Union Care Consult

01 The opportunity

Why this opportunity

The UK care sector sits at the intersection of rising demand and constrained supply. The over-85 population is set to more than double nationally by 2050, while bed and home-care capacity have grown only marginally over the past decade. 2025 saw over £12bn in UK healthcare real estate transactions — a record — yet the market remains fragmented at the local level, leaving room for well-run regional operators to be acquired, professionalised, and positioned for future consolidation.

We are targeting an established, trading business — not a start-up — which brings an existing CQC registration, client base, staff team and revenue from day one, removing the ramp-up risk of building from scratch.

UK care home market: ~£27bn
UK domiciliary care market: ~£6.7bnGrowing ~6.8% p.a.
Projected bed shortfall by end-2026: ~40,000Rising toward 200,000 by 2050
Typical stabilised care-home yields: 6–10%

02 Why Sunderland & the North East

A fast-ageing, under-supplied, lower-cost market

Ageing population: 20.8% of Sunderland's 274,000 residents are already 65+, projected to reach 24% by 2031; the over-80 cohort grew 17% between 2011 and 2021.
Home-care supply gap: The North East has the lowest concentration of home-care services of any English region — 69 per 100,000 over-65s against an England average of 116.
Discharge pressure: The region has the highest share of delayed hospital discharges awaiting home-based care of anywhere in England, a direct driver of demand for domiciliary capacity.
Lower entry cost base: Average self-funder weekly fees are the lowest in England (~£1,095 residential / ~£1,098 nursing, against £1,300–£1,580 in the South East and London) — paired with correspondingly lower property, staffing and acquisition costs.
Commissioning relationships: Sunderland City Council contracts with around 50 care homes citywide, offering a workable route to steady local-authority-funded occupancy alongside private pay.

Home-care services per 100,000 over-65s

North East vs. England average

Lowest concentration of any English region — roughly 40% below the national average.

Average weekly self-funder fee, residential

Sunderland vs. South East & London

The faded segment shows the South East and London range. Lower fees come with correspondingly lower property, staffing and acquisition costs.

Sunderland / North East National & southern comparators

03 Investment thesis

Why this deal

Acquiring a trading, cash-generative business removes start-up and registration risk — CQC rating, contracts, staff and referral relationships transfer with the business.
Structural undersupply of domiciliary care in the North East gives room to grow organically post-acquisition.
Sunderland's demographic tailwind is moving faster than the national average.
Entry valuations are materially lower than the South East: sub-£2m EBITDA domiciliary agencies typically trade at 4.5–6.5× EBITDA, and well-rated care homes at 6–10× EBITDA.
Locally resident, financially literate operational leadership with 13 years' sector experience materially reduces execution risk through the ownership transition.
Scale consolidators have shown sustained appetite to acquire regional operators once a credible, well-rated platform is established — a realistic exit route once the business has been grown and professionalised.

04 About the entrepreneur

Led by Victor Bayem, RN

Photograph
to be supplied

Victor Bayem is a Registered Nurse practising since 2016, with care home sector experience since 2018. Since 2023, Victor has served as Deputy Manager, overseeing operations, staffing, safeguarding, compliance, occupancy and resident outcomes — and is resident locally in the Sunderland area.

In 2022, Victor founded Union Care Consult, a healthcare staffing agency recruiting and managing care staff, now transitioning into domiciliary care and progressing through CQC registration. This combination of hands-on operational management, financial oversight, and existing local relationships across commissioners, staff and referral routes is the core execution advantage behind this opportunity — intended to substantially de-risk the transition from vendor to new ownership.

Registered Nurse since 2016
Care sector since 2018
Deputy Manager since 2023
Founder, Union Care Consult (2022)
CQC registration in progress

Full CV and references available on request.

05 Key risks & mitigants

Risks we're managing for

Identified risks and the mitigating approach
Risk	Mitigant
Workforce shortages and wage inflation	North East vacancy rates are below the England average; local recruitment focus and pay-parity with commissioned rates reduce reliance on agency staff.
Local-authority fee pressure	Blended private-pay / local-authority revenue mix and domiciliary focus reduce single-payer dependence.
Regulatory risk (CQC ratings, inspections)	Targets screened for Good or Outstanding CQC ratings prior to purchase; compliance built into the operating model from day one.
Deprivation profile limiting private-pay ceiling	Domiciliary-first strategy carries lower fixed-asset intensity; the wider 20-mile catchment includes higher private-pay areas such as Durham, Gateshead and the Newcastle suburbs.

06 The ask

The raise

Target raise: £250,000
Ticket size: £25,000
Tickets available: 10
Catchment: 20 miles

Funds raised form the equity component of the acquisition, alongside senior acquisition debt covering the balance of the purchase price.

Indicative use of funds
Use of funds	Allocation	Amount
Acquisition equitySenior debt covers the balance at typical 65–70% LTV	60%	£150,000
Transaction costsDue diligence, legal, CQC registration, professional fees	15%	£37,500
Post-completion working capitalPayroll continuity, systems transition	15%	£37,500
Contingency	10%	£25,000
Total	100%	£250,000

Target exit

Trade sale to a regional or national consolidator, or refinance-and-hold for yield, 4–6 years from platform formation.

Next steps

Identify and progress diligence on a specific target business within the catchment.
Circulate the full business plan, financial model and diligence pack to interested investors.
Confirm subscription terms and legal structure.
Close the £250,000 round and complete on the acquisition.

Request the Full Investment Summary →

The business plan, financial model and diligence pack are released on request, not published here.

Important noticeThis page is a summary for discussion purposes only and does not constitute a prospectus, financial promotion, or offer capable of acceptance. It has not been approved by an FCA-authorised person. Prospective investors should take independent financial and legal advice; capital is at risk and past sector performance is not a guide to future returns. Full terms will be set out in definitive subscription and legal documentation.

07 Enquiry

Interested in the opportunity?

Tell us a little about yourself and we will send the investment summary. Enquiries are reviewed individually; the full diligence pack follows a short conversation.