Ripples of excitement are running through the Helping Hands teams as we’ve been recognised in the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2018.
Now in its fifth year, the LSE’s report is an annual round-up of the UK’s most dynamic and fastest-growing small to medium-sized businesses.
Helping Hands is one of the few care companies featured in the report, recognising our significant growth – especially over last five years – and establishment as a well-known household brand for care and support within the home.
From our humble beginnings providing home help in Warwickshire almost 30 years ago, Helping Hands is now one of the largest and most respected home care companies in the UK. As such, we’ve helped more than 40,000 families with dedicated care at home since opening our doors in 1989.
Tim Lee, Helping Hands CEO and son of Mary Lee who founded the company, says: “It’s staggering to have seen how much we’ve grown and expanded, and especially over the last few years. But our ethos and values are just the same as they were all those years ago.
“Today, we have 84 branches across England and Wales offering regular home care visits, and our live-in carers are supporting thousands of families across the country with one-to-one support within the home.
“Our expert team, of carers, personal assistants, CQC-registered managers, registered nurses and carer trainers have a huge impact each day, working together to enable independent living for our customers. It’s the reason we get up in the morning!”
Tim adds, “We’re all delighted to be recognised in LSE’s 1000 Companies to Inspire report. It’s a real celebration of the dedication and commitment of each member of our team in delivering such a person-centred and tailored service.”
Healthcare – a growing sector
Healthcare, which includes the care industry, is just one of the sectors highlighted in the report that is ‘charging ahead’ in the UK economy terms, with an average annual revenue growth of 54% based on figures between 2013 and 2017.
There are many reasons for this.
Increased life expectancy is one factor. With more of us living to an older age, there is a bigger demand on expensive treatments that are generally needed later in life.
Also, cuts on the NHS and social services, coupled with increasing expectations when it comes to medical treatment and care, means that more people are opting to go private and fund treatment and care themselves. As a nation, we also want – and need – more options.
For many, the idea of a residential home, away from the everyday routines and the people we know and love, can be debilitating. This move away from familiarity, whether that is in place, people or routine, can be especially devastating for someone who is living with dementia. The condition already affects 850,000 of Britons, and estimates suggest that this is expected to “soar to 2 million” by the second half of this century.
Today, through personalised live-in care and domiciliary care, many families are finding the right support on their very own doorstep.
At the heart of your community
Mirroring the family ethos and values from Mary’s vision all those years ago, our branch network is gradually expanding across the length and breadth of the country with a mission to provide care to any customer in any town in the United Kingdom.
From caring professionals across much of the south, throughout the London boroughs and the east of England, through to friendly faces in Wales, Midlands and across the north, Helping Hands Home Care is establishing roots in almost all major British towns and cities, making care local to the communities who live there.
Tim explains, “As a company, we’ve grown up in Warwickshire and have felt the benefit of having those locally based roots.
“As we’re building more close-knit teams of carers and caring professionals across the country, it’s only right to build new roots in those towns too, creating more job opportunities and making care local and tailored to the families who live nearby.
“If you spot a Helping Hands branch in your high street, just pop-in to say hello. The team is there to talk you through how home care works and you may even meet some of the fantastic carers who drop by between their calls.”
More about LSE’s report
Other sectors worthy of a mention for their overall growth over the last five years are the building and landscaping, food and beverage, and financial services industries. LSE also reports that the British engineering and construction sector experienced an average increase of a staggering 132%.
Nikhil Rathi, CEO of London Stock Exchange plc, adds: “We warmly congratulate all of the companies identified in this year’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report.
“Five years on, the report continues to demonstrate the strength and diversity of British businesses across the country. These dynamic companies are the backbone of our economy, playing an important role in the UK’s ability to innovate, export and grow.
“This report is a significant part of London Stock Exchange Group’s broader campaign to support UK high growth companies,” she adds. “We are committed to championing British businesses and Britain’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit.”
Read more about the report by visiting: https://www.lseg.com/resources/1000-companies-inspire/2018-report-1000-companies-uk
