6 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Down sisters to take next step with healthcare company after multi-million pound investment
CWC Group, set up by Monica Byrne and Imelda McGrady, provides residential nursing and disability care in seven locations around Northern Ireland.
The business also provides care for people in their own homes.
It has received the funding from growth capital investor BGF, which has committed at least £300m to support female-led businesses in the next five years.
And CWC Group, set up in 1983, is the first such female-led business BGF has invested in since making the commitment to the Invest in Women Taskforce's funding pot.
The business continues to be family-run and is now operated by Monica Byrne's daughters, with Aisling Byrne chief executive and sister Shauna, the chief learning and development officer.
The investment from BGF will support CWC Group's acquisition of new sites and develop its specialist care offering.
And it has also announced new appointments to the board, with Paula Kane a non-executive chair and David Jones non-executive director.
Ms Kane was previously founder and CEO of Ashdale Care Ireland and Mr Jones is an ex-Deloitte UK healthcare partner.
Aisling Byrne said: 'This investment from BGF comes at an exciting time for CWC Group and will enable us to take the next steps towards developing our care services for our service users and geographical footprint in Northern Ireland.
"We have a solid pipeline of new specialist care homes that will enable us to further support the NI Trusts with high quality, dedicated care facilities for adults with specialist care needs.
'The investment from BGF alongside the experience and knowhow of our new board members will support the advancement of our ambitions and retain exceptional levels of care and dedication to our service users that are at the very heart of our core values.'
The pledge to invest in female-led businesses forms part of BGF's overall commitment to invest £3bn in high-potential businesses across the UK over the next five years.
Chris Nixon, investor at BGF, said: 'CWC Group has an exceptional heritage of providing high quality care services to those in need.
"At a time when there is a shortage of quality facilities to meet demand in NI, we're looking forward to working with Aisling, Shauna and the wider team to expand their care home portfolio and continue to provide a vital service to communities across the province.'
