CQ Q2 2025 - CareCo Newsletter by CareCo

The Finance Bunch

Return on Investment

Abrew, a biscuit and a chat, as it turns out, might be the key to everything. We all know the power of a decent cuppa here at CareCo – it’s the best way to connect with customers when they make a visit to one of our showrooms. But maybe we could all take a leaf out of our Finance team’s book, whose brilliant culture and camaraderie came about thanks to Friday afternoon kitchen catch-ups!

For this edition of CQ, we got to know what is perhaps the most enigmatic of departments – sure, come the 28th of the month they’re our favourite people on earth, but what are they up to the rest of the time? What are they really like, beyond the book balancing and budgeting? Do they actually use algebra in real life? Is EBITDA nothing more than a fun word to say? Do they dream of Excel? Do they sleep in spreadsheets?

Only one of these questions gets answered in our feature. But we do get a very good idea of just how important a strong culture, teamwork and friendship is when it comes to success at CareCo – and we find out which animal best sums up the Finance department.

Elsewhere in issue #4 of CQ, we meet the teams in our new showrooms in Chester and Plymouth, hear about the latest incredible feats of fundraising by our colleagues, and take a look at a day in the life of our Systems Co-ordinator, Taz.

I also just want to say a huge thank you to the brilliant team behind CQ -- Sian Ostridge, Ben Maples, Leah Green, Zena Cahill and Rhiannon Wilks (and not forgetting our sponsor, Jane Bunting, of course!). It’s been a pleasure.

Now, get the kettle on and get stuck in.

Enjoy!

Joe Abbitt BRAND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

P.S. We all know Simon Rourke, our Finance Director, loves his music. So we’ve hidden a handful of musical references throughout this issue – find as many as you can and then skip to the back of the issue for the answers and a playlist!

“ ”

Two-and-a-half years ago, I realised that I needed better, high calibre people. Fast-forward to where we are now, and I believe we’ve got a team of really good people who have a good work ethic. They want to be here, and they want to work hard.

Simon Rourke Finance Director

Mental Health Awareness Week

MONDAY 12 TH - FRIDAY 16 TH MAY 2025

Mental health is something we take seriously at CareCo, and so for that reason we were only too pleased to take part in the Mental Health Foundation’s “Mental Health Awareness Week” from Monday 12th to Friday 16th of May.

This year, the theme was community, something we at CareCo we pride ourselves on. We’re lucky to have a community that looks out for our own. Whether it’s a chat over lunch, lending a hand on a tough day, or just checking in with a message, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

The initiatives we ran across the whole company were:

• Monday 12th: Mental Health bingo and Bee hotels

• Tuesday 13th: A special 15-minute guided meditation with Donna Ebbs!

• Wednesday 14th: A day of walks

• Thursday 15th: Pet photo competition

• Friday 16th: 15 minute one-to-ones with one of our mental health ambassadors

We’re delighted to say that we saw a huge uptake across the business in these different initiatives and we’re so glad that everyone engaged with these ideas!

Monday 12 th May

Over 180 Bee Hotels were handed or sent out! We’ve already received some great photos of these little brood box Belmond’s, and we’ve received great feedback about our bingo cards!

Tuesday 13 th May

Our very own Donna Ebbs ran a series of guided meditations. For those at CCHQ, these were held in-person, while for those in showrooms or CCLS, sessions were held on Teams. We’d like to thank Donna for taking the time out of her day to provide these incredibly relaxing sessions!

Wednesday 14 th May

We hope you all took advantage of the lovely May weather and took a leisurely stroll on your lunch break.

Thursday 15 th May

We received well over 100 entries for the competition, but in the end, there could be only one winner! Our top prize of some coveted CareMiles was won by our proud paw-rent, Caren Moore, our Product Support Team Leader.

Doris & Bruce Jasper

2 nd 3 rd 1 st

Lucky

Friday 16 th May

We had a good uptake of our mental health ambassadors too! It’s important to reach out to others if you’re struggling and we’re so happy that so many people felt comfortable enough to reach out.

This is our chance to say thank you to everyone who took part, whether it was printing off a mental health bingo card, signing up for a guided meditation, sending in photos of your pets or taking a moment out of your day to check in on someone you work with, it’s part of what makes CareCo so CareCo!

Our Mighty Hikes

Last year, we raised around £8,000 from our Mighty Hike treks, and now we’re gearing up to do it all again!

Back in May, our very own Jon Wade did the Norfolk Coast Half Marathon Mighty Hike. Jon initially planned to raise £250 for Macmillan Cancer Support, but he didn’t stop there! In the end, Jon ended up raising 292% over his initial target to bring it up to a whopping £730!

Macmillan gives people with cancer everything they’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are Macmillan’s worries. But without your help, they can’t support everyone who needs them.

We also have Stephanie Gaskin , who is raising money for Macmillan with a walk of her own!

Jon

Steph will be taking on the Thames Path Mighty Hike on the 26th of July. As of the time of publishing, Steph has already exceeded her goal of £250 raised by 214% with £535 raised already, and that figure is only rising!

We’d like to thank both Jon and Steph for their amazing work and we’d like to take this chance to encourage everyone to donate to Steph’s walk, if you can – after all, every little helps!

In addition to Jon and Steph’s hikes, over the weekend of the 28th of June, five of our colleagues, Craig Kennedy, Gill Leicester, Jayne Lee, Rachael Davies and Steve Hirst, took on the Macmillan Yorkshire Dales Mighty Hike, a 14-mile trek through the Yorkshire countryside.

It was a long and challenging trek over tough terrain, steep slopes and hefty headwinds. The trek was so arduous, that Rachael even ended up in A&E with a sprained ankle (don’t worry, she made a full recovery!). Overall, despite these maladies, the team still raised an incredible £1,485 overall!

This is my third event now for charityAlzheimer’s, Cancer Research and now Macmillan, I have never completed 26 miles, although many of you know I enjoy walking and have been training hard, fingers crossed I make it over the finish line. Cancer is close to my heart, and this is a disease that warrants the kind donations some of you have contributed and also the effort it will take to complete the marathon. Roll on the 26th...

- Stephanie Gaskin

Scan QR code to go to Steph’s Just Giving Page.

2025 got off to a flying start as we stepped up to the oche to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support –and what a bullseye we hit!

One of our first major fundraising events of the year, this 12-hour dart-a-thon saw teams aiming high, hitting the mark, and throwing their full support behind an incredible cause. From 5pm on Friday, 4th April, the darts were flying fast at both CCHQ and CCLS – all in the name of charity.

Our mission? To hit 100,000 points before sunrise. If we reached the target early, we’d pack up and call it a night. If not, it was game on until 5am! Luckily, we got the points well before then!

Dressed in green fancy dress, armed with snacks and drinks, and powered by competitive spirit, we gave it everything we had.

In the end, our teams across CCHQ and CCLS raised an incredible £1,320 for Macmillan overall! A huge thank you to everyone who took part, whether you were a seasoned super sharpshooter or just there for the good vibrations.

Every throw counted, and thanks to your energy and generosity, we helped Macmillan fight cancer Littler by Littler.

Game on, and thank you again!

Malcolm’s 200 Mile Charity Bike Ride

MANCHESTER TO LONDON 2025

On the 22nd of June , our Chairman, Malcolm Harrison , took part in M2L 2025, a charitable cause which entails cycling a full 220 miles from Manchester to London in a single day!

The ride was done in support of Ambitious About Autism. Ambitious About Autism is a national charity that helps autistic children, campaigns for change and creates more opportunities and awareness nationwide.

Malcolm’s fundraising efforts saw him raise a truly staggering £19,710 !

Gala Dinner Announcement

Get ready for a night to remember! Join us on Friday 1st November at Little Channels, Chelmsford for an evening of food, fun, and fundraising at our Gala Dinner in support of Ambitious Against Autism. For just £50 per ticket, you’ll enjoy:

• A sparkling welcome drink

• A delicious three-course meal

• Dancing until midnight

• And the chance to win big in our raffle

Tables seat eight, so gather your team or let us place you with new faces – either way, it’s set to be a great night.

Dress up to the 9s (black tie optional), and come ready to celebrate a fantastic cause. Spaces are limited, so make sure you and your team don’t miss out!

Let’s come together to raise some money and make memories at the same time.

1st November 2025

Little Channels, Chelmsford

£50 per person

If you’d like to reserve your place, contact Jane Bunting.

New Managing Director Tom Stansfield

Tom took over the Managing Director role in April ahead of John Pryor’s retirement in December, so we grabbed the opportunity to ask him a few quick questions...

How do you define success for the organisation in the next 1–3 years?

“In the next 1–3 years, I define success for our Company as achieving significant growth in our showroom network, expanding by 10-12 showrooms (hopefully more) over the next three years. We aim to introduce more automated systems and workflows to enhance efficiency. Additionally, we will focus on increasing brand awareness and visibility in the market, improving customer satisfaction and retention, prioritising people development and engagement to maximise capability, and increasing the number of delivery and servicing hubs to best support our customers.”

Who or what inspires you professionally?

“I am regularly inspired by the incredible people I work with. Their unwavering drive, tenacity, and intelligence never cease to amaze me. What truly sets them apart is their genuine care and dedication towards our customers. Witnessing their passion and commitment every day fuels my own motivation and reminds me of the incredible potential we have as a team.”

Is there a piece of advice that’s stuck with you throughout your career?

“When I was in my early teens, I played a lot of football and one of our Managers always had a phrase that has stuck with me since, as it applied then to football, but I feel it applies generally to life: ‘Hard work beats talent, unless talent works hard.’ Fundamentally, hard work and dedication underpin everything. You could be the smartest person in the room, but if you don’t apply yourself, you won’t achieve.”

Tom can only be described as CareCo ‘through and through’, and to call him a set of capable hands would be to do him a huge disservice! I know you will join me in supporting Tom and the Board through this transition, and in wishing them every bit of success they deserve in the future.

-John Pryor

How do you stay motivated and resilient as a leader?

“I stay motivated and resilient as a leader through self-awareness and understanding my own strengths and weaknesses. This allows me to work on my weaknesses and manage my emotions and behaviours during stressful situations. Prioritising self-care and maintaining an appropriate work-life balance is crucial. A significant part of my motivation comes from my family and the desire to do the best for them every day.

From a resiliency perspective, I embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. I learn from mistakes and incorrect decisions and remain flexible and adaptable to the challenges we face. Over the years at CareCo, we have faced a multitude of significant challenges, from Brexit to Covid, to wars (Russia-Ukraine and impact on costs), to warehouse fires, to relocations (multiple times now) each one providing opportunities for learning and improvement. That’s not to downplay the significance of each of these challenges, and at the time these could feel like fatal issues, but with hard work and dedication, and the incredible team we have built across

all areas of the business, we have managed through each situation and come out the other side stronger as a result.”

What’s one thing you enjoy doing outside of work?

“Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, my wife Chloe and my two sons, George (aged 3y5m) and Freddie (aged 7m). My family keep me grounded and bring a sense of normality to life when I’m not at work. As far as hobbies, I love football albeit don’t get the chance to play as much as I would like these days, and love being outdoors whether going for a walk, or just playing in the garden with George and Freddie.”

What kind of work environment helps you thrive?

“I thrive in an environment that encourages open communication, provides opportunities for growth, presents challenges to overcome and solve, and offers plenty of things to do. Open communication fosters transparency and trust within the team, allowing for the free exchange of ideas and feedback. Opportunities for growth, both personal and professional, are essential as they enable continuous learning and development. I am motivated by challenges that push me to problem solve and find solutions. A dynamic and busy work environment keeps me engaged and ensures that there is always something new to tackle. Additionally, a supportive and collaborative atmosphere where team members can rely on each other is crucial for my productivity and overall job satisfaction.”

Who has influenced your leadership style the most?

“I don’t feel like there is any one person who has specifically influenced my leadership style. I do what I think is right based on the information I have available and what I have learned through experience. I look at traits and characteristics of other people that I admire and try to adopt certain aspects of these that I feel would make me a better leader or person. For example in the last few years I feel like I have mellowed somewhat and learned to control my emotions better. However, fundamentally, my leadership style is driven primarily by my own personality and the experiences I have had throughout my career.”

Chester and Plymouth Showrooms

officially open!

In April, we officially opened the doors of our Chester showroom. The grand opening took place on Friday 11th April 2025, and saw us welcome some new staff members to the team, including Hanna, Kalina and Heather.

In addition to the Chester showroom opening, we opened our doors to the good people of Plymouth too! We’re delighted to welcome Stephen, Demi and Stephanie to the CareCo family.

These showrooms open up a whole new world of mobility care and retail in Chester and Plymouth, and we hope you’ll all make Hanna, Kalina, Heather, Stephen, Demi and Stephanie all feel welcome as we wish them all the best of luck!

Chester Showroom

Plymouth Showroom

The launch of CareCo Life

Back in April, we launched our very first lifestyle magazine! CareCo Life finally hit the shelves (metaphorically speaking, at least – you won’t find it in newsagents just yet!) after a brilliant collaborative effort between our Marketing department and our partner agency, HUB.

CareCo Life is a home for the softer, seasonal content that our customers will want to keep on the coffee table, as well as expert advice on our product ranges and bits and pieces of news from around the CareCo world.

We don’t just want to offer our audience the same content over and over again with the same second-hand news. CareCo Life allows us to reach our audience in new and interesting ways, while also giving them practical lifestyle tips that show our products in the best possible light.

Our first issue included an interview with interior stylist Sarah Cook, information about our Which? Trusted Trader endorsement, and an interview with lifestyle blogger and disability campaigner, Hannah Deakin.

Issue 2 launches in July, and it includes an interview with CareCo ambassador, model and radio presenter Ruth Telford, as well as a terrific sausage roll recipe from the brains behind Seventy Seven. Keep your eyes peeled!

Grace’s story: life with fibromyalgia How she found the strength to keep going and the support that changed everything Staying safe on the move! Essential road and pavement safety for mobility scooter users Which scooter is best for you? Our trusted product expert highlights two innovative mobility scooters

PLUS... Recipes, puzzles, the Book Club, and much much more!

Interview with CareCo ambassador, model, radio host Ruth Telford

Teamwork makes the dream work Inside Finance:

It’s just past 4pm on a Friday. The coffee machine whirs into noisy life and a CareCo mug is slowly filled to the brim with a piping hot Americano. The machine competes with the low murmur of conversation in the kitchen. This isn’t your typical image of a Finance department. There’s laughter, a bit of weekend chatter, and everybody’s talking about whether or not Jaffa Cakes are a type of cake or biscuit. It’s the sort of relaxed casual conversation likely happening up and down the land in any office as we edge closer and closer to the end of the day, but beneath it is a department that has come to typify one of the most important aspects of CareCo’s ethos: teamwork.

Over the past three years, the department has transformed from a beleaguered and stretched-thin duo fighting through a never-ending backlog, to a tight-knit crew with non-stop momentum.

Contrary to popular belief, Finance isn’t just a department that solely focuses on the numbers. “People think accountants are maths geniuses, but really, it’s about knowing how to use numbers and helping each other out,” explains Rob Richardson, Assistant Management Accountant. For Finance, it’s about showing up for each other, rolling up their sleeves during crunch time, and finding rhythm in the midst of all the chaos. Behind the quiet corridors and the click clacking of keyboards and calculators lies a buzzing hive of teamwork, collaboration, and spirit.

We asked our Finance team: If you could describe your department as an animal, what would you choose?

It’s fair to say that we got a variety of answers...

Culture is an essential part in any team – with Finance, it’s no different. At the heart of the team’s buzzing heart is a simple plan, one that keeps the team focused and allows them a chance to get to know each other on a more informal basis: a work-free chat in the kitchen over coffee and biscuits!

The chat, held every Friday in the main kitchen of CCHQ, is the simple yet brilliant idea of Stacy Fletcher, CareCo’s Head of Finance: “The idea behind it was that, when we go in there, we don’t focus on work, we don’t talk about work – talk about what you’re doing this weekend,” says Stacy. “Have a biscuit, unwind. Get ready for the weekend. When you’re finished after 20 minutes or so, come back, wrap up. You’re good to go, because you’re leaving on a high for the weekend!”

“You can always tell we’re close to payday, because at the beginning of the month, we’re sitting around with brownies or whatever, and then by the end of the month, we’re onto Rich Tea fingers!”

Month-end is a common talking point among the team over the course of our chats. “When it comes to month-end, that’s where the real fun begins!” says Rob. “You have about 2 weeks of relative calm and then we have to put our heads together and get it all sorted!”

Joe Partner, CareCo’s Management Accountant in the team, shares the same sentiment: “You have about 2 weeks to get the things you want done, before you’re straight back at it for month end,” he says, “I try and save myself some time for the month end, because it’s quite easy to spend that time rushing through everything you don’t actually get time to look at and it’s important to prioritise.”

Chris Belcher

How long have you been with CareCo?

Initially, I came here as a temp on the 25th of March last year. When I came, it was just Aruna and Marketa – the team was quite scarce, and I was brought in to help update the account system.

How do you manage pressure in your department?

For me personally, if something comes up, I just get on with it and keep my head down. I don’t flap about or complain, it’s just ‘head down, get it done and crack on’. I think it’s the best way to do it.

But it wasn’t always like this.

The hard-working collective here now is a far cry from the early years of the team. What was once a challenging environment is now a functional and highly collaborative team, thanks in no small part to the work of Simon Rourke and Stacy that has seen that culture change for the better.

“The biggest issue we had in Finance was culture and respect and how people treated each other and how they viewed CareCo as a business,” says Simon, CareCo’s Finance Director. “We had some very negative influences going back several years. The challenge has been to manage that out of the department and ensure that we foster a great culture for the new team.”

Marketa Martin, the team’s longest serving member and Motion Management Accountant, was part of the original team, but has seen the changes for herself: “If you compare the original team to the team now, it’s a lot more stable!” she says “We all know each other and how we work and we all work well together.”

Aishwarya Aruna

What is an outward perception of Accounts & Finance that you think is wrong?

That we don’t speak to each other! Or that we’re very quiet – just sitting and doing our stuff, then concentrating.

What may seem like a quiet team working away on calculators or spreadsheets is actually a dynamic group challenging the common myths that surround the world of Finance.

Mark Greenbaum, Finance Assistant, says “I think everyone thinks of Finance as boring Excel geeks, and that we all want to compete at the Excel World Championships!” Yes, reader - that is a real thing. Accounts Payable Assistant, Francesca John, agrees: “We do spend a lot of time on spreadsheets, but we don’t love them – they’re just the tools of the trade!”

One of the people changing the outward perception of the department’s responsibilities is Ian Parry, Financial Planning and Analysis Accountant. “It’s lots of analysis of processes and then lots of big data analysis, which is sorted into recommendations to the Board,” says Ian, who started at CareCo back in December. “So I’m generally dealing with some pretty big data from all over, trying to turn that into something meaningful, so we can make meaningful decisions moving forward.”

That kind of high-level data analysis is a huge part of the company’s strategic goals.

Francesca John

What would you say is a general misconception of Accounts?

The first thing that came to my head is, we love spreadsheets. We don’t! We do spend a lot of time on them, but we don’t love them. I think everyone thinks we’re quite quiet as well – oh, we’re also not as scary as you might think, I promise!

THE FOUNDATIONS

What may have looked like a lot of upheaval and discontinuity has morphed into the foundations of a settled and strong team. Luke Lodge, Purchase Ledger Clerk – who arrived as a temp – has found a more stable environment borne out of a burgeoning team all pulling in one direction: “It’s different now,” he reflects, noting the palpable shift towards stability. “When I joined, the team was basically only me, Chris, Marketa and Aruna, now the team’s grown even further!”

Luke, working side by side with teammates like Chris Belcher and Pamhidzai Shonhiwa, has seen firsthand how their growing team is changing the game. What used to be a daily struggle chasing invoices and managing supplier payments and customer refunds has become smoother and more efficient as both the team and the knowledge pool has grown.

But it’s not just about getting more hands on deck. With each carefully-handled and processed transaction, they’re building something bigger: a stronger, more connected team with a shared sense of purpose.

Mark Greenbaum

What’s an element of your job that you find quite rewarding?

There’s not a specific element that I find rewarding. I think working with this team has just got some real upsides. There’s some really fun people on the desk that we can have good conversations and a laugh with while still getting the work done.

So that’s more rewarding, I’d say, than the work itself.

The transformation within finance wasn’t accidental; it was carefully nurtured, spearheaded by Simon and Stacy. Stacy, joining just weeks before the devastating fire at CCHQ, quickly became the fulcrum of the department in a period of unprecedented challenge.

Her leadership style has transcended beyond just financial oversight. Stacy actively cultivated a culture of camaraderie, notably through the now-cherished weekly kitchen meetings. It’s in these informal gatherings, away from the spreadsheets, calculators and pivot tables, that bonds strengthen and morale soars.

“It took a long time to build the team we have now,” says Simon. “It’s just creating the right culture, the right atmosphere, and that’s where the Friday meetings come into it!”

The dual management of Simon and Stacy has formed one of the core tenets of the Finance department. Working in tandem, Simon and Stacy are able to focus on the day-to-day operations, while also planning ahead for the future.

“We make a good team!” says Simon, “Stacy’s come on and taken a lot of stuff off me after what’s been a very eventful 5 years.”

That 5 year period was one of the biggest struggles, as so many of us know all too well. After a period of instability following the COVID-19 pandemic, Simon was faced with a new issue: a fire at CCHQ.

All of this compounded into a time of great instability within the team. Amidst the ever-piling mound of insurance claims, people began to leave. “We had to churn through a lot of people to get where we are now. It was imperative we recruited the right people, with the right work ethic. That all takes time as the Finance market is a tough one to recruit in, but after a few false starts we finally arrived at the desired outcome and we’re both very proud of the team we’ve put together.”

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

For Aishwarya Aruna, Finance Assistant, the memory of daunting backlogs is still fresh. Joining in the summer of 2023, she inherited a mountain of uncleared transactions stretching back to 2022.

The pressure was immense. Yet, the recent growth of the team has been the critical turning point. Aruna, along with the support of the rest of the team, now sees the summit within reach. “We’re all working together and slowly, but surely, we’re catching up – hopefully, in the next three or four months we should be all caught up!”

That is remarkable work for an ever-growing team with a litany of other jobs that need focusing on at any one moment. “We fixed a lot of the backlog quite quickly,” she continues, “but some of the outstanding transactions are awaiting some investigations, so we’re just waiting for those.”

Marketa Martin

What does a typical day in the life look like for Marketa?

Well, because CareCo is very transaction-heavy, it’s quite intensive and from the past experience, everything was such a mess that you kind of have to be

on top of it, and you have to look at it daily because of the volume of transactions.

Luke Lodge

What would you say is the outward perception of Finance?

Most people probably think it’s constantly dealing with just paying people, which, yes, we do do, but there’s so much more background to it.

There is so much that goes on in background that people don’t see, because it’s not at the forefront. So there’s a lot more to it than just paying and receiving money.

Pam Shonhiwa

What is your job and what does it involve?

I am a Refunds Administrator.

Ian Parry

What is your job and what does it involve?

It’s basically financial planning, budgeting and forecasting for the year ahead, analysis of what we’re doing numbers-wise and trying to find ways to make more money, save money, make more money.

It’s a new role. I started in December and produced a budget for the new financial year, so that we can then manage our performance against that.

Joe Partner

What department would you say you do the most work with?

The main department I’ve worked with since I’ve been here, outside of Finance, has been Supply Chain. But then we sometimes work with Returns or Sales.

There’s a lot of back and forth with other departments as well.

I’m basically the last person when it comes to refunds. So after everything has been returned and the whole chain is happy with the product returned, and it’s in good condition, then they’ll send me a notification on OW and I’ll refund the customer.

The same can also be said for Marketa, “It was just me and Aruna who were the only two people left from the original team. So there was still a lot of the backlog to do!” she says “Then we went into audit, and it was a lot of catching up. So it’s been really full on – like, no breathing space, but we’re getting there!”

Two years ago, CareCo’s Finance department was running on fumes, just a handful of people battling endless backlogs, frayed by pressure and churn. Now things have changed.

What once felt like sluggishness has become momentum. A team once defined by absence and departure now thrives on connection. New faces have brought fresh energy; old challenges have been met with calm resolve. Leadership has fostered not just a healthier workflow, but a culture of trust, laughter, and shared wins.

The difference isn’t just in headcount. It’s in the tone of Friday kitchen chats, the rhythm of month-end collaboration, the ease with which people now lean on each other. Backlogs are shrinking, ideas are growing, and most importantly, so is belief – in each other, and in what the team and company can do.

From burnt out to buzzing, the change has been nothing short of transformational.

We’re proud to be a Which? Trusted Trader

Back in March, we officially became a Which? Trusted Trader! This is a massive deal for us as a business and we’re immensely proud of all the work that went into getting this official endorsement.

The Which? Trusted Trader scheme is designed to promote reputable traders to consumers in the UK. It’s a massive sign of trust in the quality of our installation, servicing and repairs teams and the work we’re doing! In order to get this endorsement, we were assessed on our:

• Business procedures

• Credit history

• Customer satisfaction

• Face-to-face assessment

This endorsement is essential for us. For customers, seeing the Which? Trusted Trader logo is a guarantee that we’ve met the highest standards possible as set by Trading Standards professionals and that we have a technical understanding they can put their faith and trust in!

To celebrate, we’ve added the Which? Trusted Trader logo to all the relevant places on our website and in our showrooms.

CCHQ:

One step closer...

We’ve continued to make steady progress as we enter the final stage of the reconstruction at CCHQ!

Cladding is completed and the original main CareCo signs have now been restored to their original position. The roof of the building has been restored, and has been inspected and signed off, with bracketry and PV panels being added as we go.

In January, we were ready for the floor in the warehouse to be coated in resin. To complete the fireproof painting of the steelwork to programme, we installed special, temporary heating to control the temperature and humidity.

The dock-levellers have been re-built, as has the main canopy of the delivery area. As a result of the new resin floor, we have achieved the tolerances required for our new man-up forklifts. All mechanical and electrical work is now nearing completion with commissioning and testing about to begin.

Scaffolding has been removed from the exterior of the building. All external paving and landscaping are now complete, and we have started to see the return of some lush wildlife. As the blazing sun of June shone down on us all, we began to clean the external cladding and curtain-walling and glass to a mirror-shine!

Internally, the warehouse now has its racking installed and the mezzanine (including the fit-out) is well underway.

The 4th of August is the main target date for us to re-locate all the product in the warehouse of CC51. Underfloor heating within the atrium is now installed and the ceramic tiling is nearing completion.

On the first and second floors, the carpet installation has begun, with furniture installation to start in the final week of July.

As we draw ever-closer to the grand opening, we’ll have more information for you, but for now, here’s a fun fact: overall, there is 65km of data cabling installed in CCHQ!

Products

• Diamond cut padded seat

• Foam padded delta handlebar

• 10-inch front and rear tyres

• Padded armrests

• Front and rear suspension

• Front basket

• Remote controlled

• Automatic folding

• Up to 20km range

• Flip up armrests

• LCD display joystick

• Front suspension

In Memoriam

We would like to dedicate this page of CQ to the memory of two CareCo employees who sadly passed away in May.

STEVE SUTTON

Steve was a much-valued member of the Home Installation, Servicing and Engineering teams over the past eight years, and was truly appreciated by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him. His contribution made a lasting impact, and he will be deeply missed –both personally and professionally.

Our heartfelt condolences have been sent to Carolyn, Steve’s wife.

JEFF PHILLIPSON

Jeff was only with us for a for a short time following the opening of our Chester showroom. However, he became a huge part of the team and his loss will be felt by his team in Chester.

We have extended our heartfelt condolences to Jeff’s wife, Lauren, and their family at this incredibly sad time.

We would like to take this moment to remember both men and their contributions to CareCo. We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that as a CareCo employee, you have access to a confidential counselling service should you wish to talk to a trained counsellor about what has happened.

This service is completely private – no information is shared with the organisation. You can access it at any time via the UNUM Help@Hand app using the PIN number 482834 or by contacting the HR department.

In the SPOTLIGHT

Meet Taz, our Systems Support Co-ordinator. Taz joined CareCo in January 2024 as an Operations Administrator. Having always had a passion to learn and wanting more training specific to her role, Taz began looking into learning opportunities. Our very own Alex Griffiths recommended Baltic Apprenticeships and Taz is now excelling as a Level 3 Junior Data Analyst, a qualification she is due to complete this Autumn before hopefully progressing to Level 4.

We sat down with Taz to get to know more about herself and her role at CareCo…

What’s one thing you think people would be surprised to learn about you? I’m a bit of a dabbler so I love trying new things! I’m big on PC gaming and often stream with friends for fun but I also like embroidery and recently have been learning to crochet.

My newest hobby is junk journaling, so collecting holiday receipts, napkins, tickets, business cards, anything really and then putting it all together and it’s a really nice way to remember and look back on special events.

As you are a big reader? Is there a book you would suggest everyone should read? I read a lot of books that I personally enjoy and I think wow, this is great, but I wouldn’t necessarily think “that has changed my life, I should recommend this to someone”. I love poetry, but I know it can affect people differently – for me, I read it and can be like oh my God my entire brain has rewired itself.

I really like Mary Oliver. She wrote a lot of nature themed poetry and my favourite poems are by her. I’d recommend her anthology ‘Devotions’ which was put together before she passed away – you don’t have to read the whole thing as it’s quite big but it has a lot of good poems in it.

What does a typical week look like for you in your role at CareCo?

It changes all the time. There are always a lot of daily tasks that I have to do, then on a bigger scale there are always projects and changes going on in the background like new systems coming in, changes to current systems and upgrades with CCHQ coming along. I try to support where I can – I mainly do the help desk side of things which is what you guys see from the outside.

How do you continuously develop your skills?

On quieter days, which isn’t so much at the moment, I’m trying to learn Python which is a programming language. My tutor recommended Codédex on it which is really fun because it gamifies things and as I said I like to game so it doesn’t necessarily feel like learning, but it all plays a part in progressing in both my job role and apprenticeship.

How does your work and apprenticeship support each other?

I really enjoy data so I always take the opportunity where I can to get involved with projects that are going on within the department. As a part of my apprenticeship, I completed a W3 Academy course where I learnt basic SQL (Structured Query Language) so I can write reports directly into the system. The database pulls the data I need and I go from there so this helps with the data related projects I’m involved in.

Irene Longmore - Purchased the X-go Cosmic.

“Went to CareCo Romford, for my partner to try a Scooter. She tried the X-GO Cosmic and liked it, so we purchased it.

What a difference it’s made to her life. Able to get around without the constant stops to rest.”

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CareCo In The Wild

Our customers in their natural habitat!

Irene gives 5 stars

The Kondor spotted out along the sunny seafront of Southend.

- Sent in by Dan Jones - Marketing

Braintree Showroom Opening Soon

As CCHQ’s opening draws ever closer, so too does our new Braintree showroom!

The Braintree showroom will be a great place for our customers to try out new products and to get a bit more information about us and what we do.

With a little luck, our expanding team in Braintree will soon include some fresh new faces who are ready to jump into exciting new career opportunities. Whether someone’s just starting out, looking for a change of pace, or wants to grow their skills in a new environment, we’re here to help them take that next step.

We’re looking for new recruits! If you know anyone in the Braintree area looking for a job, or if you know someone further afield who’s looking for a new career in a new town, then tell them to get in contact with recruitment@ careco.co.uk or to visit our careers webpage!

Musical References Answers

As Joe said at the start, we hid a couple of song references, album names, music puns and lyrics throughout this issue. Did you find them all?

Editor’s Note

The Adventures of Stevie V –”Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”

Kanye West & Paul McCartney – “Only One”

The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”

Jeff Cowell – “We All Know”

Flight Shift

DJ Zinc – “Super Sharp Shooter”

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”

Malcolm’s Gala Dinner

Shalamar – “A Night To Remember”

Justin Timberlake & JAY-Z – “Suit & Tie”

The Beatles – “Come Together”

Chester & Plymouth

Aladdin – “A Whole New World”

Paul McCartney – “All the Best”

CareCo Life

Fleetwood Mac – “Over and Over”

Fleetwood Mac – “Second Hand News”

Finance

Harry Nilsson – “Everybody’s Talkin’” The Culture Club

Simple Plan

Calvin Harris & Mary Pearce – “Ready for the Weekend”

Macy Gray – “I Try”

David Bowie – “Changes”

Dolly Parton – “9 to 5”

One Direction

Led Zeppelin – “Rock and Roll”

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (and later Diana Ross) – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

Which? Trusted Trader

Daft Punk – “Face To Face”

Gary Numan – “We Have A Technical”

CCHQ Update

Hot Chip – “Ready For the Floor”

Braintree Recruitment

The Clash – “Career Opportunities”

Wings – “With A Little Luck”

David Bowie – “A New Career in a New Town”

Give yourself a score out of 33 and then a pat on the back with this eclectic little easter egg: a playlist of all the songs we mentioned throughout this issue – just scan the QR code!