Change of direction and award nomination for NorthStar

Property management duo Ian Holmes and Danny Sharpe have launched an independent company – NorthStar - building and refurbishing residential care homes. They are also celebrating with news that a care home they developed in Newmarket, Kentford Manor, has been chosen as one of three finalists in the Best Larger Home for Elderly Care category at this year’s national Pinders Healthcare Design Awards.

Ian Homes, director of NorthStar along with business partner Danny Sharpe, said: ‘This is a particularly exciting time for us at NorthStar as we branch out independently. To be shortlisted for such a prestigious award as we start our journey is a welcome boost to morale and serves to strengthen our already impressive portfolio of award winning care homes which we have developed.’

Working out of offices in Newcastle and South Oxfordshire, NorthStar is confident about creating 300 jobs across the UK and Ian said: ‘‘We already hold a strong reputation within the industry for offering an award winning approach to developing and project managing care homes across the country, and now that we have launched ourselves independently we can offer our specialist expertise to other care home providers.

‘The NorthStar supply chain of architects, lawyers and other construction professionals have worked hand in hand for many years and offer a comprehensive service comprising of the best consultants in the healthcare sector, all under NorthStar’s lead.’

NorthStar offer an integrated service of planning care home developments from finding sites to handing over a fully-furnished and equipped, CQC-compliant building to the care home operator.

Ian concluded: ‘As our aging population continues to grow, it is increasingly important to deliver well-designed residential care with specialist services. With a combined 50 of years in the industry under our belts we develop care homes which enable residents to flourish and which are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, particularly for those suffering from dementia.’

The team at NorthStar have kick started their new era of independent operations by nominating Alzheimer’s Research UK as their designated charity, after being presented with a cheque by Pinders as part of the short listing process for the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards.

The winners will be announced at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London on March 22 2012. More information about NorthStar can be found by visiting www.northstarprojects.com.

Photo: NorthStar directors Danny Sharpe (left) and Ian Holmes (right), with Jodie Vaughan of Alzheimer’s Research UK