Balhousie Care Group were recognised for business resilience, business leadership and named Business of the Year at the weekend, sweeping the board at the prestigious Courier Business Awards, where it scooped three awards, including Business of the Year.
The Perth-based company, which runs 26 care facilities across six regions of Scotland, beat off stiff competition from businesses across Tayside and Fife to take home the awards, which recognised its business resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and business leadership.
The Resilience and Recovery award is new to the Courier Business Awards. Balhousie won for its financial investment and future-proofing, despite the business hurdles created by the pandemic. Investment in the business included technology, communications and new employee assistance and wellbeing programmes. The company also set up a staff hardship fund.
Tony Banks, founder and former Chairman of Balhousie Care Group, was named Business Leader of the Year after three decades at the helm of the care provider.
A former Army Para and Falklands veteran, Tony founded the company in 1992 with a care home in Kirriemuir and a vision to provide a better alternative to older person’s care. Now employing more than 1400 staff, Balhousie Care Group is an influential force on Scotland’s business landscape.
Through innovation, strong community partnerships, enabling residents to ‘bust myths’ through peson-centred and meaningful activities, and a keen eye on how to stay ahead of the social care curve, Balhousie has redefined the meaning of ‘care’.
Balhousie Care Group was recently bought by Belgian company AcalisCare. Tony remains an investor in Balhousie and will concentrate on his other business ventures.
John Kirk, Deputy Chief Executive Officer with Balhousie Care Group, said: “These awards are for our staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the most challenging years the care sector has ever seen. We are grateful to The Courier Business Awards for introducing the new Resilience and Recovery category, which recognises how difficult the pandemic has been for the whole business community.”
He added: “In addition, being recognised as Business of the Year among such strong contenders means the world to us and our staff.”
Tony said of his Business Leader of the Year accolade: “I’m delighted to have this recognition for Balhousie and its staff, especially at the end of three decades in business. I have always said that buildings don’t deliver care, people do. I am thankful to have had such a dedicated, talented workforce come on this journey with me to create not just a major force in social care, but a major Scottish employer.”
Balhousie Care Group is also a finalist in the upcoming Scottish Care Awards, with two employees shortlisted; the Great British Care Awards, with another two finalists; and the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business STAR Awards.
