Tony Banks

Chairman

Back in 1991 Tony identified an opportunity in the care sector to provide a new standard of privately owned and operated care homes that would lead the way care homes were thought of. He bought an elegant Victorian property (Lisden House) which up to that time had always been privately owned, and 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, Balhousie Care Group has grown into one of Scotland's leading providers of residential and nursing care facilities. 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 succesfully 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. Privately, Tony enjoys supporting his favourite football team, he is a qualified pilot with over 250 flying hours to his credit and enjoys seeing more of the world.

Tony regularly visits the care homes in the group to see for himself that the standards he set out are being dilligently adhered to. "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 achievements include:

• 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

Watch an interview with Tony Banks