A 40 Year Journey Built on Care, Compassion and Community
What began with a single care home in Weymouth in 1986 has grown into a nationwide care provider supporting thousands of people, families and communities. While much has changed over 40 years, our purpose remains the same. Delivering exceptional care with the family values, compassion and people-first approach that have defined us from the very beginning.
What began with a single care home in Weymouth in 1986 has grown into one of England’s leading independent care providers, supporting thousands of people, families and communities every day.
Today, Agincare provides a complete pathway of care, supporting people through every stage of life, from children’s services and supported living to complex care, specialist services and end-of-life support. Yet while our services have evolved and expanded, the values that shaped our first care home remain unchanged.
As a family-owned business, we have always taken a long-term view; investing in our people, our services and the communities we serve. This commitment has enabled us to grow from the one home in Weymouth to more than 170 locations nationwide and a team of over 5,500 dedicated colleagues, while maintaining the personal relationships and local connections that make great care possible.
Trusted by families, local authorities, NHS partners and communities across England, we are proud to deliver care that is reliable, compassionate and centred around the people who depend on us. Forty years on our purpose remains as strong as ever: helping people live well, with the support they need, wherever they call home.
Celebrating 40 Years
40 Years of Impact
The story of Agincare is about far more than growth. It is a story of people, partnerships and communities coming together to create lasting positive change.
Over the past four decades, we have worked alongside local authorities, NHS organisations, housing providers, charities and community partners to help people live independently, safely and with dignity. Through innovative partnerships and locally delivered services, we have supported communities to respond to changing needs while ensuring care remains personal, accessible and centred around the individual.
Our commitment extends beyond the services we provide. From community investment and charitable initiatives to regeneration projects that create opportunities and strengthen local areas, we believe great care should leave a lasting legacy wherever we work. Whether supporting vulnerable individuals, creating employment opportunities, developing future care professionals or helping communities thrive, we are proud to play a role that reaches far beyond traditional care provision.
Every day, our teams support people at some of the most important moments in their lives. Behind every visit, every service and every partnership is a person with their own story, ambitions and challenges. It is this human impact that has driven us for the past 40 years and continues to inspire everything we do.
As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we remain focused on the future; building stronger communities, investing in our people and continuing to deliver the high-quality care and support that individuals and families can rely on for generations to come.
locations nationwide
highly trained team members
hours of home care delivered per annum
#Agincare40
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Our success is in our people
Our teams are at the heart of everything we do. Across England, from our care homes to community services, our colleagues share a common purpose to provide care that respects individuality and promotes independence. In 2025, we have achieved:
generated in social value
contributed to local economies
apprentices supported
Our 40th anniversary is also an opportunity to give back to the communities we are proud to be part of.
We’re launching a number of initiatives designed to strengthen local connections and support wellbeing. This includes partnerships to offer accessible health checks for the people who draw on our services and their families, helping to promote preventative care and long-term health.
We’ll also be creating a lasting legacy by planting 40 oak tress across our locations, each representing a year of care, growth and community impact. These spaces will serve as a symbol of our roots and our ongoing commitment to the people and places we support.
I was inspired to go into the care sector because I knew there were ways of providing a better quality of care than what was available at the time.
Since then I’m immensely proud that, in my opinion, we as a team have evolved into the best and greatest value care provider in the country.
Founder and Chairman, Derek Luckhurst
In the early 1980s, care homes were entirely unregulated, and there was no CQC or regulatory body; anyone could effectively set one up. I saw that firsthand and knew there had to be a better way; care built on high standards, delivered at an affordable price. That was the ethos we have carried at Agincare ever since.
A vision for better care
While working in the defence industry, Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst was exploring ways to channel his entrepreneurial drive into something meaningful. Through a friend who owned a care home in Weymouth he gained insight into the sector but felt the standard of care being provided could be improved.
From this experience, he developed a vision to create care homes that offered high-quality, personalised care in comfortable surroundings at an affordable price, a vision that would shape Agincare.
As the eldest son of our Founder and Chairman, Derek Luckhurst, I grew up in Agincourt. In the early days, my Dad did every aspect, from managing the care home to providing personal care to the residents. Growing up, the residents became extended family.
The Beginning
Derek Luckhurst purchases his first care home, Agincourt, in Weymouth, Dorset, in the mid 1980’s.
Agincourt was a true family effort, with Derek and his family living on site and working together to renovate and establish the home. The care home remains owned and operated by Agincare today.
Expanding the family
The acquisition of Bosworth Care Home in 1988 and Crecy Care Home in 1991, marked an important turning point in the early story of Agincare. It marked the early expansion of Agincare’s residential services.
Both Bosworth Care Home and Crecy Care Home in Weymouth, Dorset, weren’t just new adaptions on a map, they represented a belief that good care could be replicated, strengthened, and scaled without losing its personal touch. Each acquisition built on the foundations already laid at Agincourt Care Home, where reputation and standards had begun to take root in the local community.
Agincare goes into the community
Agincare Ltd officially becomes a registered company, making an important milestone in Agincare’s journey from a trusted local care provider to a growing national social care business. Building on its strong reputation within the community, Agincare expands its services by launching domiciliary care alongside a new project, Meals on Wheels in 1993.
The service quickly became a lifeline for vulnerable people across Dorset, delivering more than 250,000 meals every year. Trained care staff also carried out regular welfare checks, offering reassurance, companionship and practical support to older people and those living alone, helping them remain safe and independent in their own homes.
Building partnerships
Agincare becomes one of the first care providers in Dorset to secure a local authority block contract for home care services. Awarded by Dorset County Council, the contract guaranteed the delivery of significant volumes of care to older people living in the community and represented a major step forward in Agincare’s development.
This partnership laid the foundations for the future growth and established Agincare as a trusted public sector partner. Over the following years, the organisation expanded its reach nationwide, developing dozens of contracts delivering high-quality care and support services to local authorities and NHS partners across the country.
A new leader joins
Raina Summerson joins Agincare as Chief Executive Officer, bringing her extensive experience across social care, regulation and public services. A qualified social worker with a Masters in Mental Health Services, Raina previously worked as a regulatory inspector for the Care Quality Commission and held roles across local authority, NHS and private care settings.
Under Raina’s leadership, Agincare continuted to grow while remaining committed to person-centred care and innovation. Alongside leading Agincare, Raina became and influential voice within the care sector, contributing to national discussions around workforce development, regulation and the future of care services.
Introducing live-in care
Agincare launches its live-in care service, offering people the opportunity to receive personalised, round-the-clock support in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. The service reflected a growing demand for alternatives to residential care, enabling individuals to maintain independence while receiving tailored one-to-one support.
As the service rapidly expanded, Blandford in Dorset became the headquarters for Agincare Live-in Care, supporting the development of specialist teams dedicated to matching care workers with clients across the UK and delivering high-quality support nationwide.
Extra care services
Agincare Extra Care is established in response to increasing demand for flexible care solutions that support independent living. Working within purpose-built housing schemes, the model combines on-site care and support with self-contained accommodation allowing individuals to retain privacy, choice and independence while accessing care when needed.
The development of Extra Care reflected wider changes within social care, helping to bridge the gap between home care and residential services while promoting wellbeimg, community connection and long-term independence.
New HQ and enhanced services
Agincare relocates its head office to Admiralty Buildings in Castletown, Portland, Dorset, establishing a long-term base which was the beginning of wider community regeneration. Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst begins to drive forward plans to improve and revitalise the surrounding area.
The early vision for Castletown focuses on strengthening the local economy, improving community facilities and supporting tourism and heritage development, which would later come to life through projects such as a local shop, Crabbers Wharf and the D-Day Centre. In the same year, the organisation is awarded the Enhanced Care Services contract at the Napier Unit in Medway, delivering specialist supported living services.
Training and regeneration projects
Agincare launches Training Now, its dedicated training and apprenticeship division, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to developing the future social care workforce. Designed to support both Agincare employees and external learners, Training Now provides professional qualifications, apprenticeships and specialist education programmes across the care sector.
This year also marked a significant period of community investment and regeneration. Crabbers Wharf officially opened as part of the wider Castletown Regeneration Project, alongside the opening of the D-Day centre, helping preserve local heritage while supporting tourism, education and community engagement in Portland.
Supporting Younger Adults
Agincare Enable is launched to provide specialist support for younger adults with complex needs, including individuals with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities. The service broadened Agincare’s reach into supported living and specialist care, delivering tailored, person-centred support designed to help individuals live as independently as possible.
Agincare Enable focused on supporting people to achieve their goals, develop life skills and actively participate within their communities.
Recognition and expansion
Agincare expands into Essex, securing contracts for multiple extra care housing schemes and further strengthening its regional reputation for delivering flexible, high-quality care services tailored to local community needs.
This year also bought national recognition with Agincare being named one of the UK’s top three private sector employers, highlighting its commitment to employee well being, development and workplace culture. Meanwhile, Training Now achieved registration with the Education and Skills Finding Agency, further strengthening Agincare’s investment in professional learning and workforce development.
Covid milestones
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Agincare teams played a critical role in supporting vulnerable people and communities through one of the most challenging periods in modern healthcare history. Across care homes, supported living, home care and extra care services, frontline team members continued delivering essential care with compassion, resilience and dedication despite unprecedented pressures.
A historic milestone was reached when a frontline care worker at Cheriton Care Home in Dorchester became the first person in Dorset to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, a powerful moment of hope for both the care sector and the wider community.
In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, Agincare employees were awarded Covid Hero Medals, alongside a special tribute from Joanna Lumley honouring commitment and courage shown by care workers throughout the pandemic.
Awards and growth
Agincare celebrates a landmark year of recognition, achievement and continued expansion. Founder Derek Luckhurst receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Leaders in Care Awards in recognition of his decades of dedication to social care and the growth of Agincare from a small local provider into a nationally recognised organisation.
Agincare also receives multiple industry accolades, including Home Care Team of the Year, while CEO Raina Summerson is recognised as a Voice of the Industry for her contribution to national social care leadership and advocacy.
Expansion continued across the UK with the launch of the Oxfordshire Reablement contract, new supported living services in Kent and North Yorkshire, and further growth driven by strong partnerships and an ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care within local communities.
National expansion and major contracts
Agincare enters a new era of national growth. Expansion across London, Hampshire, North Somerset and Southampton is matched by major developments in supported living and extra care services.
In 2025, Agincare takes on the majority of services previously operated by Ambient Support, safeguarding support for around 700 people and protecting more than 800 jobs. A landmark contract win also delivers Agincare’s largest-ever Extra Care service, further strengthening its role as a leading provider of independent living support.
By 2026, Agincare is delivering care and support in more than 170 locations across the UK, reflecting 40 years of growth, innovation and commitment to helping people live independently.
Looking to the future
For 40 years, Agincare has been proudly family-owned, with no external investors and a long-term commitment to doing what’s right. While we’ve grown to support communities nationwide, our focus on people, both those we care for and those who care has never wavered.
Our values continue to guide everything we do. We put people first, deliver high-quality care with compassion and empower our teams to make a real difference every day. These principles aren’t just words on a page, they are the foundation of our culture, shaping how we work, how we care, and how we grow together.
As we celebrate 40 years, we honour the colleagues, families, and communities who have helped us stay true to our values and who will continue to shape our journey for the next 40.
Discover more about our history
Our Story
A family provider, trusted by thousands nationwide to provide high-quality, affordable care. Founded in 1986, we are one of the largest independent care providers in England.
A family business
It’s been over 35 years since Agincare’s Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst started his first care home, Agincourt, in Weymouth, Dorset.
Agincare in the community
We place great value on being a well-run and sustainable care provider, committed to a long-term future delivering person-centred high-quality care in the community.
Feeling Inspired?
Make your own history with Agincare. We are recruiting across our services, including home care, care and nursing homes, live-in care and supported living.
Explore our range of careers today and discover your future with Agincare.
