Balhousie Care Group founder awarded regional director of the year by Institute of Directors

Tony Banks has been named as the Tayside regional director of the year by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland at the director of the year award ceremony.

Mr Banks was chosen because of his continual improvement in care standards across Balhousie Care Group, since the Perth based care provider opened his first care home in Kirriemuir.

IoD Scotland executive director David Watt said: “The care home industry often suffers from a poor reputation but Tony’s vision to be recognised as the leading provider of care for the elderly and vulnerable in Scotland is being fulfilled as well as providing significant job creation for the region.

“The IoD Director of the Year Awards has again recognised the outstanding contribution made by many of our business leaders, including Tony Banks in the Tayside area.”

The group has now grown to 27 homes, creating places for 1,100 residents across Perthshire, Dundee, Fife Angus and Aberdeenshire.

Balhousie care homes provide residential care for people with many different needs including nursing, respite, dementia, and palliative care.

For the first time this year, the Scotland director of the year award was divided into two awards, with an award to recognise care homes that turnover over £30m a year separate to those with under £30m turnover a year.

The decision was made in order to acknowledge and reward directors from a wide range of care home environments, as well as celebrate the differences in organisations of varying sizes.

The winner for IoD Scotland director of the year for a business with a turnover over £30m was named as Roy MacGregor, chairman of Global Energy Group, and the award for a business with a turnover of up to £30m was Dick Philbrick, managing director of Clansman Dynamics Ltd.

Mr Watt continued: “The awards continue to go from strength to strength – as illustrated in the high quality of award winners. Despite the economy continuing to throw up challenges to businesses, this year’s nominations reflected the superb achievements of Scotland’s directors and leaders and demonstrated real evidence of growth, profitability, outstanding business practices and real leadership – qualities the IoD applauds.”

The awards were created in 2004 by the IoD Scotland to celebrate excellence at director level within the private, public and voluntary sectors in order to recognise their achievements.