As we head into a new year, one thing feels really clear: we’re moving forward with pace and purpose.
Opening new showrooms isn’t just about bricks and mortar – it’s about reaching more customers, creating more opportunities for our teams, and continuing to grow CareCo in the right way.
Throughout this year, we’ll be opening six new locations, including a new hub, each one helping us extend our reach and strengthen how we support customers across the UK. Behind every opening is a huge amount of work, collaboration and care from teams right across the business.
This feels like real momentum as we look ahead through 2026. We’re building on strong foundations, investing in our future, and making sure CareCo continues to grow in a way we can all be proud of.
Tom Stansfield Managing Director
New Year, New Showrooms
In 2026, we’re opening doors in six new locations , bringing CareCo closer to more customers than ever before .
Swansea
Our Swansea showroom will open at Phoenix Retail Park. With plenty of space and easy access, it’s a great location for customers across the region to drop in, explore our range and get expert advice.
Stockton
Our Stockton showroom will be based on Portrack Lane. With familiar neighbours like Asda and Starbucks nearby, it’s a convenient spot for customers to visit while out and about.
Edinburgh
Seafield Road Retail Park in Edinburgh is around three and a half miles from the city centre. It’s a busy retail area that makes it easy for customers from across the city to visit us locally.
Stirling (Hub & Showroom)
Stirling is a big moment for us, opening a new showroom and a hub at Borrowmeadow Trade Park. This allows us to better support customers and colleagues across the region.
Stockport
Our Stockport showroom will open at S-Park Business Park. Surrounded by well-known businesses, it’s an easy and accessible destination for customers across Greater Manchester.
Swindon
Elgin Industrial Estate will home our new Swindon showroom. Centrally positioned and easy to reach, it sits alongside familiar trade and retail names including Toolstation, Travis Perkins and Plumbase, making it a convenient and popular destination.
Swansea
Swindon
Stockport
Stirling
Edinburgh
Stockton
NEW Products
A new year is the perfect time to look ahead, and our product pipeline gives us plenty to be excited about. Here’s a few examples of what’s coming up.
Explorer Carbon Powerchair Due: Feb
You already know the Zora – the world’s lightest powerchair. Now we’re introducing its bigger brother: the Zora Explorer.
• More robustness and capability designed for longer walks.
• Larger wheels and added suspension for varied terrain.
• Maximum potential range of up to 30km.
Fireside chairs
Due: March
The fireside chairs coming in are new to the range, introduced to refresh our legacy products.
• Focus on improved comfort, style and choice
• Updated, modern fabrics and finishes.
• Helping us keep pace with expectations around design and functionality.
Carbon X and X Trail
New Generation Due: April
Two popular models are getting a next-generation upgrade in 2026. The proLite Carbon X and Carbon X Trail are evolving.
New carbon fibre frame designs. Light, strong and smooth to drive. Improved comfort while maintaining performance.
Recognition That Reflects Our Progress
A brilliant night at the British Healthcare Trades Industry Awards — and a moment to recognise the work happening across every corner of CareCo.
“Being shortlisted for Retailer of the Year is something everyone across CareCo should feel proud of. It reflects the hard work, progress and teamwork we’ve showed in the last year and more, in every department, every site and every role. We might not have won this time, but the recognition speaks volumes.” – Tom Stansfield
In December, we sent a group of CareCo colleagues off to the BHTA Awards in Sheffield, hoping to take home the Retailer of the Year Award.
The team travelled to Cutlers Hall in the city centre, which was dressed head-to-toe in Christmas sparkle. Some fantastic food was served, awards were presented, and the atmosphere grew louder and livelier as the wine flowed and the night went on!
Sadly, we weren’t victorious, with Wheel Freedom winning the category. But being shortlisted still meant something important: the work we’re doing is being recognised beyond our own walls.
Our entry wasn’t based on one department or one moment - it was a full picture of CareCo. We showcased growth, new showrooms, website performance, Customer Experience improvements, our Trustpilot and Which? achievements, the success of our home installation service, new products, new training, sustainability work and more.
It was genuinely a team effort, and that’s what got us on the national shortlist.
So, here’s to all of you for making it happen. Here’s to being shortlisted. And here’s to going one step better next year!
Living our values Meet our Values Heroes
As part of the launch of our new values last year, we asked colleagues across the business to recognise the people who already live them every day.
The response was incredible –hundreds of thoughtful nominations, each one telling a story about care, collaboration, resilience and pride.
From those nominations, four colleagues were chosen as our first ever Values Heroes – one for each value. Their stories reflect the very best of who we are and how we show up for one another, our customers and our teams.
These four colleagues remind us that our values aren’t just words –they’re lived every day, in different ways, across our business. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a colleague, there will be chances to nominate your Values Heroes again this year.
Lead with Heart
Craig Kennedy, Northern Area Manager
Craig was recognised for his empathy, calm leadership and unwavering support during an exceptionally challenging period. Time and again, he went above and beyond for his team — not just professionally, but personally too. Whether it was listening, guiding or simply being there when it mattered most, Craig leads with authenticity and care, setting a powerful example of what it means to lead with heart.
Embrace the Adventure
Adam Randall, Systems Manager
Adam was recognised for his commitment, adaptability and readiness to take on every challenge thrown his way. Central to major changes, moves and behind-thescenes work, Adam plays a crucial role in keeping the business running smoothly. His resilience, problem-solving mindset and quiet determination make him a true champion of embracing the adventure.
Lend a Hand
Aimee Latham, Logistics Supervisor
Aimee was nominated for consistently putting others first. From supporting colleagues whenever they need help, to playing a huge role in CSR activities, her generosity and willingness to step in makes a real difference every day. Aimee doesn’t wait to be asked — she simply sees what needs doing and gets it done, embodying the true spirit of lending a hand.
Raise the Bar
Kirstie Brooks, Customer Aftersales Manager
Kirstie has raised standards across Aftersales by introducing new processes, championing data-led improvements and developing her team leaders. Her drive to continuously improve – combined with her expertise and people-first leadership – has elevated customer service and inspired those around her to aim higher. Kirstie doesn’t just meet expectations; she raises them.
All systems go
Most of us only notice systems when something goes wrong. The rest of the time, they’re quietly doing their job in the background – keeping our phones ringing, our screens lighting up, our orders flowing and our buildings working the way they should.
That’s the Systems Team. From IT support and OrderWise to networks, AV and the infrastructure that underpins every CareCo site, their work touches almost every part of the business, every single day.
In 2023, that work was tested in a way no one could have planned for. After the fire at CCHQ, the Systems Team found themselves at the centre of the recovery effort – keeping the business running, rebuilding from scratch, and reimagining what our headquarters could be.
This is the story of the team behind the scenes, and why, this edition, we’re shining a light on the systems that make CareCo work.
Alex Griffiths, our Systems Support Manager, was on holiday when the call came.
Alex had left for Oswestry, Wales for a few days of well-deserved TLC. Just as Alex was settling down, his phone rang. CareCo’s headquarters was on fire.
“I left my holiday a day early,” Alex says. “I drove from Oswestry, Wales, straight to Birmingham, packed my car, and then drove all the way to CCHQ. I went from a muddy field and into the building on fire.”
For Alex, and the rest of the Systems team, that call meant dropping everything and focusing on keeping the business running.
After the Fire
“I spent the next two weeks with Adam, sourcing laptops, setting up in The Plaza [the workspace around the corner from CCHQ],” Alex says.
“We set up in their meeting room with the contact centre and got them running.”
Adam Randall, Systems Manager, remembers that period with particular clarity. “We went from CCHQ to The Plaza,” he said, counting off on his fingers as he goes, “Then we went from The Plaza to Stansted and the Chicken Sheds. Then we moved from Stansted to CC77 and 51, and then we moved from there to CCHQ.” he pauses, “I’ve done five moves now, so I don’t really fancy doing another one, if it could be helped!”
Each move required systems to work instantly. Networks, phones, screens, OrderWise, access control, audio/video (AV), all had to function as normal. “There were a lot of moving parts,” Adam says. “Making sure that everything worked as it should for the day when everybody moved in took a lot of effort, especially considering everything else that was going on at the time.”
The Ticketing System
With all the support they give to the business, what does the Systems team want from us?
“Please use the ticketing system,” Michael says. “And give us as much detail as possible.”
Taz agrees. “If you email someone directly, it will not get resolved faster,” she says. “A ticket will.”
Josh understands why people try. “I want to help people,” he says. “But tickets give us a record. They help us learn.”
Adam addresses the misconception directly.
“We are not here to slow people down,” he says. “We are here to keep everything running safely. And yes, please submit a ticket.”
Rebuilding CCHQ
As everyone began to move into satellite offices and poultry sheds, the re-build of CCHQ began. It presented an opportunity to fix problems that had existed long before the fire.
“I was involved from day one,” Adam says. “From keeping everything business as usual while the building was dismantled, to decisions about what the building looked like, where the TVs went, where the plug sockets went, what hardware we used.”
The first version of CCHQ had taught the team some very important lessons. “We learned a lot from the first iteration,” Adam says. “A key one was the number of meeting rooms. We have far more now. Every single meeting room is Teams-enabled because we know how important that is for everyone.”
One sticking point from CCHQ 1.0 was access points. More specifically, where these access points were installed in the building.
“They were installed in the warehouse ceiling and then the mezzanine went in. You couldn’t actually get to them!” says Alex. “So, when the time came to plan the rebuild, we thought, ‘Let’s not cover our access points with a mezzanine this time!’”
Behind the scenes, the work was far more hands-on than most people realised. Those working in CC77 might have got used to the sight of Lewis Beech, our Senior Systems Support Engineer, traipsing back and forth from each building, hard hat on and toolbelt at the ready.
“I carried out and changed a lot of the way it was planned,” Lewis says. “I got told, here is a pile of kit, can you go and make it work?”
So what was Lewis doing as he moved between buildings? “I built all of the network here,” he rattled off, “The entire comms room, I put together and built, forty or fifty switches, thousands of data points. I patched everything in, configured it, and then I had to document it.”
Perhaps the biggest change with the re-build was around the documentation. It’s probably not the sexiest topic on the planet, but the new documentation gives the team complete and total visibility over everything. “The documentation the first time around wasn’t really adequate," Lewis said. “This time, every single data point under every single desk is documented. We know exactly where it goes back to!”
The work people don’t see
“The biggest part of our time was actually fitting network hardware,” says Adam wearily, “We fitted all the networks, all the access points, all the music amps and video controllers for the TVs. A little fun fact for everyone, there’s not a TV on any wall that I have not personally taken off and put back up!”
Other challenges for the team included the AV, which proved to be one of the most unexpectedly difficult parts of the rebuild.
“We didn’t realise the system would have the teething issues it had at twenty times the scale!” Lewis exclaims. “It works, but it is not as fluid as we want it to be. So we improve it, tweak it, keep working on it.”
“AV caused us quite a few problems in HQ before the fire” says Alex, “So this time, we sat down and said ‘right, do we get a company or do we take it on ourselves?’ In the end, we made the decision to take it on ourselves internally and deal with it.”
Business as Usual
While some of the team was focusing on the rebuild of CCHQ, the rest still had to deal with everything else that crops up.
One of those dealing with the every day, was Taz Richards, our Systems Support Administrator. “The CCHQ move was infrastructure, which isn't really my specialism. My role was making sure the day-to-day stuff was being done.”
“OrderWise is the backbone of the business,” she says. “My job is making sure things just keep going. Most people just want to turn their PC on and have it work.”
One of the main changes for OrderWise, has been honing the system into something that suits everyone. “It’s very niche,” Taz says. “And the way we use it is very unique to CareCo. We’ve basically made a B2B system work as B2C system, which is pretty impressive.”
NRS
Just as the CCHQ project was nearing completion, something else arrived on the desks of the Systems team, entirely out of left-field: the acquisition of NRS. “It was brilliant timing,” Adam says with a wry smile. “It came up literally at the same time as when we were doing CCHQ!” The acquisition of NRS required the Systems team to build things almost entirely from scratch.
“For NRS, Lewis had a blank canvas,” Alex says. “We stood the company up brand new.”
“CareCo is already established,” explains Alex. “With NRS, it was basically a sandbox for us. Lewis and I could try things and see what happened.” Since NRS already had a number of sensitive data, not everything could be transferred.
Instead, new systems were built. “They are on the same platforms as us now.” Adam explains. “They are using OrderWise instead of what they were using before, and yeah, it's a slow process, but we’re getting there, and we now support them as well as CareCo, which obviously takes up a bit more of our time.”
Taz was heavily involved once NRS went live. “ I was there when the training was given,” she says. “If NRS users ask how to do something in OrderWise, that comes through the help desk, and usually to me.”
The Cavalry Arrives
Midway through last year, Systems welcomed two new members to the team: Michael Andrews and Nerissa Baitson, both Systems Application Engineers. Both joined at a crucial point for CareCo – NRS was in the process of being formalised and people were being slowly filtered back into CCHQ. The team was already taking on more and more challenges, but the need for growth had never been more apparent. “For the scale of CareCo, NRS and Motion Healthcare, the Systems team is quite small,” Alex says. “We’re all people pleasers, and so we want people to be happy and have their problems resolved.”
Trying to ensure they were supporting showrooms, the customer service teams and the warehouses with OrderWise, while still maintaining business as usual, was already a lot for a small team, but the NRS acquisition stretched them further. “When we went to Preston and Leicester, the people left here were Nerissa and Josh,” Alex says. “They just got stuck in and did the job. No questions asked.”
Josh Wilson, the System Support Apprentice, has felt that pressure first-hand.“As an apprentice, it is a lot of level one support,” he says. “Helping people with technical issues and learning as I go.”
He was also deeply involved in the move. “I set up the contact centre,” Josh says. “When people moved over, everything was ready. That was the goal.”
Built to work
The rebuilt CCHQ has been designed to work without friction.
“You walk in and it works,” Alex says. That simplicity is no accident. It’s the result of thousands of decisions made quietly behind the scenes — systems planned, built, tested, fixed and improved long before anyone
arrived at their desk. That, ultimately, is the Systems team’s success. If everything works, nobody notices.“If things are going well,” Taz says, “you will think we are not doing anything.”
Which means the Systems team are doing everything right.
Bringing The CareCo Way to Life
At CareCo, we know that what really sets us apart isn’t just the products we sell — it’s how we support our customers to find the right solution for their needs. That’s where The CareCo Way comes in.
The CareCo Way is our new approach to sales learning and development, introduced late last year for our teams across Retail and CX. It’s an investment in our people, and designed to help us build confidence, consistency and expertise across the business, so every customer gets the same great experience, wherever they shop.
Over time, colleagues will move through the Seven Essentials of Product Success, from Beds & Chairs to Wheelchairs and Walking Aids, so that we
Our aim
• Every showroom to be an academy of continuous learning and development
• Every manager to be a coach who can lead by example, mentor and empower their teams
understand our products deeply and recommend solutions that make a real difference to our customers.
We will also cover the Seven Habits of Sales Excellence, looking at our attitude, our approach, and the way we make a customer feel from the moment they walk in the door. By asking great questions, listening carefully, and focusing on solutions that truly help, we create meaningful conversations that customers trust.
• Every advisor to be an ambassador who is skilled, knowledgeable, caring, and commercially minded
• Every customer to be a CareCo advocate who shares their positive experience.
Now let’s take a closer look at how The CareCo Way comes to life in practice, starting with our Beds & Chairs training.
Beds & Chairs: The first module to launch
The Beds & Chairs training is the first chance for colleagues to experience The CareCo Way in action — and it’s all about understanding customers better, not just learning product features.
The sessions focus on the importance of good conversations, while building confidence in our range. Rather than leading with product features we encourage people to take a step back and ask the right questions: Who is the product for? How will it be used? Where will it live in the home? What physical or medical needs need to be considered?
By understanding someone’s lifestyle and day-to-day challenges, it becomes much easier to explain why a particular bed or chair might — or might not — be the right choice. That means more tailored
recommendations and better outcomes for customers.
The training also goes deep into key product areas, including motor options, lumbar support, tilt-in-space and zero gravity. Colleagues learn how different features suit different needs — from simpler controls for customers with limited dexterity, to four-motor systems that offer greater flexibility and comfort.
One of the biggest highlights is how hands-on the sessions are. Participants wear restrictive geriatric suits and glaucoma glasses to experience some of the physical challenges customers face every day. Even simple tasks, like making a bed, suddenly feel much harder — underlining just how much the right product can make life easier.
“
What’s been really encouraging is how engaged people are in the sessions. Even those who come in feeling confident can share experiences and pick up new ideas from each other, which is exactly what The CareCo Way is about.
It’s not just learning products – it’s learning how to listen better, ask the right questions, and really understand what a customer needs before recommending a solution.
Beds are a real opportunity for CareCo. When colleagues feel confident in the range and understand how different features support different needs, they can have better conversations and make stronger recommendations.
The more we build that knowledge and confidence, the more opportunities we have to help customers.
“
Simon Bidle
Training worth shouting about
“Simon is a fantastic trainer! He keeps you engaged and I'm always happy to hear that Simon is running a course.
Natasha was great, her input was very informative, and it was lovely to meet her and see she's not just someone in a photo! I feel that the training has elevated me to the next level.
I am planning on running some bed training with my team, not only to help them, but also keep my knowledge up.”
Michelle Fernandez, Showroom Manager, Hayes
“This training gave me confidence to sell We Recommend products, knowing more about the issues our customers may have. It was ever so useful to understand WHY - WHATHOW with our customers.
I especially loved the suit and glasses, they gave us a great perspective and understanding.
I will immerse myself more into beds now and become the ambassador for beds and Riser Recliner chairs!”
Zuzana Pearson , Showroom Manager, Ipswich
“Simon has always delivered the training well and everything he puts together is relevant to what we are there to learn. I thought Natasha was great and took lot from this as I think my team will.
Understanding customer needs is one thing but understanding the product and position they sit/lie in etc to help ease their pain isn't something we understood enough.”
Lauraine Corkin , Showroom Manager, Newcastle
Top rated
• When answering how confident participants feel to apply their learning in their role, 95% of respondents answered 4 or 5 out of five.
• When answering how they would rate the overall learning experience 95% of participants answered 4 or 5 out of five.
Opening Doors to Opportunity
When Mani Nunna joined the Product Management Team at CareCo in April 2024, it quickly became clear that he was going to make a real impact.
What started as a role filled under a university visa soon became something much bigger –for Mani, and for CareCo too.
As Mani’s university visa came to an end we knew we didn’t want to lose him. So, we applied for, and were granted, our Skilled Worker Licence, making Mani the first colleague at CareCo to be sponsored under a Skilled Worker Visa.
It was a significant investment, but one we were proud to make. Not just to keep Mani with us, but because it opens the door to wider opportunities for diversity and future talent across the business.
A vital role and a valued team member
Mani works as a Demand Planner, a role that sits at the heart of how we plan, forecast and respond to customer demand.
His role has grown quickly, taking on more responsibility as his knowledge and confidence have developed. With new products launching and competitor activity constantly shifting the market, Mani’s insight plays a key role in helping the business stay agile.
Steffi Pullely is Mani’s line manager. “Mani is a really valuable asset,” she said. “The longer he’s been with us, the more he’s taken on, and he does it with such a positive attitude.”
Steffi is also passionate about diversity and opportunity, and sees this visa as an important
step forward. “This opens up new avenues for how we attract talent and the kinds of opportunities we can offer. Mani has set a brilliant example.”
“I feel genuinely valued here”
For Mani, joining CareCo was a big step, both professionally and personally. He relocated from Sheffield, leaving behind friends and familiarity, to take on a role that excited him but also felt daunting.
“It was a drastic step in my career and my life,” Mani says. “It was scary, but I’m really happy with what I’ve achieved so far.”
He describes the work as challenging in the best way, with constant change and new things to learn. He also speaks warmly about the support he’s felt from across the business.
Knowing the investment the business has made in him through the Skilled Worker Visa has only strengthened that feeling. “It makes me feel genuinely valued. My role has evolved a lot already, and there are so many opportunities to grow and develop, which is something I really love about working here.”
Mani’s story is about more than a visa. It’s about recognising talent, backing people, and creating a business where opportunity is open to all.
Showing what care really means
In the run-up to Christmas, CareCo teams across the business came together to fill Macmillan Care Packages for people living with cancer in our local communities.
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our people, we reached our target of 50!
A business-wide effort
Every showroom and hub was asked to collect enough items to create one Care Package, with the remaining packages being filled by teams at CCHQ. Many teams went even further, sending in additional donations and showing just how strongly this initiative resonated across the business.
From cosy socks and hand creams to teas, puzzle books and handwritten notes, every item was chosen with thought and care.
Turning kindness into action
On packing day, a team from the CSR Committee and Customer Experience came together to sort, organise and assemble the donations into finished
Care Packages. By the end of the day, all 50 were filled and ready to go.
Just before Christmas, the completed packages were delivered to Ipswich Hospital, where they will be handed out by Macmillan professionals to people living with cancer — bringing warmth, reassurance and a reminder that someone is thinking of them.
This initiative perfectly reflects what CareCo stands for: kindness, empathy and looking out for others. It showed what’s possible when teams across the business come together with a shared purpose, and how care isn’t just something we talk about, but something we put into action.
“Thank you to everyone who got involved in this, whether you donated items, helped organise collections, or took part on packing day.“
”The response from across the business was incredible and shows what’s possible when everyone gets behind an initiative like this. Together we made a genuine difference.”
Richard Jones , CareCo’s CSR Committee lead
Top 5 Sleep Resets for the New Year
Through our CareCo Way Beds & Chairs training, we have been working with Trusted Voices, including James Wilson aka The Sleep Geek.
James is a sleep educator and coach, often appearing on TV and radio, and is the most prolific sleep coach in football. To help us kick off the year better rested and ready to go, James is sharing five simple science-backed ways to get your sleep on track.
1. Start With your wake-up routine.
If there’s one place to start, it’s not bedtime – it’s wake time.
Try waking up at the same time every day (yes, including weekends) for two weeks. This anchors your body clock and helps your brain relearn when daytime begins. Once that’s in place, sleep pressure builds naturally across the day, meaning you’ll start to feel sleepy at roughly the same time each evening, without forcing it.
2. Get light on your eyes, early
Light is your body clock’s on-switch.
As soon as you can after waking, get some natural daylight on your eyes, ideally outdoors. Even a cloudy winter morning is far brighter than indoor lighting and sends a powerful “it’s daytime now” signal to your brain. This suppresses melatonin (your sleep hormone) and boosts alertness hormones like cortisol. If mornings are dark or daylight is hard to come by, a light box or light therapy glasses can help. They’re not glamorous, but they’re effective.
3. Don’t go to bed unless you’re sleepy
Many people try to “fix” sleep by going to bed earlier after time off. The problem? You can’t trick your brain into sleeping before it’s ready.
If you’re lying in bed staring at the ceiling, your bedtime is probably too early for your current sleep rhythm. Counter-intuitive as it sounds, going to bed a little later can actually help you fall asleep faster.
The rule of thumb: bed is for sleeping, not trying to sleep.
4. Reconsider sleeping on your front
Front sleeping puts your body into a subtly activated position, twisted neck, compressed spine, stressed hips and knees. Over time, this often leads to stiffness, aches and poor-quality sleep.
If you’re trying to transition to side sleeping, use props. Hug a pillow, place one between your knees, and make sure your head pillow fills the space between your mattress and your neck. If your pillow is too low, your body may be turning onto your front just to find support.
5. Normalise night-time waking
Here’s the surprise: we all wake up at night. Anywhere from three to fifteen times.
You usually don’t remember these awakenings because memory needs around five minutes of wakefulness to “stick”. If you do wake and aren’t drifting back within 15–20 minutes, don’t lie there negotiating with sleep.
Instead, reset your mind. Try a familiar audiobook, music you love, slow breathing, or a gentle mental game, like picking a letter and listing words that start with it. The aim isn’t to knock yourself out, but to give your brain something boring enough to let sleep return.
Sleep doesn’t need perfection, it needs the right conditions. Get those right, and your body does the rest.
In the SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight On: Terry Kirby, Logistics Manager
When Terry Kirby joined CareCo nine years ago, the Logistics team was a very different shape to what it is today.
What started as a small operation has grown into a 27-strong team supporting a growing showroom network – and Terry has been right at the heart of that journey.
You’ve been at CareCo a long time –how did it all start?
I joined about nine years ago, although I honestly couldn’t tell you my exact job title at the time! I came into the logistics team when it was still quite small, after working as a store manager at Domino’s. Within about a year, we started growing – we added a couple more drivers and a product assembler, and from there things just kept building as the business grew and more showrooms opened.
The Logistics team has grown massively – what does it look like now?
It’s grown a lot. The team now sits at 27 people – 11 drivers, five drivers’ mates, five product assemblers, three admins and two supervisors. The team are great – everyone knows what they’re doing, so my role is about supporting them and helping things run smoothly.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Without a doubt, it’s the people – both the team and our customers. There’s something really rewarding about being part of giving someone
their mobility back. Our drivers say the same thing all the time. When you see someone able to get out of their chair, leave the house, or regain some independence, it really reminds you why what we do matters.
You’ve taken on a lot of development recently – what are you working on?
I’ve just started the in-house Operational Leadership Development programme, and alongside that I’m doing a Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations Management course through the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. It’s a one-year course and definitely keeps me busy, but I really enjoy learning and developing – it helps me do my job better and prepares me for what’s next.
What’s coming up next – at work and outside of it?
Next year we’re looking to become more centralised, which will create more opportunities in the office, more responsibility for people, and more chances for growth across the team.
Outside of work spending time with my wife Hannah and our four-year-old son Freddie is really important to me. I’ve also got into running recently: I do a 5k at Park Run every weekend and completed the Basildon half marathon in September. It was tough, but one day I’d love to work up to a full marathon.
Embracingthe New Year adventure
At CareCo, we are all about helping people live with greater independence, confidence and wellbeing every day. That starts with looking after ourselves too.
The good news is you don’t need a total life overhaul to feel better. Small, realistic habits can make a genuine difference to how you feel at work and beyond .
1. Step outside for daylight
Exposure to natural light helps regulate your body clock and boosts serotonin – a key hormone linked to mood and wellbeing. Getting at least 20 minutes of daylight a day can help counter winter blues and support your natural body clock.
Try this:
• 10-minute walk outside before/after work
• Eat lunch near a window or on a bench outside
2. Get moving – even gently
Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine – your body’s “feel-good” chemicals. You don’t have to hit the gym: regular movement, like a brisk walk, home yoga or a short workout, can elevate mood and reduce stress.
Tip:
Try fitting 20–30 minutes of movement most days – even a lunchtime stroll counts.
3. Eat to feel good
A balanced diet can influence your mood and energy levels. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables helps support steady energy and essential nutrients – so you’re less likely to experience energy dips or cravings.
Tip:
Add colourful veggies and whole foods to meals, and avoid relying solely on heavy comfort foods.
4. Connect with people – it counts
Socialising isn’t just fun, it’s good for your brain. Time with friends, family or colleagues increases a sense of belonging and can reduce feelings of isolation. Even a short coffee catch-up or a walk with a mate can make a difference.
Try this:
• Arrange one low-key social plan each week
• Message a friend you haven’t seen in a while
Fast and Slow Living
It’s giving back to me some of my previous life, some of my life of energy. “
“How did I get here?” asks 71-year-old Steve Stickley. “Life is interesting and lovely. My wife’s called Janet and we’ve worked together and lived together for 50 years.”
As a trained drama teacher, Steve enjoyed a long career working with children in Educational Theatre. These days, Steve is a storyteller – and a fantastic one at that.
Long COVID changed his life a great deal. He tires more easily and finds it difficult to keep up with others while out walking. “But there’s life in the old boy yet”, smiles Steve. “Believe it or not, I used to do half marathons at the age of 66!”
Not one to let circumstances hold him back, Steve decided to drop into his local CareCo showroom in Nottingham. “The staff were brilliant. I tried out a few powerchairs and found the proLite Alluvium. What I like about it is its foldability – I can lift it in and out of the car.”
Steve and Janet love nothing more than getting the dogs and the powerchair in the car and heading
out to explore. With the Peak District around the corner, and Nottingham’s abundance of parks and green spaces, they’re spoiled for choice.
“I think the most important thing is that it’s giving back to me some of my previous life, some of my life of energy. It’s important to meet people and get out more, and in that giving back of life, there is a sense of hope. It helps you feel better.”
Part of getting back out there for Steve includes regularly popping back into our Nottingham showroom to say hello. “Getting to know them has been brilliant. I think the company should be applauded for their customer support.”
And it’s not just storytelling that keeps the smile on Steve’s face. Long COVID means he gets tired on his feet easily, but his new powerchair has allowed him to get back to one of his favourite hobbies: “I used to love doing dance. With the Alluvium, now I’m able to move here, there and everywhere, fast and slow.”
CareCo In The Wild
Our customers in their natural habitat!
I purchased a Green Li-Tech Spectrum and we were amazed when it arrived the following day. The mobility scooter has given me back some of my independence and reduces my fear of falling.
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Alan – Purchased Li-Tech Spectrum
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Oliver Nunn, Sales & Customer Experience Development Manager, CCHQ
