Training organisation Common Purpose is running a leadership development programme to help managers connect with people they would not ordinarily meet.

This is achieved by bringing together diverse groups of people from the private, public and non-profit sectors for unique learning experiences.

The aim of the programme is to give leaders the skills, the connections and the vision they need to lead more effectively, and to push them to extend their influence beyond their own organisation, locality and culture.

Participants are taken to a range of organisations in their local area, from prisons to radio stations. They are introduced to the organisations' leaders, who tell them about the challenges they face and how they deal with them.

"We in the NHS are often unsure about how well our practices and abilities would stand up to scrutiny in any other operating environment," said a Common Purpose spokeswoman. “Health service managers need to take advantage of opportunities beyond their comfort zones in order to thrive.”