For nearly 20 years the National Physical Laboratory was operated on behalf of government by NPL Management Limited, a private company formed in 1995 specifically for that purpose. As Finance Director for almost the entire period, Alan Mann charts its transformation from a government agency to a thriving commercial business whilst at the same time protecting its scientific integrity and standing as one of the top three metrology institutes in the world. This could not have been achieved without a common understanding of shared values encapsulated in a document – ‘partnering in practice’ which remains as relevant today as it did then. His story describes how, through a period of government changes, political intrigue, economic upheaval and decant of operations from 82 buildings to a new state-of-the-art laboratory, it still emerged as a stronger and fitter organisation. It discusses the fundamentals that supported this sometimes uncomfortable cultural shift and how a truly effective partnership can be of significant benefit to government, the private sector and the taxpaying public alike.