By Patricia Roberts
EX-Red Arrows flying ace Justin Hughes brings targets his hard-won experience and skills at the business world.
Now the former Tornado fighter pilot, who also flew more than 250 displays with the Red Arrows and was deputy team leader, is flying high again.
He has launched Mission Excellence, his Manchester-based corporate development company.
And he has a team of ex-RAF fighter pilots to provide a pool of expertise, specialising in the development of outstanding leadership and team-building.
Less than two years since it was founded, the concept has really taken off, capturing the imagination of top companies. It has attracted Blue Chip names including the Royal Bank of Scotland and Prudential Assurance, one of Justin's first clients, which engaged his company to help it achieve a major change in management structure.
"People actually learn something in a way that inspires them to take it back to the office," said a spokeswoman for the Pru.
Fame
Now the fame of Mission Excellence is spreading. Last week Justin was among guest speakers, including Chancellor Gordon Brown and the Duke of Westminster, at a prestigious Institute of Directors convention focusing on the theme of Britain competing in the modern world. He was also recently invited to give a speech in Malaysia, and made a flying visit there just to deliver a one hour talk.
As Justin says, who knows more about teamwork than the Red Arrows? "Every year the team replaces three pilots and starts the year's training, having replaced a third of the work force, yet every year they consistently achieve a world-class standard. There is no reason why that cannot be repeated in business."
The company provides full and half-day training events, customised to meet each company's needs, but centred round a "mission" which delegates aim to achieve.
It has launched a two-day Top Gun intensive training and team-building programme for senior management, which also includes a real-life airborne mission, where delegates get the chance to fly with experienced military pilots.
Now Mission Excellence, which has headquarters in Peter House, Oxford Road, is about to launch a healthcare programme, targeted at reducing potential risks in hospitals.
Justin said: "In medicine, as in aviation, it is impossible to completely eliminate risk and error. But, they can be managed. The NHS spends around £400m on clinical negligence payments in a year, so it is ripe for improvement."