Accolade for Saïd Business School’s Work with Royal Mail: MBA News

By Tim Dhoul Updated Sep 17, 2019

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Introduction
Ashridge Business School also recognized in EFMD awards

Award for Saïd Business School's partnership with Royal Mail

The top business schools in the UK in the eyes of international employers and academics

Following recent news that the UK government is to sell its remaining 30% stake in Royal Mail (entirely state-owned until 2013), the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School has received an award for its work with managers at the helm of the postal service’s transformation into a privatized company.

The overriding aim behind programs developed specifically for Royal Mail’s needs by Saïd Business School has been to help the Royal Mail Group live up to its aims of being the most successful delivery company in the UK and across Europe. The collaboration began in 2011, with a program aimed at the group’s top leaders, before expanding to a second offering for middle managers. With participant numbers now exceeding 500, the programs are said to have had a strong impact upon Royal Mail’s business results and performance. Group HR director at Royal Mail, Jon Millidge, said that the partnership with Saïd Business School was greatly enhancing the skillsets of its managers.

“[The programs] help to provide our senior leaders with the tools and knowledge to implement our strategies, realize their leadership potential and harness this to drive change across our business.”

The accolade came in the executive development category of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)’s 2015 Excellence in Practice Awards – awards that focus on leadership and development partnerships in the realms of executive education. Indeed, chief at work in forming programs that revolve around four-day modules on campus was the executive education arm of Saïd Business School.

Ashridge Business School also recognized in EFMD awards

A further UK winner in the EFMD awards – this time in the organizational development category – was Ashridge Business School, for its work with research leaders in healthcare on a project carried out with the UK’s Department of Health and 64 NHS Trusts.

“The commitment of participating research leaders has been outstanding. They have made the most of this opportunity to improve clinical research in their organizations - making it faster and easier and contributing to the health and wealth of the nation,” said Ashridge Business School’s Phil Glanfield.

Ashridge Business School and Saïd Business School were both named ‘gold award winners’ by EFMD; there was also recognition for Melbourne Business School and INSEAD in the form of silver awards.

The executive education division of Melbourne Business School won praise for its leadership development work with New Zealand’s main ambulance operator, St John. INSEAD meanwhile, was recognized for its efforts in helping agribusiness company, Syngenta, to improve its global sales and marketing performance.

Based in Belgium, EFMD promotes best practice in management development through its international network of members across 81 countries that include many of the world’s leading business schools.

Written by

Tim Dhoul

Tim is a writer with a background in consumer journalism and charity communications. He trained as a journalist in the UK and holds degrees in history (BA) and Latin American studies (MA).