Case Study - John Prendergast and Phil Miles

Two local men who beat the recession and created 65 local jobs have scooped a top award from the UK's fastest growing home care company, Bluebird Care.

John Prendergast and Phil Miles, who run a Bluebird Care office from Kelvin Road, Newbury, won the national company's Homecare Provider of the Year Award.

John and Phil accepted the award from Bluebird Care's Managing Director Paul Tarsey. John said, "We are very proud of the quality of service we provide to all our customers. We would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all our staff. It is their efforts over the last 12 months which are being recognised with this prestigious award."

Their company provides quality care at home from the Newbury office, covering both West Berkshire and the Basingstoke area, and has been operating for two years.

John added, "During this time, Bluebird Care has become the fastest-growing homecare provider in our area, and we now have a team of 65 fully-trained and police checked care workers available."

Phil and John were presented with the award at Bluebird Care's annual conference at the prestigious Marriott Hotel and Country Club in the Forest of Arden earlier this month.

Paul Tarsey said: "John and Phil's business embodies the success of Bluebird Care nationally - we are the fastest growing home care provider in the UK and Ireland, with 61 offices. We have retained our commitment to "good old-fashioned service" while at the same time becoming a modern, forward-thinking organisation of the 21st Century - always trying to stay one step ahead. We have also continued to invest in staff development and training, which means our customers get the very best service at all times."

Nationally the Bluebird Care group now provides around 45,000 care visits a month – a growth of 105 per cent on last November.