MITIE puts tomorrow's top talent on course for success : Most promising managers get lessons in the art of leadership

Purpose – This paper aims to describe how strategic outsourcing and energy‐services company MITIE has teamed up with the UK's Cranfield School of Management to provide its most promising senior operational managers with strategic business education. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it takes and the results it is achieving. Findings – The paper reveals that the main areas the program covers are: account development and retention built on service enhancement; financial management, particularly in relation to the development of margins; and leadership. It explains that the program seeks to develop a facilities‐management mindset and wider awareness of collaborative business opportunities, while fostering a “one MITIE” mindset. Practical implications – The paper demonstrates that the program enhances the company's ability to deliver its current business objectives as well as prepare key employees for their future expanded roles. Social implications – The paper highlights how the program targets MITIE's most promising senior managers who have not previously received formal, postgraduate business education. Originality/value – The paper details a successful collaboration between a FTSE 250 company and Cranfield School of Management.