Bupa makes big move into care village sector with acquisition of Richmond

Bupa has bought Richmond Care Villages, for an undisclosed sum.

Richmond owns and operates five care villages, which are home to more than 660 people.

The deal includes three further sites, which will be used to develop new care villages.

The five villages – in Gloucester, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, and Oxfordshire – include independent-living apartments and assisted-living support, along with residential care.

Andrew Cannon, the managing director of Bupa Care Services, which is based in Horsforth, near Leeds, said yesterday: “This acquisition underlines Bupa’s strategy to offer older people a wider choice and expand the range of services that we provide beyond care homes and further into the community.

“Richmond is an excellent company, with great people, and good locations, that will help us to meet these ambitions.

“We all want to retain our independence as we age.

“But we also want access to high-quality services and facilities, with the reassurance that further support is on hand if we need it, without having to move elsewhere. Care villages provide this; all on one site.”

Under the deal, all existing 600 Richmond staff and management will move to Bupa.

Bupa also manages a number of independent-living and assisted-living properties in the UK through its Goldsborough Estates business, as well as owning and operating 22 care villages in New Zealand.

Bupa was advised during the transaction by law firm Addleshaw Goddard, professional services firm EY (Ernst & Young), and Colliers International Health-care.

Bupa Care Services employs around 300 staff at its base in Horsforth.

Bupa Care Services employs 27,000 people, and looks after 18,500 residents across the UK.

In Yorkshire, it has 20 care homes.