In September, Caremark received Bronze for Franchisor of the Year at the 2026 European Franchise Awards in Brussels, representing the UK alongside established franchise brands from across Europe. The recognition followed its BFA Gold Franchisor of the Year win in 2025.
For a home care franchise that has spent more than 20 years growing across the UK and Ireland, the award reflects continued investment in franchise owners, the strength of its network and a commitment to helping local care businesses thrive.
As Caremark expands, it aims to combine the resources of a national brand with the local understanding that makes each office successful. How can a franchise grow without losing what made it work in the first place?
One national brand, more than 150 local businesses
Caremark has more than 150 offices across the UK and Ireland. Each is independently owned and operated by franchise owners responsible for building their own local care businesses.
Although every office shares the same brand, the communities they serve are different. A rural office may face recruitment challenges and customer needs unlike those of an office in a busy town or city. Local demographics, partnerships and the availability of care services also vary between territories.
Franchise owners know their communities. They understand the local recruitment market, build relationships with families and develop services around the needs of the people they support.
That understanding is an important part of running a care business. Yet independent ownership does not mean working alone. Each office can draw on the experience, specialist knowledge and resources of the wider network while its owner leads the local business.
Investing in the people behind the businesses
As Caremark’s network has grown, it has invested in the support available to franchise owners. Its Franchise Support Centre brings together specialists in operations, quality and compliance, recruitment, training, marketing, finance and technology. It gives owners access to expertise they might otherwise need to develop or source themselves.
That support can make a significant difference to someone opening their first care business. Before an office welcomes its first customers, its owner must understand regulatory requirements, recruit the right people and prepare the business to deliver care.
Caremark’s eight-day, in-person induction programme provides new franchise owners with a foundation to get started. Ongoing guidance helps them navigate the practical realities of running the business.
Owners’ needs change over time. Someone preparing to open a first office has different priorities from an owner who has operated for ten years. As a business develops, its owner may be building a management team, expanding services, strengthening recruitment or improving day-to-day operations.
Caremark continues to invest in training, technology and specialist support for owners at different stages, while giving them the independence to make decisions about their businesses.
Bringing national marketing into local communities
Marketing is another area where a national network can support individual owners. Caremark invests in national and regional advertising to build brand awareness, alongside targeted campaigns that help offices reach people seeking care in their local areas.
A family might first discover Caremark through a search engine, television advert or leaflet. That introduction creates an opportunity, but the local office takes the relationship forward.
When someone enquires about care for a loved one, they want to speak to a person who understands their circumstances, answers their questions and helps them explore the support available. National marketing can bring people to the brand; local teams build the relationships that follow.
Franchise owners also develop their presence through community events, referral relationships and recommendations from the families they support.
Growing together
Welcoming new franchise owners is only one part of growth. An established franchisor must also support those already investing in the brand and developing their businesses. That means listening to owners, understanding their changing needs and inviting them to share experiences and ideas.
Franchise owners put the model into practice every day. Their knowledge of local challenges, customer expectations and the realities of running a care business can help identify where further investment or improvements are needed.
In 2026, Caremark achieved Five-Star Franchisee Satisfaction following independent feedback collected by WorkBuzz, recognising the support and relationships behind the network’s growth.
Looking ahead
Caremark’s European award is a milestone for the network and reflects the collective efforts of franchise owners, their teams and the people supporting them at the Franchise Support Centre.
As it grows, Caremark remains focused on helping new and existing owners develop their businesses and respond to the needs of their communities. Its ambition is to help them build successful, sustainable care businesses.
The latest award has brought Caremark recognition on the European franchise stage. Its reputation, however, continues to be built locally by the people delivering care and the relationships they develop with the families they support.
Discover more about the Caremark franchise opportunity and how you can build a local home care business with the support of an established national network.
This article comes courtesy of Caremark Limited, the UK home care franchisor supporting more than 150 offices across the UK and Ireland.
