Orbis Education and Care (“Orbis”) announces the arrival of new CEO, Suzanne Lawrence, and fresh strategic initiatives as it looks to further increase its delivery of high quality care services.
As the negative impact of the Covid pandemic rippled through the UK, Orbis joined businesses from all sectors in battening down the hatches, planning and implementing stringent health & safety protocols, PPE, new routines and remote working for Head Office. Tragically, during the first Springtime wave of COVID, researchers estimated the rate of mortality of people registered as having a learning disability may have been as much as 6.3 times higher than the general population.
Fortunately, through a combination of rapid and sustained management proactivity and Orbis’ exceptional dedicated care staff, the business was able to safely continue providing the same high-quality support to its Service Users despite the government enforced lockdown and there were no serious outcomes for service users or team members.
With restrictions easing in the summer, and Covid numbers lessening and with strong foundations in place, Orbis has continued to be able to increase its support in assisting Local Authorities and Commissioners and to provide high quality care and education for those very vulnerable children and adults that need it across Wales and England.
Having led the business since August Equity’s investment in 2016, Mike Currier (CEO) as part of the long-term plan has taken on the role of Chief Commercial Officer, a key new role within the revised structure, with a focus on targeting organic growth that supports Commissioners across Wales.
Suzanne Lawrence, has joined from Practice Plus Group, formerly Care UK, to take on the role of CEO. Suzanne brings considerable experience of, and empathy with, health and social care as well as operational and strategic experience of running a large, nation-wide business. This will be vital for Orbis as it undergoes its next stage of growth.
Mike said: “Thanks to the hard work, dedication and first-class care shown by our staff and the management team, the goals I set out for the organisation as incoming CEO four years ago have been met, but also exceeded.”.
“Moving into a new role as Chief Commercial Officer will enable me to focus on making sure our future is as successful as it has been to date. I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Suzanne, who has extensive knowledge and experience of healthcare businesses, as our new Chief Executive Officer.”
Suzanne said: “I’m really excited to be joining Obis Education and Care. Orbis has shown itself to be a caring and committed provider of care and education services both historically and throughout the more recent pandemic. I’m really looking forward to joining the team and finding out together how we can use what’s been learned along the way to take the organisation on to its next phase.”
August Equity are excited to be supporting management across strategy and M&A as part of the next step of the Orbis journey. Partner Garret Turley commented ‘August Equity has a rich heritage in building high quality social care businesses and Orbis is a great example of this. We are proud to be associated with such a high calibre business and management team, and have been humbled by the level of dedication we have seen from our almost 1,000 carers during the pandemic. We are delighted to welcome Suzanne to the team and excited about the future of Orbis.’