Heritage Care at Home – £6,000 over 24 months, 14 jobs created
“We are two experienced women who mean business. Being turned away from mainstream finance was not going to get in our way. Foundation East could see our potential and said yes. Without them, all of the good we have achieved may never have come to be.”– Karen Jefferson –
When lifelong friends Pat Smith and Karen Jefferson sought finance to fund Heritage Care, they could not have imagined that within eight years, they would be sharing best practice in the UK government’s Parliamentary Care Review. Over that time they have given top quality care for 75 elderly and ill people in their own homes and provided employment for 38 care workers. They have achieved a “Top 20 Home Care” status from homecare.co.uk and won a UK Enterprise Award for Best Home Care Company.
Pat and Karen have over 50 years’ experience in the care sector. Friends since school, they have supported each other through many significant life events and knew they were a solid team. Realising there was a gap in the market for a personal care service that championed integrity and dignity in rural Suffolk, they had a vision to create a service that delivered what was needed.
The business partners pooled their resources but found themselves £6,000 short. With no previous trading history, their bank was unable to help them but instead was able to refer them to Foundation East. On the basis of a viable business plan alongside the energy and skills to deliver it, Foundation East offered the business a loan.
“We’re so proud to have won the SME 2018 UK Enterprise Best Home Care Company in Suffolk Award and to be the only care company in Lowestoft and Leiston area to achieve Top 20 Home Care status from homecare.co.uk. To have been selected to contribute to government policy is humbling. None of this would have happened without the strong team we have here. We’ve really proven that we are women who mean business and good business at that!”