Dorchester Nub News' sponsor Agincare is marking 35 years of providing high quality and affordable care after humble beginnings in Dorset.

What started as a passionate vision to create a new style of care home offering high-quality personalised care and facilities at an affordable price, has grown into more than 20 care and nursing homes, care at home and retirement villages nationwide, employing 3,500 people.

Weymouth is home to Agincourt, which began Agincare's 35-year history back in 1986. Founder and chairman Derek Luckhurst lived on site when it began, allowing him to know care inside and out and giving him the knowledge to continue growing the company.

Seeing the success of Agincourt, Mr Luckhurst created Agincare in 1993 to provide home care, as well as manage the growing number of care and nursing homes he was opening across the country.

It didn't take long for Agincare's quality of care to be recognised nationwide as just one year later in 1994, it became one of the very first care providers in the country to be awarded a local authority block contract for home care for older people.

That was just the beginning as it now has more than 70 public sector contracts nationwide.

Looking back over Agincare's prosperous 35 years, so much has been achieved from Mr Luckhurst's inspiration to find a better quality of care than what was available back in 1986.

It is one of South Dorset's largest employers, offering jobs and support to the county's economy, and has remained family-owned with his three sons taking leading roles in Agincare after also learning care from the ground up.

He said: "I'm immensely proud that, in my opinion, we as a team have evolved into the best and greatest value care provider in the country.

"Looking back, I have plenty of memories of the last 35 years, but can't imagine anything more profound than what we are going through at the moment with the Covid pandemic.

"I have never felt so proud of the team. Everyone at all levels has played their part from the chief executive, through to our dedicated care workers going out every day risking their lives to provide an essential service to society."

Agincare's current chief executive, Raina Summerson, joined in 2004 and as a qualified social worker with a Masters in mental health services, she brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.

She previously worked in private care, with the NHS and local authorities, as well as being a regulatory inspector of care homes and domiciliary care agencies.

She said: "The vision for Agincare is to achieve continued growth and a national presence through self-funded and sustainable expansion and diversification of services.

"Unlike many other care providers, despite our rapid growth and success, Agincare has remained family-owned with no external investors. We are a local and caring organisation driven by people with a passion for what they do."

As well as growing its number of care homes over the years and offering live-in, home and extra care, Agincare also delivers education and training.

Training Now, set up in 2017, gives its own team - as well as learners from other organisations - practical social care training, apprenticeships and qualifications.

But it is not only high-quality care Mr Luckhurst has brought to the county. He has also been responsible for regenerating Castletown, which had become rather run down following the closure of its naval base air station.

Mr Luckhurst's father, grandfather and uncles worked on the Portland naval base and in 2014 he embarked on the Castletown Regeneration Project.

This exciting project has transformed Castletown, which now includes a Tourist Information Centre, a new convenience store, Castletown D-Day Centre and a 1940s themed tea room, an improved beach, an underwater curiosity park, a refurbished pier, floating pontoon, industrial units, holiday apartments and an example of the last remaining Lerret fishing boats, built in 1914.

On top of this, it is also the location of Agincare's main headquarters.

Covid restrictions are making celebrations difficult, but the team will hopefully be marking Agincare's milestone anniversary with events throughout the year.

To find out more about Agincare, visit [L+] https://www.agincare.com [L+]Agincare.com[.L]

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