How HSBC UK helped a healthcare provider raise the bar in the East Midlands

For over 30 years Lincoln-based United Health Group has been providing specialist healthcare services for communities in Yorkshire and the East Midlands. When the group sought funding HSBC UK was receptive to the United Health’s plans for expansion and the result was a lasting relationship that has proved of mutual value for nearly a decade.

United Health Group was founded by CEO Philip Pearson in 1990 after selling his successful electronics business. It has significantly developed and expanded its facilities over this time, under the guidance of Managing Director Mandy Cheriton-Metcalfe, who has extensive operational experience within the group.

After establishing a string of successful elderly care homes in the 1990s, and Learning Disability (LD) Homes in the 2000s, United Health Group founded United Children’s Services in 2012, providing care and education for children with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). Since 2014, United Health Group has been supported in its healthcare journey by loan facilities provided by HSBC UK under the guidance of Relationship Director, Phil Carr.

It was while consulting for a Lincoln care home operator that Pearson saw an opportunity to enter the healthcare sector. “After assisting with business operations I saw there was both a need and an opportunity to develop purpose-built, modern facilities in order to deliver better, more bespoke services,” says Pearson.

“We noticed that there was an under-provision of suitable care homes in West Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Most sites that did exist were in converted Victorian buildings, which didn’t lend themselves to providing good quality care and support.

“So we commissioned four large, purpose built elderly care homes in West Yorkshire. One site in Lincolnshire we developed on was formerly a dairy and had been earmarked for residential development. Part of that residential scheme was a requirement for a healthcare facility on the site.”

After a successful bid, United Health Group built Bunkers Hill, a 78-bed care home, on the designated site. It provides a high-quality physical environment with high levels of support from care staff, explains Pearson.

“It was important that the facilities were community-focussed with spacious social areas. We wanted to provide plenty of activities and events that would offer enrichment for our residents, rather than confinement, whilst also meeting their clinical and mental health needs,” he says.

In 2000 the elderly healthcare sector experienced a downturn. At the same time, big changes were underway in the provision of care for people with learning disabilities (LD).

“The government had recently mandated the closure of institutional hospitals for learning disabilities, with their service users to be placed back in the community,” explains Pearson. United Health Group saw an opportunity to build a number of purpose-built LD homes to meet needs of patients that had been discharged from hospitals. “As our LD portfolio grew, in 2006 we took the opportunity to sell the West Yorkshire homes to Southern Cross,” he says.

United Health Group later sold its LD and mental health facilities to Achieve Together in 2020. “When we joined HSBC UK, they took on our prior loan facility and supported us throughout until we were able to make a successful sale,” explains Pearson.

“When I explained my business model and approach to the sector, HSBC UK and Phil were wholly supportive,” he adds.

With HSBC UK supporting Pearson’s healthcare vision, United Health Group established United Children’s Services in 2012, after the acquisition of an existing care company. “It required a lot of reorganising and restructuring. We spent four years consolidating the business,” says Pearson. “At the time all the buildings were leased and we set about converting those to freehold with the support of HSBC UK. The school we owned at the time didn’t meet the standards of education we wanted to deliver. It didn’t have sufficient classroom space or facilities and wasn’t fit for purpose.”

United Health Group secured support from HSBC UK to acquire a site for the construction of Oakwood Community School, which provides care and education for children with SEMH needs. In 2019, the school moved to new buildings on a 27-acre site near Barlestone, Leicestershire which will ultimately provide education for 102 children. It has been rated Good by Ofsted who reported that: “Leaders and staff are passionate about their work. They are ambitious for all pupils to do well, have successful lives and make positive contributions to society".₁

United Children’s Services now have five registered homes offering a nurturing and caring environment for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. With the support of HSBC UK, it has been able to realise its care philosophy and expand its specialist services.

“We’ve just completed the build of two more new residential facilities and are awaiting planning permission for another two homes,” reports Pearson. “We are also exploring the development of satellite schools which would be registered with the main Oakwood community school so that we can provide further outreach to children in the area.”

HSBC UK’s relationship with United Health Group has provided the consistency and support needed to facilitate the development of specialist care services that make a real difference to the communities they serve. New requirements that care be provided via registered services have also increased the appeal of United Health Group’s facilities.

“We’ve had a successful relationship with United Health Group for the best part of 10 years, supporting them on their funding journey,” says Phil Carr, Relationship Director, HSBC UK. “The group found the size and stability of HSBC UK appealing and we’ve developed a mutually beneficial relationship that’s been proven over many years.

“United Health really values the continuity we have provided because that’s how you build mutually beneficial relationships. We’ve been very proactive in our support, lending meaningful sums that have helped refinance their debt and further develop their specialist facilities.”

Phil Carr believes that a consistent approach to relationship building has helped strengthen the relationship between United Health and HSBC UK

“Building trust in a financial relationship is very important,” he says. “That means being consistent year in, year out, and following up on our commitments. That’s how we’ve built trust and strengthened our relationship over time.

“United Health has made a real difference in people’s lives and the strength of our relationship over 10 years has helped facilitate that.”

₁ https://www.ocschool.co.uk/