Care home operator to create 300 jobs

Apr 23 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A FAST-GROWING care home operator says it will create 300 new North East jobs over the next two years as it prepares to open a raft of new facilities.

Chester-le-Street-based Gainford Care Homes currently operates 11 purpose-built nursing and residential homes across the region and will open a further two in Newbiggin, Northumberland and Throckley, Newcastle early next year.

Another home will be opened at Newton Hall, near Durham, later in the year, and two more are going through the planning process said company founder Mohammed Khaliq.

Mr Khaliq who currently employs 600 people says turnover totalled £15m in 2008, a rise of 20% on the previous year.

“The success of the company is really down to the hard work of my management team and the staff. We are one of the region’s fastest growing companies and this investment is further proof of our commitment to the North East.”

Mr Khaliq started in business with the acquisition of several food stores and in 1981 he established MK Builders North East which concentrated on property construction and investment.

On the back of this success, Mr Khaliq established Gainford Care Homes through the development of his first nursing home in Chester-le-Street in 1995.