The Best Collaborative Partnership award recognises the outstanding partnerships between organisations and their suppliers, where shared vision, creativity, and trust have delivered real impact. This year’s finalists demonstrate how collaboration can unlock innovation, efficiency, and value across sectors.
British Association of Dermatologists & National Disease Registration Service
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) formed a pioneering partnership to transform skin cancer data reporting. Together, they addressed a long-standing gap by improving accuracy and representation of all skin cancers, not just melanoma. The collaboration has led to improved national statistics, innovative use of digital pathology, and valuable public health insights. It has produced peer-reviewed research, trainee development opportunities, and media campaigns that raised awareness of skin cancer risk.
This partnership exemplifies how clinical expertise and data innovation can combine to improve patient outcomes and shape future healthcare strategies.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development & The Civil Service
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) partnered with the Civil Service to professionalise and strengthen its people function, supporting over half a million employees across 465 departments. Through shared strategy and innovation, the collaboration has increased accreditation, created new learning pathways, and enhanced leadership capability. Since July 2024, more than 350 HR professionals have become CIPD-qualified or accredited, with over 1,000 participants in targeted learning programmes.
By embedding professional benchmarks, addressing skills gaps, and nurturing talent pipelines, the partnership is building a stronger, more confident HR community that drives positive workplace culture across government.
Fire Industry Association & smartimpact
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) partnered with smartimpact to co-create smartAI, a tailored platform of AI assistants designed to transform productivity and engagement. With just 25 staff supporting over 1,000 member organisations, FIA faced increasing demands but limited capacity. The collaboration unlocked significant efficiencies, saving 1,500 working days annually—equivalent to £800,000 in value. Training content creation, marketing, and financial processes were streamlined, while member communications expanded fivefold.
This cultural and operational shift enabled FIA to focus more on members and advancing fire safety. The partnership demonstrates how deep collaboration and digital innovation can deliver sector-wide impact.
Institute of Internal Communication & Layercake
The Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) and Layercake built a partnership founded on trust, experimentation, and a shared vision for data-led transformation. Starting with a pilot dashboard, the collaboration has grown into a sustainable model that enhances insight, strategy, and decision-making. Results include a 20% improvement in renewal rates, targeted retention strategies, and greater data literacy across the organisation. Regular joint planning ensures agility and relevance, while insight informs both strategic and day-to-day operations.
Together, IoIC and Layercake have shown how creativity and shared ownership can overcome sector barriers to digital transformation, delivering lasting value for members.
International Association of Prosecutors & GRM Digital
The International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) partnered with GRM Digital to modernise its global network, representing 250,000 prosecutors across 175 countries. This collaboration transformed operations with the launch of the Prosecutors International Cooperation Platform (PICP), enabling secure, encrypted collaboration across borders. Membership processes were streamlined, reducing onboarding from months to weeks, while a new website and management system integrated seamlessly with PICP. Since launch, over 8,000 secure messages have been exchanged, fostering quicker international collaboration.
This partnership demonstrates the power of digital transformation in strengthening global justice, ensuring prosecutors can share knowledge, act swiftly, and deliver impact worldwide.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health & Wonderly
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) partnered with Wonderly to reimagine its Annual Conference & Exhibition, delivering record-breaking results. Attendance grew by 30% to 2,324 delegates, while sponsorship and exhibition revenue rose 180%. Seven sponsored sessions enriched the programme, exceeding targets, and 92% of delegates reported achieving their objectives. The event attracted participants from over 40 countries, supported by hybrid delivery, while sustainability was prioritised through digital resources, greener catering, and reduced travel.
This co-delivery model exemplifies how strategic collaboration can combine clinical expertise and commercial acumen to create sustainable, inclusive, and engaging professional events.
Each of these partnerships demonstrates the transformative potential of true collaboration. By combining expertise, trust, and shared ambition, these organisations have delivered outcomes greater than the sum of their parts — raising professional standards, improving data, scaling capacity, and creating platforms for impact. They are all deserving finalists, showcasing the very best of collaborative working.
The Memcom Excellence Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 25 September at the Royal Lancaster London.
Tickets are now available book now to celebrate with us in style.
