ideas in Practice; Supply Chain Summit 2026: Launch of the Collaboration Playbook, in partnership with Leeds University Business School. At the event we'll be introducing our new, co-authored 'Collaboration Playbook', offering practical frameworks, evidence-based insights, and real-world case examples to support collaborative working across sectors.

We will also address:

• How effective integration across modern supply chains can drive measurable value
• How organisations can improve performance and resilience while delivering wider benefits in sustainability, health and safety, and social impact

Date: 26 Feb 2026
Time: 09:30 - 17:00
Venue: Woodhouse Suite, University House, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT

Speakers include:

• Gareth Scargill, Director, Nexus at the University of Leeds
• Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Businesses Crown Representative
• Matt Browne, Deputy Director of Policy and Communication, Cabinet Office
• Frank Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Collaborative Working
• Dr Nicky Shaw, Senior Lecturer, Leeds University Business School

09:30	Registration and refreshments
10:00	Welcome and introductions David Loseby, Visiting Professor of Research Impact at Leeds University Business School
10:05	Opening address Gareth Scargill, Director at Nexus
10:20	Keynote: Small-to-Medium Enterprise imperative Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Businesses Crown Representative
10:35	The Collaboration Playbook: Presentation Frank Lee, Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Collaborative Working
10:50	The Collaboration Playbook: Fireside interview - A Government Commercial Function perspective Matt Browne, Deputy Director of Policy and Communication at the Cabinet Office
11:20	Refreshment break
11:45	Panel discussion Chair: David Loseby, Leeds University Business School Panellists: Martyn Gannicott, Commercial Director, National Highways Simon Reid, Managing Director, Babcock International Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Businesses Crown Representative Katherine Adams, Head of Collaborative Procurement Services, Greater London Authority Group
12:45	Networking lunch
13:30	Presentation: Structured collaboration to deliver social value Gareth Williams, Sustainability Director at the Transpennine Route Upgrade(TRU) West Alliance
13:50	Presentation: UK Central Digital Platform (CDP) Adam Hill, Head of the Project Management Office CDP at the Government Commercial and Grants Directorate
14:10	Breakout sessions: Academic–industry collaboration, SME integration, university–business partnerships Breakout 1 - Facilitators: Professor Chee Yew Wong, Professor of Supply Chain Management, Dr Nicky Shaw, Senior Lecturer, and Dr Mahdi Bashiri, Associate Professor, all Leeds University Business School (Woodhouse Suite) Breakout 2 - Facilitator: Michelle Lawrence, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Link Up (UK) (Beech Grove) Breakout 3 - Facilitator: John Doyle, Managing Director of B2BPP (St George)
15:00	An introduction to TOSCA (Centre for Technology, Operations and Supply Chain Analysis) Professor Chee Yew Wong, Dr Mahdi Bashiri and Dr Nicky Shaw, all Leeds University Business School
15:15	Refreshment break
15:35	Breakout sessions: The challenges of successful internal collaborative culture Chair: David Loseby, Leeds University Business School Breakout 1 - Facilitator: Charly Hutson, Director of the Greater London Authority Group (St George) Breakout 2 - Facilitator: Bill Taylor, Associate Director at the Institute for Collaborative Working (Beech Grove) Breakout 3 - Facilitator: Dr Nicky Shaw, Leeds University Business School (Woodhouse)
16:35	Closing remarks Frank Lee, Institute for Collaborative Working
16:45	Drinks reception and networking
17:00	Event close

The summit was free to attend and included a networking lunch and drinks reception alongside a range of interactive programmed activities.

The link to register was sent to all members.