The Partnership Edge Podcast - Trust in Strategic Alliances – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Martin Reeves, CEO at Oxfordshire County Council. Martin shares his experiences of driving mutli stakeholder partnerships that delivered transformational changes. We discuss how to deal with trust in long term infrastructure alliances, how to identify and mitigate early risks and where those red lines may exist that cannot be crossed!

“In a trusted relationship, you are able to call it out, agree it or not, put in mitigations and move on. The things that get us into trouble, are the things that are unsaid”

This is an exciting feature where we see the journey of transformational change through trusted partnerships. If you are in a Place based role, this is for you.

Martin Reeves is one of local government’s most respected chief executives, with a track record of using partnership, innovation and evidence-led reform to deliver large-scale transformation.

He led Coventry City Council for 14 years, driving the city’s regeneration, major capital programmes and its successful bid for UK City of Culture 2021, alongside pioneering work on health inequalities.

His earlier roles include Chief Executive of Bedfordshire County Council and Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority, where he played a key role in establishing devolved governance and enabling the region’s first elected mayor.

Martin has held a number of influential roles, including President of SOLACE, Honorary President of LARIA (Local Area Research & Intelligence Association) , trustee of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, and a board member at the Centre for Cities, as well as holding the role of governor at Coventry University.

His impact has been widely recognised, including an honorary doctorate and repeated inclusion in the Local Government Chronicle’s 50 most influential people.

Now Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, he brings deep experience of rebuilding places through trusted partnerships to one of the UK’s most high-profile local authorities.

Find out more :

• Oxfordshire County Council - https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/

• SOLACE – https://solace.org.uk/

• LARIA - https://www.laria.org.uk/

• Coventry City Council - https://www.coventry.gov.uk/

Contact Us: admin@xtpmedia.co.uk

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast-playing app.

About XTP

XTP helps organisations build trusted partnerships that work. We work with leadership and growth teams to navigate complex procurement environments, align commercial intent and establish partnerships that deliver long-term value rather than short-term transactions.

Operating across both public and private sectors, XTP specialises in bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers, bringing private-sector pace, clarity, and commercial discipline to public sector challenges, while helping private-sector organisations succeed within highly regulated procurement frameworks.

Our work focuses on trust by design: shaping behaviours, governance models and decision-making structures that enable partnerships to thrive in complex, high-value ecosystems.

XTPMedia.co.uk

Ep 01 Show Notes

Guest: Stuart Cairns

 “It’s not enough to say partnership, collaboration and transparency matter; you need to do it and live it so it’s not a sound bite, but an absolute commitment.”

 In this, our launch episode, we are delighted to be joined by Stuart Cairns.

Stuart is a London-based partner at Bird & Bird, focusing on public sector and utilities procurement, particularly in infrastructure. He has worked extensively with government and regulated bodies both nationally and internationally. He is one of the co-heads of our International Projects and Procurement Group and leads on international airports' initiatives.

Stuart and the Bird & Bird team generously supported the launch of the XTP white paper ‘Trusted Partnerships – Unlocking The Value In Strategic Alliances'. 

In this episode, Stuart shares his experience building trusted partnerships, as well as the approach taken to procure them on behalf of his clients.

 If you are in procurement, a buyer or supplier in infrastructure and other complex sectors, like defence, aviation, technology, or energy, particularly in the public sector, you will greatly benefit from listening to Stuart’s advice.

He gives sound advice on how to position yourself for building successful alliances and partnerships.

 You can find Stuart and Bird and Bird.

·       https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/s/stuart-cairns

·       https://www.linkedin.com/company/318488

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast-playing app.

About XTP

XTP helps organisations build trusted partnerships that work. We focus on trust by design: shaping behaviours, governance models and decision-making structures that enable partnerships to thrive in complex, high-value ecosystems.We work with leadership and growth teams to navigate complex procurement environments, align commercial intent and establish partnerships that deliver long-term value rather than short-term transactions.

Operating across both public and private sectors, XTP specialises in bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers, bringing private-sector pace, clarity, and commercial discipline to public-sector challenges, while helping private-sector organisations succeed within highly regulatedprocurement frameworks.

Email : admin@xtpmedia.co.uk

XTP Website : https://xtpmedia.co.uk/

Welcome to The Partnership Edge Podcast: Trust in Strategic Alliances - This podcast unlocks the secrets of successful partnerships. Drawing from the Trusted Partnerships white paper, discover lessons from leaders who've mastered trust in complex ecosystems. Hear how top alliance leads apply the Six Trust Behaviours, Trust Clock and Trusted Partnership Charter principles to transform relationships and drive outcomes.

Listen, learn and adopt proven strategies from experienced guest speakers.

Enjoy the overview and see you soon in Episode 1

Regular insights – subscribe now!

Ep 05 Show Notes

Guest: Rupert Clubb

“If you think it’s slipping, don’t just sit back and wait until its gone. Act. Do your problem solving and bring it back on track.”

Rupert Clubb is Director of Communities, Economy and Transport at East Sussex County Council and Chief Officer for Transport for the South East. Rupert is a chartered civil engineer, a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation. Before joining East Sussex in 2007 he held a series of senior roles at the Environment Agency and since has overseen everything from highways, transport planning and waste to libraries, trading standards and wider economic development.

Beyond East Sussex Rupert played a national leadership role, serving as President of ADEPT, chairing the Local Adaptation Advisory Panel on climate change lead the creation and development of Transport for the South East as a strategic partnership of councils, business and transport stakeholders.

In this conversation we explore the complexity of multi stakeholder alliances, how trust builds and where to look for the signals of early risk mitigation and some commercial realism from a public sector perspective!

Find out more :

• TfSE - https://transportforthesoutheast.org.uk/

• East Sussex County Council - https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/

• Rupert Clubb – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupert-clubb-265050172/

Contact Us: admin@xtpmedia.co.uk

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast-playing app.

About XTP

XTP helps organisations build trusted partnerships that work. We work with leadership and growth teams to navigate complex procurement environments, align commercial intent and establish partnerships that deliver long-term value rather than short-term transactions.

Operating across both public and private sectors, XTP specialises in bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers, bringing private-sector pace, clarity, and commercial discipline to public sector challenges, while helping private-sector organisations succeed within highly regulated procurement frameworks.

Our work focuses on trust by design: shaping behaviours, governance models and decision-making structures that enable partnerships to thrive in complex, high-value ecosystems.

XTPMedia.co.uk

“Don’t delegate trust. Frameworks and contracts matter, but trust is created or lost in a moment through everyday leadership behaviour. Set the tone, set the model, set the principles and trusted partnerships will follow.”

In this episode, we are joined by Adele Gritten, Chief Executive Officer of Local Partnerships and sits right at the junction between central government, local government and their delivery partners.

Adele brings a rare blend of commercial, economic development and public‑sector experience, having led major investment and regeneration programmes before stepping into the CEO role at Local Partnerships. Alongside that, she has built a strong track record in using data based evidence and practical support to help local authorities and their partners navigate complexity, manage risk and get greater value from long‑term alliances.

In this conversation we tap into that experience and we explore what trusted partnerships really look like in the real world!

Find out more :

·       Local Partnerships - https://localpartnerships.gov.uk/

·       Local Partnership Toolkits - https://localpartnerships.gov.uk/resources/

·       Local Partnerships LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/local-partnerships-llp

·       White Fraser Report - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/white-fraiser-report-private-finance-initiative-sector/white-fraiser-report

·       Adele Gritten LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adele-gritten-7a477822/

Contact Us: admin@xtpmedia.co.uk

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast-playing app.

About XTP

XTP helps organisations build trusted partnerships that work. We work with leadership and growth teams to navigate complex procurement environments, align commercial intent and establish partnerships that deliver long-term value rather than short-term transactions.

Operating across both public and private sectors, XTP specialises in bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers, bringing private-sector pace, clarity, and commercial discipline to public sector challenges, while helping private-sector organisations succeed within highly regulated procurement frameworks.

Our work focuses on trust by design: shaping behaviours, governance models and decision-making structures that enable partnerships to thrive in complex, high-value ecosystems.

XTPMedia.co.uk

Ep 03 Show Notes

Guest: Stevie Spring CBE

The Trust Dividend – "At the start of any relationship, ‘most bids’ are technically very similar, so it’s trust that becomes the differentiator.”

In this episode, we are joined by Stevie Spring CBE one of the most inspirational leaders in industry today.

Stevie started out with a law degree before moving into marketing, television and advertising, building her reputation in senior roles at leading agencies and as a growth lead on major accounts. She went on to become CEO of two international media companies, including Clear Channel UK, where she helped transform the business into one of the most powerful advertising platforms in the country, and Future plc, where she led large scale digital transformation and became one of the very few women running a listed media business at the time.

Alongside her executive career, Stevie has built a substantial non executive and chair portfolio, spanning BBC Children in Need, environmental charity Groundwork and the British Council, helping to steer these organisations through complexity, global growth and the Covid period. Today she chairs PRS for Music and the mental health charity Mind, and sits on several major commercial boards.

Stevie was appointed CBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to charity. She has been named by The Telegraph as one of Britain’s 500 most influential people and by GQ Magazine as one of the UK’s 100 most connected women.

Find out more :

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviespring

• X (Twitter): https://x.com/steviespring1

• More about her role at PRS for Music: https://www.prsformusic.com/press/2024/stevie-spring-cbe-appointed-new-chair-of-prs-for-music-board

Contact Us: admin@xtpmedia.co.uk

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast-playing app.

About XTP

XTP helps organisations build trusted partnerships that work. We work with leadership and growth teams to navigate complex procurement environments, align commercial intent and establish partnerships that deliver long-term value rather than short-term transactions.

Operating across both public and private sectors, XTP specialises in bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers, bringing private-sector pace, clarity, and commercial discipline to public sector challenges, while helping private-sector organisations succeed within highly regulated procurement frameworks.

Our work focuses on trust by design: shaping behaviours, governance models and decision-making structures that enable partnerships to thrive in complex, high-value ecosystems.

XTPMedia.co.uk