Summary
LimeSkills was founded in March 2011 by Nicola Bradford and Nikki Sturmey, two like-minded women who have over 20 years of experience in the health and social care sector, specialising in workforce learning and development.
The care sector as a whole grows larger as our population is consistently living longer. It may be that institution style provision is out favoured for individual choice through personal budgets, but the need for an increasing number of people to be cared for exists. In parallel, the care required is increasingly complex, often combined illness and disabilities and currently the financial resources available are decreasing.
With this in mind, LimeSkills aims to provide high quality, competitive learning and development opportunities which are flexible to meet the needs of each and every care setting. The aim is to provide a personal service to meeting the requirements of the Care Quality Commission and cost effective methods of valuing and retaining your staff team, ensuring that you are able to provide the best service for those in your care.
LimeSkills was formed as a community interest company (CIC) to show our commitment to equality in the provision of quality learning and development opportunities for carers. Unlike a traditional business, the legal structure of a CIC imposes an asset lock, all assets belonging to the company and not the directors. Additionally any surplus finances generated must be spent on 'community' and cannot be distributed. Therefore, LimeSkills uses its surplus funds to provide training to family carers in accessible, local venues.
Our values are:
• To deliver effectively.
• To demonstrate accountability.
• To display integrity.
• To act inclusively.
• To be proud.
Mission
To provide high quality, competitive learning and development opportunities which are flexible to meet the needs of each and every care setting.
Location
Ipswich, UK
Key personnel
Nicola Bradford, managing director
Nicola has experience of managing residential care and a nursing and homecare agency before selling to Nestor Healthcare. She has experiences of delivering a full range of training and assessment. She also managed care and childcare apprenticeships in Suffolk and Essex for national provider. Most recently, Nicola delivered and managed care and community workforce development programmes in a local authority, and was responsible for neighbourhood learning in deprived communities programmes where she forged partnerships with local voluntary and community sector organisations. She founded social business LimeSkills 'Learning in my environment' to offer learning solutions for those who care for others – whether as an employee, a volunteer or a family carer.
Nikki Sturmey, operations director
Nikki met Nicola when working at Suffolk County Council and jumped at the chance to work alongside her in a new venture. Nikki has vast experience in marketing and sales, is fully qualified in human resources, specialising in employment law, and has extensive experience in the hotel and catering industry.
Contacts and social media
Email: nikki@limeskills.co.uk
Telephone: 01473 604709
On the web: limeskills.co.uk
Twitter: @LimeSkills
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LimeSkills
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