Mitie has issued its second profit warning in two months as the outsourcing firm faces fresh hits from economic uncertainty and rising staff costs.

Announcing its half year results today, the company also said it would withdraw from its healthcare business, which provides home care for the elderly. The £128m cost of writing off the business drove Mitie to a £100m pre-tax loss for the first half of the year, compared with a £45m profit a year earlier.

Shares in Mitie dropped 13 per cent in early trade following the announcement.

The company said the board had changed its long-term view of the market but added that its healthcare businesses “would continue to fulfil all obligations”.

In September Mitie warned annual profit would be lower than expected because customers, from banks to local authorities, were delaying projects amid uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote and rising employment costs.

Weeks later it was revealed that Ruby McGregor-Smith is to step down as a director and chief executive to be replaced by former British Gas boss Phil Bentley.

Ms McGregor-Smith said: “The first half of this year has been difficult but we are not alone in facing significant macroeconomic challenges. The steps we have taken to counter these impacts include the restructuring of both frontline and support functions across FM and the decision to withdraw from the domiciliary care market. Second half performance is expected to improve with our new operating model as we adapt to market conditions.

“As I step down as CEO I would like to thank everyone at Mitie who has helped make this such an extraordinary place to work. Thank you also to our clients for their support over the past decade. Mitie is a great business and I am confident that it will move from strength to strength in the future.”

Roger Matthews, chairman of Mitie, added: “I would like to thank Ruby for the significant contribution that she has made to Mitie over her 14 years on the board, the last 10 years as CEO. Under her strong and passionate leadership our FM business has been transformed with the ability to provide a broad range of services to our blue-chip client base. I wish her every success for the future. I am delighted that Phil Bentley has joined Mitie as our future CEO. Phil has demonstrated his leadership skills and strong customer focus at both Cable & Wireless and British Gas and he has an excellent track record of delivering shareholder value.”

In more positive news, Mitie said it had won £170m-worth of new contracts with companies such as Manchester Airports Group, Network Rail, and the Scottish Police Authority and Scottish Fire Rescue Service.