A HOME care company, founded in Chester in 2005, was back in the city to celebrate the opening of its 200th franchise location at an event at Chester Cathedral.

Over 100 guests gathered to celebrate the role Home Instead Senior Care has played in the way home care is delivered to the elderly in the UK.

Home Instead’s pilot office, which opened in Chester at the Chester Gates business park, is now owned and run by Chris and Sue Broadbent who were present at the event.

The company’s unique model earned the £170m turnover business a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2016.

Home Instead provides care and companionship to more than 14,000 seniors across the UK and employs approaching 10,000 caregivers with ever-increasing demand for its services, driven by an ageing population.

Also present at the event were Martin Jones, Managing Director of Home Instead; Dave Banark, COO of Home Instead US & Canada and Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association. Guest of honour was Romesh Dharmasingham who is opening the company’s 200th office in Dorchester.

Speaking at the event, Martin Jones welcomed Romesh saying, “We are delighted to welcome Romesh to the Home Instead family.

“The company has some a long way since we set up in Chester and it’s lovely to be back in the City to celebrate reaching our 200th office.”