North West Entrepeneurs Missing Care Sector Investment Opportunities

An exclusive club of North West entrepreneurs looking for recession-proof investment are ploughing money into the acquisition and development of care homes in the region.

But one leading North West care sector lawyer says that many more entrepreneurs are missing opportunities in the field because it’s not an area they know about.

Stockport-based Gareth Brewerton of Cheshire’s biggest law firm, SAS Daniels LLP, estimates the number of deals completed in the care sector in 2009/2010 will be double that of 2007/2008.

“I can speak only for myself and my colleagues, but I was involved in £54 million worth of care-based acquisitions, developments, refinancing and joint ventures in 2008; this rose to £90 million in 2009, and, half way through the 2010 financial year, we’re already at £86 million worth,” said Gareth Brewerton, who is Assistant Solicitor in SAS Daniels LLP Corporate and Commercial department.

“The vast majority of care home management and staff see care as their prime responsibility – something at which they are absolutely expert – but sometimes forget they need investment to extend and better the outstanding care services they provide.

“I’ve been involved in care deals involving entrepreneurs with zero knowledge of the sector, but who retain existing management to assist. The expertise is there to assist them, and the regulations are so comprehensive that with the right advice and understanding it’s virtually impossible to get involved with the wrong sort of care operation

“The key point is that care needs investment, and investment needs care: there is an ever-growing range of opportunities for entrepreneurs.

“The bridge between investor and care sector is solicitors like myself: we know the regulatory demands, and we understand the commercial requirements. We can match up those two sometimes very different universes.

“We have an ageing population, and the government is driving more care services as a consequence – but private sector care will be crucial to delivering the levels of care required in this country.”

SAS Daniels LLP solicitors has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton, and Bramhall.