Neuro Partners

A firm that specialises in treating people with brain injuries has revealed plans to double its Cumbrian workforce to 200.

Neuro Partners, which currently employs 105 people, is planning a rapid expansion across the county within the next year.  The north east-based firm opened offices in Carlisle in November 2007 with just one member of staff working to help people with brain injuries and those needing neurological treatment and therapy.

Managing director Jonathon Wade said: “In addition to employing 105 local people, we have provided therapy and rehabilitation-based support to more than 50 people.”

He added that many of those people who have received help would not be able to lead independent lives without Neuro Partners’ specialist help.

The company set up in Carlisle – where it currently employs 30 people based at Bourne House, Milbourne Street – with backing from the city council and Invest in Cumbria.

Across Cumbria it employs people as rehabilitation support workers, assistant psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and administrators.

Marilyn Bowman, Carlisle’s councillor responsible for economic development and enterprise, said: “Before they set up their base in Carlisle, many patients had to travel considerable distances to get treatment. Our officers helped them find premises, supported recruitment and helped them get in touch with key contacts.

“Their hard efforts have proved so successful that they are now looking to expand. During these hard economic times, this a great success story.”

First published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk on Saturday, 02 May 2009

May 2009

A North-East company who set up a base in Carlisle last year has created more than 100 jobs for local workers.

Neuro Partners, a business that specialises in brain injury treatment, opened for business in the city in November 2007 with one member of staff, following support from Carlisle City Council and Invest in Cumbria.

Based in Bourne House, Milbourne Street, Neuro Partners now employs 105 people county-wide, 30 of which are based in Carlisle alone. They have further plans for expansion and the City Council and Invest in Cumbria will continue to provide their support to help them make this a reality, with developments set to double the current numbers in the next 12 months.

Graham McWilliam, Invest in Cumbria commented:

“The arrival of Neuro Partners to Carlisle is first and foremost of huge healthcare benefit to Cumbria’s residents. Of course securing its location here is a major economic bonus for the County and by assisting it in doing so we have seen the first significant investment into the area by a health organisation for some time.

“This is a real illustration of how Cumbria can be the location of choice for new and expanding business organisations and sectors. We are proud to have been involved in working with Neuro Partners to employ more than 100 people from across the county – a substantial example of job creation. We are looking forward to helping the company again over the coming year in their aim to recruit a further 100 employees from our area.”

1 May 2009, Carlisle City Council

A TRIO of health workers who launched their business last year are about to double their staff to 150.

A shortage of good treatment for people with neurological problems – such as those who have suffered strokes or serious head injuries in accidents – prompted Jonathan Wade, Kelly Mowbray and Emily Dunn to go into business for the first time 18 months ago.

They launched Neuro Partners which employs specialist rehabilitation support workers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and specialist nurses to tend to patients in their own homes.

Managing director Jonathan Wade, 46, a former psychiatric nurse, said: “People said we were brave going into business, but you should never think about the risks when you are doing it. You should never stand still.”

He said they all saw a demand for the service that no-one else was meeting and is now winning contracts with social services, primary care trusts, insurers, case managers and solicitors.

“There was an obvious need in the community which all three of us had seen working in brain injury,” said Mr Wade.

“The pressure that is on the statutory services means that there are only so many hours of post-discharge care that they can give, and these patients’ rehabilitation needs can go on for years. The health services are our partners in this and there is no-one else we know of providing exactly the same services, other businesses are more generic – we are specialists.”

The Newcastle company already has more than 75 support workers on its books and is planning to double the number as its work spreads further afield.

It currently focuses on Tyneside, Wearside, Northumberland and County Durham, but Neuro Partners is building business in Yorkshire and the Tees Valley and is shortly to open an office in Carlisle from which it hopes to replicate its success here.

The company expects to see revenues of £1m this year and is beginning to reach a profit. Mr Wade says he expects to see turnover double to £2m next year with profit margins of 15-20%.

The company said it had received help from the very start and throughout its growth from Enterprise Campus, a service delivered by Northumbria University to provide advice and support to students and graduates wanting to start or develop their own business.

Roger Candy, business partnerships manager from Enterprise Campus, said: “Kelly has a very focused strategic vision for the business and the growth in staff and demand for the services of Neuro Partners suggest its services are exactly what the market requires. Enterprise Campus is delighted to be able to promote this exciting and innovative new business.”

Former occupational therapist Kelly Mowbray, director of Neuro Partners, said: “I met with the Enterprise Campus team to discuss how to take the business forward as well as how we should undertake marketing.”

Sep 12 2007, The Journal