After the last few weeks of being at LCRIG events, meeting suppliers at their customer days, attending roundtables and conversations with councils, I am back on familiar territory.
The familiar territory I am talking about is being back in Whitehall for meetings with DfT colleagues. The first part of this week involved meetings looking at evaluation methods for research outputs, the latter part of the week in project meetings at the DfT office in Leeds for TTF. Two very different meetings but ones where our relationships with councils and suppliers are key.
My favourite part of this week was being at the Palace of Westminster, for the Annual Institute Collaborative Working reception after an invitation from Lord Evans of Watford, Chairman of the Institute for Collaborative Working and their sponsors of the reception BAM. The reception was well attended with a mix of different organisations across a wide range of sectors. It was good see friends of LCRIG represented there including: National Highways, Councils, Academia, and our Associate Member, John Sisk and Sons Ltd who became members earlier this year .
Each organisation who attended, (including our own) are holders of ISO 44001, or are committed to collaborative working. In fact, we are one of the only CICs with ISO 44001, and it has been an important part of our organisational journey from the early days of our incorporation as CIC four years ago.
I confess that no matter how many times I go to the Palace of Westminster, also commonly known as the House of Parliament, I love the buildings and the history around the site. There is history on the site spanning over 900 years, with the oldest surviving part of the palace, Westminster Hall, which dates from the reign of William II (1087-1100). The institution of politics, the Black Rod entrance that we went through to get to the reception and so much more is steeped in a rich history (and controversy). I love it!
Next week is Traffex, for me and some of the team. We are looking forward to attending, and I’m looking forward to being part of a panel with Jennie Martin, Bus Users UK, Tom Mace, Social Researcher at Transport for the North and moderated by Lydia Horbury, Director for England, Bus Users UK where we are discussing the fact that “9.8m People Experience Social Exclusion from the Transport System. How Can We Address This?”. It’s a thorny subject to be sure, but one we shouldn’t shy away from.
Many of our members will also be at the event, in its new home at the CBS Arena so do come and see us at what we know will be a brilliant event.
Paula Claytonsmith, CEO