We Dare to Care

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Date AddedSeptember 16, 2010 03:46:49 PM

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Husband and wife Mike and Catharine Chalton have pooled their talents to build up their home care business to an annual turnover of £1.25m in just four years.
The couple bought a Home Instead Senior Care franchise - which provides specialist non-medical home care services - in Chester in 2006.
Since then they've grown the business tenfold, and are finalists in the 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards, which will be announced at the end of the month.
"Care is a personal thing," says Catharine, a former nurse. "It was important for us to develop the business by providing our clients what they needed."
Mike's background in pharmaceutical sales and marketing has helped the couple run the business successfully, but he admits it hasn't always been easy.
"The business has been challenging," he says. "We have had to learn to manage rapid growth, and deal with staff and cashflow issues." A Home Instead Senior Care franchise costs £32,500. Buying the franchise was their smartest move, according to Catharine.
"The franchise network allows us to work with fellow franchisees to help strengthen the brand across the country.
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"We have a great relationship with the national support team, who are always available to call on for help when needed."
Catharine and Mike have also built strong relationships in the community, creating links with groups and organisations such as Age UK, the Alzheimer's Society and Wirral Hospitals NHS Trust.
"There is a trend in social care to provide standardised services in short blocks of time, but we are passionate about improving industry standards for both clients and employees," Catharine says.
"We provide care at no less than one hour per shift and have invested heavily in training, resulting in more care requests than ever."