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In parallel with the publication of ISO 44003 ICW has initiated a programme in conjunction with its Executive Network members to enhance their engagement with Micro, Small and Medium size Enterprises. Following the work done by our SME Special Interest Group we have introduced a stepped approach to incorporating a structured approach to collaborative working. This approach has been designed to work through the procurement arms of our executive member companies enabling them supported by ICW to evaluate and recognise collaborative capability of their supply chain partners. Whilst initially this pilot is supported by ICW members discussion are underway through a variety of public and private sector organisations to expand the approach later in the year.

ICW is please to release the latest version of its Competencies Framework, which has been developed based on current thinking and experience from our frontline Associate Directors. The aim of developing this further was to ensure that our skills development course support the full spectrum of needs and the introduction of the new CPD programme.

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ICW is pleased to announce that ISO 44003 - Collaborative Business Relationship Management - Guidelines for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises on the implementation of the fundamental principles has now been published.

This new Guidance Standard is the result of efforts by the ICW team and the ISO Standards Committee over many months. It is the next member of the ISO 44000 family of standards and has been specifically developed to support smaller organisations harness the benefits of collaborative working as a route to a more structured approach. As MSMEs represent a significant contributor to economic growth it has long been the aim of ICW to encourage smaller organisations to develop their collaborative capabilities. The publication of this standard marks another step in the vison of ICW to see collaborative working make its contribution to both government and industry. ICW is currently planning to launch a pilot scheme via its Executive Network members to help their MSMEs gain recognition for their collaborative approaches. Later this year it is scheduled to publish ISO 44004, which will encompass guidance for larger organisations to enhance the way they engage with MSMEs for mutual benefit.

Our thanks to our International partners at ISO and our members for their contribution in bring this standard to publication. Copies of the standard can be purchased via the ISO store and imminently via BSI.

In the nation's critically important race to get as many eligible patients vaccinated against COVID-19 as possible, local collaboration and team working between all COVID-19 vaccination sites is now of the highest priority.

One good example of how community pharmacy and Primary Care Network (PCN) vaccination sites can cooperate effectively comes from Bishop Auckland in County Durham.

Peter Horrocks and team members from Knights Pharmacy (photo credit: Knights Pharmacy)

A collaborative model has been developed between the pharmacy site, which is part of the Knights Pharmacy group, and the general practices in Bishop Auckland that are running the PCN vaccination site.

The team-working commenced from the point the pharmacy site was selected by NHS England and NHS Improvement, with the regional team organising a call between the pharmacy and PCN leads to discuss how a collaborative approach to working could be put in place.

The agreed model involves the pharmacy splitting planned clinic days between the National Booking System (NBS) and the PCN, so the general practices can directly book some of their patients into the pharmacy site slots. The initial focus was on helping the practices maximise the number of clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) patients that could be vaccinated.

The PCN and pharmacy site have also coordinated the timings of their vaccination sessions at the weekends to try to avoid patient confusion as to which site is operating at any one time. Both these approaches have helped maximise vaccinations at both sites and avoid patients double booking appointments.

Peter Horrocks and team members from Knights Pharmacy (photo credit: Knights Pharmacy)

Peter Horrocks, Superintendent Pharmacist at Knights Pharmacy explained:

"The first week the pharmacy site was operating, the appointments all booked up quickly via the NBS, but by the second week, bookings filled up more slowly. We also found that some patients were travelling a significant distance to get vaccinated and the pharmacy team wanted to make sure local patients were also getting the chance to be vaccinated within their community.

"Once we agreed a plan with the PCN and regional team to remove some booking slots from the NBS, the practice teams very quickly filled the appointment slots with CEV patients. After two clinics were successfully run for the general practice booked patients, we agreed with the practices and the PCN to continue this approach."

(From an article on psnc.org.uk, February 18 2021)

ICW Member Peter Walmsley wins 2020 Travel Photographer of the Year title in Colours of Life category With a photo of Bangalore flower market

WINNER: Colours of Life - Peter Walmsley, UK

Winner's Biography

Peter Walmsley first became interested in photography through his chemistry teacher who ran an after-school club. He struggled with film for many years until a whole new world of image creation opened up, with the arrival of digital cameras. He joined a local camera club where the combination of supportive learning and regular competitions helped him to improve and gain various photographic qualifications. He subsequently became a judge in the Southern Counties Photographic Federation.

Peter earns his living as a civil servant, helping to deliver aid projects to developing countries. This aligns with a significant interest in foreign travel, particularly to east and south east Asia, which led in turn to an interest in street photography as a means to capture local culture as seen through daily life.

First latest publication, entitled 'Transitioning from Risk to Resilience', delivered in partnership with Fusion Risk Management Inc. and with contributions from a number of experts. The onslaught of the devasting impact of the pandemic, together with the global effects of climate change, has clearly shown that the traditional enterprise risk management models based on analysis of historical trends are no longer valid in isolation. Agile adaptation to changing circumstances in a new enterprise resilient management model is now required for organizational survival and success.

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ICW Chief Executive Claire Ward was the guest speaker at the Special General Meeting of the Employment Related Services Association. The meeting took place virtually on 11th December and was an opportunity to present the work of the ICW to an organisation where its members are seeing more need for collaboration and collaborative working. The membership of ERSA work across much of the public sector where commissioning is increasingly focussing on collaborative working.

This year's ICW Collaboration Awards, held at the Lansdowne Club in London and streamed live internationally, provided a great opportunity to share some of the great examples of collaborative working in action. Particularly in times of crisis we see how organisations pulling together can overcome many challenges. We are delighted to congratulate all those organisations short listed and to share the list of winners.

Industry Award: Babcock Devonport Dockyard
Supply Chain Award: Sellafield Limited
Public Sector Award: Wiltshire Highways Services
Defence and Security Award: RAF Hades Technical Support
Covid-19 Response Award: Babcock UK - Devon Air Ambulance
Third Sector Award: ATOS - ANTZ
Infrastructure Award: Area 9 SRN Alliance
Service Sector Award: MOD Modus Services
Social Impact/Sustainability Award: DIO - AMEY Defence
Chairman's Pathfinder Award: EDAROTH - Lambeth Council
Collaborative Leadership Award: Odilon Serrano

Video and further details available shortly.

ICW is pleased to have been able to work with the Cabinet Office and industry partners in the development of the Construction Playbook. This innovative policy document marks a significant step forward in supporting government departments and agencies to harness the power of collaborative working with industry to deliver better outcomes and value for money. We look forward to working with the Cabinet office to support its implementation.

Download the Construction Playbook here