NHS Fast Track Management at Manchester Business School

Manchester Business School and the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham have been selected to run the education programme for the NHS’ “fast track” management training scheme for future senior leaders.

The two year programme, which started running over fifty years ago, is one of the most competitive and highly rated graduate management training schemes in the UK – with several thousand applications every year for just 150 places.

Throughout the programme, trainees combine studying with working in a series of NHS management roles - leading to a Masters degree which is jointly awarded by Manchester and Birmingham Universities.

This intensive practical approach means that students learn from the latest management thinking and are able to apply it to solve real challenges faced by the NHS.

Manchester Business School’s Professor Kieran Walshe, who is directing the new programme said:  “With the NHS going through unprecedented change it’s vital that we attract the most talented and creative leaders in the UK.  It will be a pleasure to teach them so early in their careers and then see them go on to hold very senior roles in the NHS in the future.”

Manchester Business School has been involved in the NHS Management Training Scheme since it was first established, and many of the current chief executives and board directors in NHS trusts began their careers through the Scheme and are Manchester alumni.