How did ITW Networks start?
Established as a facilitator of networks in 1995, ITW started its first network looking at e-procurement in the UK. Since then, ITW has grown to provide a range of networks in different industries, harnessing the experience of the network members to stay at the forefront of innovaton, resolve industry issues, create valuable new insights and define and share best practices.
How do our networks differ from industry conferences?
Our networks provide:
• Interactive sharing of expertise through an ongoing programme of network meetings, not a one-off event
• Trusted spaces – conducted under the Chatham House rule
• Structured facilitation to ensure all participants contribute to the discussion
• Online knowledge base of network outputs
• A constant focus on best practice and innovation
• Small working groups to maximise the quality of the environment
• Carefully managed participation to assure dialogue across industries
Who can join?
We facilitate director-level networks in four different fields: Public Services, Procurement and Supply Chain, Digital Innovation and Corporate Governance.
Membership is for senior executives from organisations that are interested in learning more about best practices and innovation in these fields, and engaging with peers from the sector/industry to share expertise, build productive relationships and improve the performance of their own organisation.
How often are meetings?
We hold meetings every six to eight weeks for each network programme. Most of the meetings are hosted by a network member at their premises during the day time; some are held over lunch or dinner at appropriate venues. Day time meetings tend to focus on current operational, implementation or strategy execution issues whereas the evening meetings tend to look at longer term policy and strategy development.
What are the benefits of being a member?
Members derive direct economic, professional and personal benefits from our programmes - participation helps them to innovate, find solutions to their key business issues, benchmark and compare performance, invest wisely based on real world evidence and deliver better performance for their organisation. Further details can be found on each of the network pages on our website.
How much does membership cost?
We have a flexible subscription model for our networks. For more information please call our office or contact directly Peter.norman@itwnetworks.com
What does ITW stand for?
ITW is not an acronym - it comes from the names of earlier organisations in our history.
What is best practice, and how do I know I’ll get best practice?
Best practice is most effective way of carrying out a business or management discipline at the moment. Our networks strive to recognise these practices early in their development, by drawing on expert practitioner and academic input from leaders in fields we cover. We make sure that our network programmes are based on the expertise and case studies of early adopters of innovative practices as well as examples of established best practices where evidence of demonstrable results is shared.
Best practices change over time with industry dynamics and innovations in critical factors such as technology.
Why and how are you independent?
We remain independent so that we can provide a neutral platform for sharing innovations and best practices. Our experience shows that the involvement of a neutral, professional facilitator in the networks leads to a more open exchange of expertise and ideas and therefore more productive exchange.
We are not lobbyists or a trade group: we do not have a point of view to advance or special interests to satisfy. None of our work is carried out on behalf of individual organisations. All of our activities involve multiple sector or industry participants, who each benefit from a neutral environment for open exchange about important issues, free from external or commercial influence.
Are you like online networks such as LinkedIn or Facebook?
We do provide a space for connecting with other network participants on our website, and will be providing a new platform for online exchange in 2011.
Our programmes are focussed on real world innovation and best practice and are very rich in content that can be used to improve results for our members. They go beyond the mass connections available from online networks and are business, rather than social in focus.
We believe that face to face engagement offers the most in depth and rich form of engagement based on real industry issues. Our focus is on case studies of best practices and innovation and structured conversations and workshops to find new solutions for our members. This will remain the core of our programmes.
Can anyone join?
Yes, if you are a director-level executive of a public or private sector organisation with expertise that complements the existing group of members.
How are you funded?
We are funded by our commercial sector members who pay an annual fee.
Is membership for individuals or companies?
Usually the organisation is the member, but individuals can join in some circumstances. Please call the ITW office to discuss the options (0207 704 7630)
Isn't it just a lot of meetings?
No - our programmes do include a programme of regular meetings that are essential to participants' research, performance improvement and innovation processes, but also include an online knowledge base of meeting summaries and a regular series of outputs, summarising best practices, that are widely promoted.
