A local entrepreneur recently visited Richard Branson at his Oxfordshire home after his company was named as a finalist in the 2009 Virgin Sunday Times Fast Track 100 competition.
Tony Banks, managing director of Forfar-based Balhousie Care Group, met with the Virgin tycoon to discuss entrepreneurial success in the UK in the run up to the ceremony where he hopes the business will notch up another award for its continued succes
s.
The leading Scottish care home operator led by Banks has already been recognised by the Scottish national care awards in 2007 and the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 where it was last year named as the top performing company in Scotland.
Former armed forces officer Tony, who lives in Kirriemuir and - like Branson - has a commercial pilot's licence, said: "Meeting Sir Richard in his own home was a very interesting and rewarding experience, and it was a tremendous opportunity to speak to fellow entrepreneurs and exchange stories."
After buying his first care home in 1991, Tony Banks has expanded to 20 care homes which provide top level care to more than 700 residents.
Balhousie Care Group is now one of the fastest-growing and largest independent operators of care homes in Scotland, working closely with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. Tony's most recent venture involves a number of new-build, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient care homes that will add a further 200 beds to the Group's already impressive portfolio.
With a very prudent focus on balancing the commercial aspects and responsibilities of a care home owner with the ambitions to set a new standard in the care home sector, Tony has successfully steered the company through almost two decades of growth and is now spending a substantial amount of time researching the expectations that future generations will have as they plan for their care in later life.
Tony has many goals that he still wants to achieve, not least creating safe, practical, enjoyable environments where individuals will enjoy being cared for in a way that continues to set new benchmarks, regularly visiting the care homes in the group to see for himself that the standards he set out are being diligently adhered to.
Balhousie Care Group has extensive experience in developing both brand new purpose built facilities and redeveloping and refurbishing existing care facilities which has carved out a reputation as one of the most committed and professional care providers in Scotland today.
