Care Show Archives - Five on a Bike

Caring Conversations @ The Care Show Birmingham – Oct 8th & 9th 2025 – Sponsored by Cornerstone Care Solutions

York Woodford-Smith — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:37:02 +0000

Care Show Birmingham NEC - 8th & 9th October 2025

Sponsered by Cornerstone Care Solutions

We’re bringing Caring Conversations to Birmingham next!

After the energy and success of London, we can’t wait to see what conversations unfold at the NEC. We’ll be back with our live-streaming setup, camera-ready to host thought leaders, care workers, suppliers, and anyone with a view on how we can shape a better care future.

We are proud to welcome Cornerstone Care Solutions as the sponsor of Caring Conversations.

Every good conversation needs a great supporter — and that’s where Cornerstone Care Solutions step in! These guys are like the superheroes of the care world: swooping in with experience, energy, and the know-how to help care homes shine.

From untangling tricky CQC bits to boosting everyday standards, they’ve spent over a decade helping homes turn challenges into real success stories. The best part? They do it with a smile, a friendly approach, and a genuine love for making care better.

We’re over the moon to have Cornerstone as the sponsor of Caring Conversations. With them by our side, we know the chat will be inspiring, supportive, and full of heart.

Book a slot for Caring Conversations below

Highlights from London 2025

Caring Conversations is now a staple of Care Shows

Caring Conversations has become a staple of Care Shows. We have created live streams and literally hundreds of videos

capturing the most inspiring voices from across the care sector. From CEOs and innovators to front-line carers and campaigners, we spoke to the people who shape and support the industry every day.

At Care Show London 2025, we took things to the next level.

What Did We Do at Care Show London?

We brought our Caring Conversations live studio right to the heart of the exhibition. Over two packed days (30th April – 1st May), we filmed more than 35 live interviews, streamed everything to YouTube in real time, and helped showcase some of the most exciting ideas in care.

We spoke to sector leaders, business owners, care home managers, campaigners, technology providers, and frontline workers. We covered everything from CQC reforms and staff wellbeing to financial sustainability and the future of social care.

The conversations were authentic, unscripted, and full of passion, providing not only amazing content for our guests to use on their own platforms but also a shared insight into the challenges and breakthroughs happening in the care world right now.

Our stand, F10, became a buzzing hub of activity and conversation throughout the event, and we loved every minute of it.

What is Caring Conversations?

Caring Conversations is a live streaming studio built into the Care Show floor, offering a chance for anyone working in or with the care sector to jump in front of the camera and share their thoughts on topics within care, in London 2025 we discussed;

Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Workforce, Development & Wellbeing
Funding
Business Management & Sustainability
Catering, Hydration & Nutrition

To take part all you need is passion and perspective.

Why Take Part?

There were loads of benefits for participants:

It was a fun and energising experience
The video content became powerful marketing and personal branding material
It was a chance to be part of something visible and influential
It helped break down barriers between people and roles in the sector
And yes—Lindor chocolates were involved*

What Happened to the Content?

Every conversation was live-streamed on YouTube, instantly available to watch and share. Since the show, we’ve been working closely with Care Show to release short clips, highlights, and feature pieces across social media, helping to amplify your voices and messages over the following six months.

If you joined us in London, your content is ready to download. Visit the Dropbox folder and look under Day 1 or Day 2 for your name. If you run into any issues, just email york@fiveonabike.com.

Thanks

York, Alex, Harper, Ben & Jack

The Five on a Bike Team

*Lindor Chocolate was available with or without interview.

Videos from past shows

The post Caring Conversations @ The Care Show Birmingham – Oct 8th & 9th 2025 – Sponsored by Cornerstone Care Solutions appeared first on Five on a Bike.

Making Care Homes Sustainable: Practical Steps Beyond Compliance

Ben Wooding — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:13:44 +0000

The care sector stands at a crossroads. With environmental sustainability regulations on the horizon and a planet facing unprecedented challenges, care homes can no longer afford to treat sustainability as an afterthought. Hannah Montgomery, co-founder of Grace Cares, recently shared practical insights on how care providers can embrace environmental responsibility while improving their bottom line.

Why Sustainability Matters More Than Ever

The connection between environmental health and human health has never been clearer. As Hannah points out, we’re living in a world where a child has died from air pollution, forest fires rage globally, and complex health conditions are appearing earlier in life across all age groups. “If we’re on a broken planet, then we’re going to put more strain on health and social care services,” she explains. This creates a compelling case for the care sector to become part of the solution.

Simple Steps to Get Started

Audit Everything First

Before making changes, care homes need to understand their current position. Hannah recommends starting with comprehensive audits:

Key discussion points include:

Energy usage baseline assessment (many local authorities offer free energy audits)
Water consumption monitoring
Food waste measurement
Single-use plastic inventory

“If you don’t know where you are now, what are you going to do?” Hannah asks. These measurements provide the foundation for setting realistic, measurable targets.

Rethink Single-Use Plastics

One of the most impactful changes involves challenging assumptions about single-use items. Hannah references the Royal College of Nurses’ “Gloves Off” campaign, which demonstrated that reducing glove usage in certain situations actually decreased infection rates while saving money and reducing waste. The key finding: staff washed their hands more frequently when not relying on gloves.

This evidence-based approach can help care homes make informed decisions about when protective equipment is truly necessary versus when it’s used out of habit.

Energy Efficiency Wins

Small changes can yield significant results:

Turning thermostats down by just one degree makes a substantial difference
Replacing traditional lighting with LED alternatives
Taking advantage of local authority match funding for green improvements

The Business Case for Going Green

Sustainability isn’t just about environmental responsibility; it’s smart business. Hannah highlights several compelling reasons:

Recruitment Advantage: Younger generations increasingly prioritize employers with strong environmental policies and work-life balance. Care homes with clear sustainability commitments may find it easier to attract quality staff.

Tender Success: Local authority contracts increasingly include ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements. Care providers with documented sustainability efforts will be better positioned for these opportunities.

Cost Savings: Many green initiatives reduce operational costs while providing upfront funding support from local authorities.

Thinking Planet as Stakeholder

Perhaps the most transformative suggestion Hannah offers is conceptual: “Think of the planet as a stakeholder.” In every meeting and decision, asking “What would the planet think about this?” can shift organizational culture toward more sustainable practices.

This approach, combined with alignment to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, provides a framework that regulators will recognize and respect.

Moving Beyond Compliance

While regulatory requirements may be delayed, care homes shouldn’t wait for mandates to act. The environmental challenges we face require immediate action, and the care sector has both the opportunity and responsibility to lead.

As Hannah concludes, this represents a fundamental culture change. Success requires making sustainability engaging and integrated into core operations rather than treating it as an add-on requirement.

The path forward is clear: start with measurement, implement evidence-based changes, and embrace the planet as a key stakeholder in every decision. The result will be care homes that are not only more sustainable but also more attractive to staff, more competitive in tenders, and better positioned for long-term success.

About Caring Conversations

Caring Conversations is a collaborative series created in partnership with The Care Show and produced by Five on a Bike. Designed to spotlight the voices shaping social care, the series features candid interviews and conversations with care providers, sector leaders, suppliers, and decision-makers across the industry.

Whether you’re a manager, innovator, front-line caregiver, or supplier, Caring Conversations offers a platform to share insights, spark ideas, and connect with the wider care community.

Interested in joining the conversation or sharing your perspective? We’d love to hear from you.

Presented by The Care Show | Produced by Five on a Bike

The post Making Care Homes Sustainable: Practical Steps Beyond Compliance appeared first on Five on a Bike.

How Care Homes Can Attract More Private-Paying Clients: Insights from Springup PR

Ben Wooding — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:24:39 +0000

In a sector as personal as social care, trust is everything. And trust is built through stories, clarity, and consistency. Whether you’re a boutique provider or an established operator looking to boost private-pay enquiries, Spring Up PR’s advice is simple: invest in the long game.

At the heart of the care sector, change is constant. Speaking live from the Care Show in London, Adam James, founder of Springup PR, offered valuable insights on how care homes can thrive in a market increasingly geared towards private-paying clients.

Traditionally, private-pay beds have been the domain of larger, luxury care providers. But that’s shifting. More and more smaller and mid-sized operators are recognising the potential and moving into this space. According to Adam, the transition isn’t just about offering a plush environment, it’s about clear messaging, smart marketing, and building long-term visibility.

Springup PR specialises in helping care homes increase occupancy, particularly by targeting private-paying families. “We help care homes get more enquiries in order to increase occupancy faster… And we do that via PR and marketing,” Adam explained.

But how can care homes make this shift effectively?

1. Nail Your Messaging

The first step, according to Adam, is making sure your messaging resonates with your target audience, typically adult children looking for care for their parents. “They’re not familiar with the sector, so everything you present… From your website to your brochures… Needs to be clear, comforting, and confidence-building,” Adam advised.

2. Focus on Local Visibility

It’s not about national media exposure. Local visibility is where the magic happens. “A well-placed story in your local press or local radio can go a long way in building trust,” Adam said. Families often look for providers within a specific geographic area, and familiarity can significantly influence their decision.

3. Leverage Testimonials and Resident Stories

Human stories are powerful tools in care marketing. Sharing real-life testimonials and resident experiences helps potential clients connect emotionally and see your service through the eyes of others. Adam recommends weaving these narratives into your website, newsletters, and social media.

4. Invest in SEO and Online Presence

Your website is often the first touchpoint. Is it easy to navigate? Is your care philosophy front and centre? Are your enquiry forms accessible? But it doesn’t stop there. Search engine optimisation (SEO) ensures your site shows up when people search for care in your area. Adam pointed out that ranking for search terms like “care home near me” or “residential care [your town]” can make a measurable difference.

5. Take a Consistent, Long-Term View

One-off campaigns rarely move the needle. Spring Up PR works with care homes on an ongoing basis to help them build and maintain visibility over time. “Marketing needs consistency,” Adam stressed. “It’s about being front-of-mind when a family needs you… Not just shouting once and disappearing.”

About Caring Conversations

Whether you’re a manager, innovator, front-line caregiver, or supplier, Caring Conversations offers a platform to share insights, spark ideas, and connect with the wider care community.

Interested in joining the conversation or sharing your perspective? We’d love to hear from you.

Presented by The Care Show | Produced by Five on a Bike

The post How Care Homes Can Attract More Private-Paying Clients: Insights from Springup PR appeared first on Five on a Bike.