News

We are pleased to announce that UST has joined the ICW Executive Network.

For more than 24 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies on their digital transformation journeys. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, they embed innovation and agility into their clients' organisations delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, they build for boundless impact touching billions of lives in the process.

UST's intelligent process automation platform, UST SmartOps, aims to help enterprises across various sectors tackle business processes and operational challenges, achieving compelling business outcomes. The platform is designed to enhance user and employee experience and efficiency, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks such as real collaboration within and across businesses. By leveraging generative and specialised AI, UST SmartOps facilitates digital transformation by streamlining business processes and operations, improving collaboration between human and machine intelligence, and driving operational efficiency and profitability.

UST is partnering with the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) to advance collaborative practices across various industries. As a leader in promoting collaborative working, ICW offers access to practical guidance, knowledge transfer, and development opportunities through its membership network. This partnership highlights UST's dedication to fostering innovation and driving significant digital transformations worldwide. Their mission to impact 5 billion lives aligns closely with ICW's focus on showcasing the crucial role of structured collaboration in achieving key business outcomes.

Sajesh Gopinath, Global Head of Digitisation practice, UST, said: "Together with ICW, we are looking to set new standards for innovation and collaborative excellence. ICW's expertise in collaborative working, effective business relationships and their commitment to sharing best practices align perfectly with our mission to drive meaningful digital transformations globally for betterment of the industry and people's lives in general".

ICW CEO, Frank Lee FICW, said: "I am excited about working with UST and their leadership team to explore how their technology can be collaboratively utilized in the key sectors our members support, delivering positive outcomes more quickly and efficiently."

We are proud to announce that Balfour Beatty has been awarded ICW Ambassador membership status. This milestone reflects their unwavering commitment to collaboration, delivering exceptional outcomes, enhancing social value, and fostering a sustainable construction sector. By working closely with their clients and supply chain partners, Balfour Beatty continue to set new standards in the industry to work collaboratively to build a brighter more sustainable future.

Graham Martin, Balfour Beatty Bid Director, with responsibility for Collaborative Management Systems, said:

"I am incredibly proud that Balfour Beatty has achieved ICW Ambassador Status - it's a significant achievement for all of us.

"This recognition is testament to our commitment to setting industry standards and working closely with our clients and partners to build a brighter, more sustainable future. It reflects our continuous efforts to enhance social value and foster innovation in the construction sector."

ICW Chief Executive Frank Lee said:

"This award recognizes Balfour Beatty's dedication to working collaboratively with their clients and supply chain partners to achieve positive outcomes. It also acknowledges their commitment to advancing collaboration through active participation in our thought leadership activities."

Yesterday, we had the great pleasure of hosting our first Collaborative Leaders in Rail lunch at the House of Lords. Our Chairman, Lord David Evans, welcomed leaders from Network Rail and other executive network members operating in the rail sector for this networking event.

Our CEO, Frank Lee, highlighted the importance of progressive and deeper collaboration as a key enabler for the safe, timely, and efficient delivery of the CP7 portfolio. He emphasised how ICW members are demonstrating their commitment to collaboration through their participation in ICW Thought Leadership activities.

We also had the honour of awarding our first Declaration of Leading Edge Achievement to the TRU West Alliance. This is a fabulous achievement that showcases the ability of our Ambassador members, BAM and Network Rail, along with other supply chain partners, to deliver real additional value through their structured collaborative systems.

We also awarded our prestigious Collaborative Pioneer Award to two ICW members who have made enormous contributions both to The Institute and to collaboration in the rail sector over a considerable period. Many congratulations to Stephen Blakey and Brian Walton.

Read the Rail Business Daily's article

ICW Congratulates the following new members:

Natalie Dillon, Larisa Tcherednitchenko, Michaella Hancock, Jonahan Goulder, Richard Da Gama, Rupert Jackson, Alison Hunt, Emma Hurrell, Dave Clouting and John Chivers, who all attended and passed the ICW ISO 44001 Leaders Course at Warwick University this week.

All the candidates have now been enrolled as members and are all keen to get back to work and apply what they have learnt this last week.

Larisa and Michaella travelled all the way from Canada to take part in the course and are looking forward to helping spread the message of Collaborative working in Canada.

The next course is the first week in September - details can be found here.

The 2024 ICW Annual Collaborative Working Reception at the House of Lords yesterday provided the perfect opportunity to recognise the election of our newest Fellow Elizabeth Kavanagh, seen here with ICW Chairman Lord David Evans with her Fellowship Certificate.

As you know, fostering collaboration to support a sustainable future of which social value is a key part, is at the core of our mission. That’s why I’m honoured to join forces with Forests with Impact to raise funds for Walking with The Wounded through the Cumbrian Challenge. This incredible organisation provides crucial support to veterans facing mental health challenges, unemployment, homelessness, and more. Your donation, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have served our country.

Please consider donating via https://lnkd.in/eBXmBbVu and demonstrating the unwavering support of the ICW community for our veterans.

Frank Lee, ICW CEO

ICW congratulates Claire Ward, non-executive Director of ICW, on her success in the East Midlands Mayoral Election.

ICW is pleased to announce that BAM UK & Ireland will be sponsoring the 2024 Annual Collaborative Working Reception at the House of Lords on 15 May, with its UK and Ireland COO John Wilkinson attending as a keynote speaker.

BAM, an ambassador member of ICW, has a significant pedigree in collaborative working and has been an active member of the Institute for over 10 years, taking an active role in many of our thought leadership activities and leading the development of the individual membership scheme of the ICW.

ICW Chief Executive Frank Lee said: "It's great to have such a prestigious organisation as BAM whose values are so closely aligned to those we in the ICW hold, sponsor our reception this year and we look forward to welcoming John to the House of Lords/"

Darren Williamson, David Stewart, Joseph Urquhart, Gary Burnett, Virginia Loydon, Pat Desmond, Helen Thurston, Elliot Watts and Callum White, seen here with the course tutor Leigh Lawry and course evaluator and Dr Paul Connor, set a new benchmark as they all passed the course with a Merit classification.

Find out more about the ICW Collaborative Leaders Course

CEO Frank Lee was recently invited by the REAS Group to share his top lessons in collaboration and invaluable insights on fostering effective collaboration in any organisation.

Watch the video on the ICW YouTube Channel

Video podcast produced by Reas Group