A multi-million win for Mitie
When Mitie, one of the UK’s largest facilities management companies, needed to resecure a £280 million, four-year contract with Network Rail, they chose to centre their entire pitch around a single, powerful film and they trusted Lilac Howell to deliver it.
This was more than a showcase. It was their statement of intent. And even for a company of Mitie’s scale, this contract represented nearly 10% of their annual revenue. The stakes were high.
“This film had a significant influence on the outcome... From concept to final edit, the Lilac team were exceptional.”
— Kelly Parish, Strategic Account Director, Mitie
Visually, we aimed to transform perception. Using drone footage, timelapse hyperlapse techniques and cinematic storytelling, we revealed not just what Mitie does, but how impressively they do it. Every shoot was managed by our team from permits and risk assessments to coordinating access to major London stations delivering on time and without compromise.
“Network Rail didn’t fully grasp what we did until they saw the film. The Lilac team are not just superb filmmakers, they’re good people. I can’t speak highly enough of them and the content they deliver.”
— David Miles, Head of Innovation, Mitie
We began with in depth discovery sessions involving sales and operational teams, followed by focus groups with frontline staff already working on the contract. What emerged was clear: many on the Network Rail panel didn’t fully understand the scale or sophistication of the services Mitie provided and the new contract demanded even more.
Our creative strategy put people at the heart of the story. We set out to highlight Mitie’s critical role in keeping stations running across the UK, the complexity of operations from advanced tech to high risk cleaning at height, and the company’s deep alignment with Network Rail’s Net Zero ambitions.
The result? A film that impressed not only Mitie, but Network Rail too, and helped secure the full contract.
Kelly Parish of Mitie called us “exceptional,” crediting the film with having “a significant influence on the outcome.” David Miles added, “The Lilac team are not just superb filmmakers, they’re good people... I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
We don’t just make films. We help win contracts.
