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Celebrating Inclusive Innovation: iStandUK Named Finalist at Northern Power Women Awards

by Shelley Heckman, Published 14 January 2026

⁠

We are thrilled to share some exciting news, iStandUK has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘

Inclusive Innovation: people focused⁠

’ category at the

Northern Power Women Awards⁠

for our work on the

SAVVI programme⁠

. Being nominated is an honour in itself – but making it to the finals among hundreds of incredible entries is truly remarkable!

This nomination came from Alison Young at

techUK⁠

, who shared these generous words about us:

“I was lucky enough to work with Shelley Heckman whilst at techUK as a partner to the work Shelley was delivering. She is kind, thoughtful and her work exemplifies inclusive innovation with a deep focus on people, communities, and public service transformation. As Director and SAVVI Programme Manager at iStandUK, Shelley has been instrumental in driving forward data-led, citizen-centric innovation across local government, particularly through her work with Tameside Council and the iNetwork partnership.

iStandUK is a programme, hosted by Tameside Council, to promote Data Standards that support Efficiency, Transformation, and Transparency of Local Public Services in the UK. Shelley’s leadership in the SAVVI (Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) programme has helped local authorities better identify and support vulnerable individuals through ethical data sharing and collaborative service design. Her approach is rooted in empathy, equity, and empowerment—ensuring that innovation serves the people who need it most.”

Key achievements include:

Championing ethical data-use to improve outcomes for vulnerable residents, while safeguarding privacy and dignity.

Building cross-sector partnerships that bring together councils, health services, and voluntary organisations to co-create inclusive solutions.

Empowering local teams through training, toolkits, and knowledge-sharing platforms that make innovation accessible and sustainable.

The work of SAVVI is not only technically innovative but deeply human. The SAVVI team ensures that digital transformation is never divorced from the lived experiences of the people it’s meant to serve. SAVVI has helped redefine how councils approach vulnerability, inclusion, and community wellbeing. The SAVVI team, led by Shelley Heckman, truly advocates for inclusive innovation—one that puts people first, builds trust, and transforms lives.

A Team Effort

While the nomination highlights my leadership, this recognition is truly for iStandUK and the entire SAVVI team. Our success is built on collaboration, passion, and a shared commitment to making a difference.

A huge thank you to Northern Power Women for this incredible recognition, and to everyone who continues to support our mission to make innovation truly people-focused, inclusive and impactful. We’ll find out on March 12, 2026, whether we’ll be bringing home a trophy – fingers crossed!

Behind the Scenes

As part of the judging process, Shelley recorded a 3 minute video on her smartphone to explain how iStandUK is people focused, a quick, authentic response to meet a very short deadline! While it does not compare to the recently released professionally produced

SAVVI video⁠

last month, we have shared this below. We hope you enjoy this authentic glimpse behind the scenes.

A huge thank you to Northern Power Women for this incredible recognition, and to everyone who continues to support our mission to make innovation truly people-focused, inclusive and impactful. We’ll find out on 12 March 2026, whether we’ll be bringing home a trophy – fingers crossed!

⁠

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