Care group bucks trend and expands with new home purchase
Growing Yorkshire care provider Saint Cecilia’s is continuing its growth with the seven-figure sum purchase of a care home in Pickering.
Bucking the current tough economic climate, the acquisition of the Alba Rose care home from a family owner, brings Saint Cecilia’s Care Group’s family to three care homes, a nursing home and a day care centre.
Saint Cecilia’s Managing Director Mike Padgham said: “We are delighted to welcome the Alba Rose and its excellent staff and lovely residents into the Saint Cecilia’s family. The home has an enviable reputation based on excellent care delivered by the Whincup family over 35 years and we look forward to building on that in the future.
“It will be very much business as usual for all the staff and residents.”
The Alba Rose, at Keldhead Hall, in Middleton Road, Pickering, accommodates up to 22 residents. A spokesman for Alba Rose said: “After owning the home for so long it is going to be sad to leave but we are happy to be leaving the home in the safe hands of a family-owned care company that shares our values. We wish them all future success with the home.”
The care home shares a name connection to Saint Cecilia’s. The building used to house a community of nuns, one of whom, Sister Cecilia, taught music.
The purchase of the Alba Rose is part of planned growth for Saint Cecilia’s and brings the group’s staff up to around 160 and the number of people it provides care for up to at least 125.
Padgham said: “To survive and prosper in the current economic climate, we believe the business needs to be a certain size and the purchase of Alba Rose goes towards achieving that size. It helps us to grow and strengthen the company and the care offered and also provides opportunities for progression across the group for all our staff.”
He thanked those involved in the purchase, adding: “I would like to thank Clare Davitt from solicitors Irwin Mitchell for her help in progressing the deal to a successful conclusion; David Marsden, Philippa Bagshaw and Robert Smith from NatWest Business for their support in helping Saint Cecilia’s Care Group to grow in a challenging market and Jonathan Wickens from Christie and Co for his help in the sale.”
The team at Irwin Mitchell was led by Real Estate Senior Associate Clare Davitt with Partner Gavin Maddison advising on corporate matters and Senior Associate Padma Tadi on employment issues.
Davitt, who also advised NatWest on the banking aspects on a dual represented basis, said: “The UK care market is expanding as our population ages and now employs around 1.45 million people, just over 40% of whom work in care homes.
“Despite this growth, demand is outstripping supply and there is a shortage of provision for our older and vulnerable members of society. We are delighted to have worked with Saint Cecilia’s which offers a family-run ethos, attractive to residents and users, as they expand their provision for quality care in this market place.”
