State of cross-sector collaboration in the UK: The leaders’ view 2025

Report cover showing the UK map with network connections, titled State of Cross-Sector Collaboration in the UK 2025.

Overview

Leaders across the sectors agree that cross-sector collaboration is essential to improving long-term growth and prosperity for the UK. But translating belief into delivery remains a challenge we need to solve together. We conducted our 2nd annual State of Cross-sector Collaboration survey, capturing the views of 145 leaders across the public, private, education and not-for-profit sectors to understand how cross-sector collaboration has evolved since 2024, where the real barriers are, and what needs to change.

Key Findings

Strong belief, limited confidence in delivery: 92% believe cross-sector collaboration is essential to economic growth and positive policy outcomes - a sentiment essentially unchanged since 2024. But only 12% rate it as 'Good' or 'Excellent'. The belief-delivery gap persists.

Where leaders see it working

Leaders rate cross-sector collaboration as the most effective in the following areas:

R&D and technology innovation (35%), Defence (32%), Industrial strategy (30%), Harnessing AI and future technology (28%)

Leaders attribute success in these domains to clear governance, established partnerships, and measurable outcomes. Leaders have reported improved communication (7% to 12%) and better understanding of challenges and growth opportunities (24% to 29%) between sectors compared to last year.

Where leaders identify challenges

  • Only 9% of leaders now see collaboration working effectively in ensuring economic security, securing supply chains and reducing trade barriers, down from 23% last year. Infrastructure, skills, and investment are other domains viewed as facing persistent barriers.
  • Belief in trust and mutual respect, one of the strongest enablers of collaboration, declined from 75% to 59%.
  • Fewer leaders reported receiving formal training (down by 16%) to collaborate effectively.
  • Overall optimism about the future of cross-sector collaboration has softened from 52% to 46%.

What leaders say would improve collaboration

  • Extend perceived best practice models to areas needing support.
  • Invest in collaborative leadership and cross-sector secondments.
  • Strengthen procurement approaches for genuine partnership.
  • Maintain consistent frameworks across political cycles.
  • Rebuild trust through transparency and shared accountability.

Click on the image below to browse the full survey report. 

Cross sector collab survey cover

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