Back in 1991, Tony Banks identified an opportunity in the care home sector to build a group of privately owned and operated care homes that would set a new and highly desirable standard in care homes. He started by buying an elegant Victorian property (Lisden House, Kirriemuir) that up to time had always been privately owned. He then spent more than a year and £750,000 to convert the house into an industry leading care home, that residents and families of residents would enjoy and be proud of.

Since then, over the past two decades, Balhousie Care Group has grown into Scotland's leading independant provider of residential and nursing care facilities. With a very prudent focus on balancing the commercial aspects and responsibilities of a care home business with the ambitions of setting new standards in the care home sector, Tony has successfully steered the company to substantial growth, and is now spending a great deal of his time researching the expectations that future generations will have as they plan for their care in later life and planning where Balhousie Care needs to be to meet those expectations.

Tony still regularly visits the care homes in the group to see for himself that the standards he set out twenty years ago are being dilligently adhered to today.
"We have great people working for us in the group" says Tony. "I just like to keep my finger on the pulse and ensure we never get complacent or miss an opportunity to please and impress".

Recent Balhousie/Tony Banks achievements include:

• IOD Tayside Regional Winner 2013
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 - Winner Scottish Region and National Finalist
• Fastest growing company in Scotland 2008 – Virgin Fast Track 100
• Finalist – National Business Awards '08 - '09
• Finalist – Scottish Care National Awards '08
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year '08 - '09
• Finalist of the Care Business Development Achiever of the Year category of the Scottish Care Awards 2008
• Finalist of The Tenon Entrepreneur of the Year Award category of The National Business Awards for Scotland 2008, sponsored by Orange
• Finalist in the Multiple Care Home Operator of the Year category of the Scottish Care National Awards 2007

Tony still has many goals that he 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. When Tony (TB to his friends) isn't working he enjoys supporting his favourite Scottish football team, and as a qualified helicopter pilot (with over 250 flying hours to his credit) enjoys flying and travelling to see more of the world.

Our Chairman Tony Banks has received a very special Royal invitation to return to the army as honorary colonel to a Scottish regiment.

TB is a tireless campaigner for servicemen’s causes and a major backer of charities such as Combat Stress, recently took up the post with the Territorial Army’s 71 Engineer Regiment.

Although the role is largely ceremonial, and comes by invitation from the Queen, TB is taking his duties seriously and has recently joined members of the regiment on a training camp in Cyprus.

He will also act as an ambassador for the TA, building links with businesses and the community and offering professional advice on issues such as recruitment.

If you are interested in having Tony speak at an event, would you please contact Silvia Tidy-Harris by phone on 01530 263 221, or email enquire@thespeakersagency.com.

Watch an interview with Tony Banks

visit Tony's personal website

Phil Whitaker brings to Balhousie Care Group a wealth of Care Industry expertise gained over many years with well respected UK care providers, including many of the major players in the care industry. He has earned an enviable and proven reputation for enhancing the profitability and improving operational efficiency of UK care businesses of all sizes. He has absolute "hands-on" knowledge of every aspect of our sector, and contributes substantially and effectively at every level of BCG management.

Phil relishes the opportunity of contributing to help develop and grow our business further, and maximise the quality of care and the operational efficiency of the care homes in our group. With his expert assistance we are one step closer to achieving our stated goal of "being acknowledged as the leading and most admired provider of residential care in Scotland.

Russell has a broad and very valuable experience of being a non-executive director. He has worked with Capability Scotland and also Royal Liver Asset Management. For 17 years he worked in investment management in Edinburgh, latterly as Managing Director of that company. Russell brings an extensive knowledge of finance, acquisitions, management and overall business strategy to Balhousie Care Group.

Russell now works in general aviation where an interest in helicopter flying has now become a business for him. He is married with two children and lives in Linlithgow.

Ross Smith brings to our board a global perspective on brand strategy specific to the Balhousie Care brand. He is a seasoned main board Director and has a track record of building the brands of companies and organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and North America.

In our quest to be acknowledged and admired as the leading provider of residential and nursing care in Scotland, the way in which the Balhousie Care brand is perceived, externally and internally - is fundamental

Ross consults to SME's, NGO's, Charities and publicly quoted companies in the UK, Australia and North America including ASX and NASDAQ listed organisations. He is invited regularly to speak at International conferences and often headlines with many of the world's most in demand presenters. His commercial experience adds substantial and valuable depth and understanding to the internal and external brand communication opportunities of Balhousie Care Group.

Ross was particularly attracted to advising the board of Balhousie Care Group as he had personally experienced the challenges of having to choose a care home on three occasions for his mother, father and also his partner. This experience provided him with an acute understanding of the emotions and often confusion that can accompany making a decision about providing residential care for a loved one. As such, he is very sensitive to and concerned about the variances that exist between one care home culture and another, leading to the challenging decisions facing families in choosing the right home.

He has consistently said that a Balhousie Care home is the kind of care home he would have been delighted to find in England but couldn't.

Ross is based in Bali, Indonesia from where he is an avid "Internet Worker". He commutes between Bali, Australia, Canada and the UK regularly to work with clients.

David joined the Board of Balhousie in September 2010. His background and experience is in helping fast growing, entrepreneurial businesses to realise their potential and his skills are primarily in the strategic and financial field. David particularly recognises the commitment to quality and care standards as integral to the vision and plan to grow the Balhousie Group.

Prior to joining Balhousie, he was head of Corporate Finance for Grant Thornton and was a senior partner for some 30 years. He developed a particular focus on the healthcare sector over the past seven years and led the Grant Thornton practice to be recognised for two years running as the Healthcare Accountant of the Year in 2009 and 2010. David is a regular commentator on financial matters in the press and on TV and is a regular conference speaker and commentator on Healthcare and Support Services. David is now a partner with Wyvern Partners (a niche financial advisory business), where he is specialising in growing the healthcare practice.

He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Corporate Finance Faculty.

His interests include golf (much to do on his handicap!) and hockey. He lives in Leicestershire, with his wife, Wendy, and he also President of the Leicestershire Book Society.