Ocala Healthcare has reached its seventh birthday. There have been many twists and turns along the way, and it feels like a lifetime since Sam and I stood at a table with an A3 sheet of paper, sketching out what our business might look like. Here are a few reflections on the past seven years.
Starting from scratch
When you launch a business completely self-funded, every penny counts. Around 2013, Sam happened to be walking past a funeral director in Ipswich town centre. They were holding an open day and, as it turned out, the owner kindly offered the use of their training room. At the time, Sam was working for a small start-up care provider, and although the offer wasn’t taken up straight away, it stayed in her mind.
Fast forward five years, and Sam rang them back. She reminded them of their generous offer and explained she now had her own business – and asked if the room was still available. Incredibly, it was.
For the next six months, we used their training room free of charge – lunch included! The kindness of Southgate & Roberts remains a fond memory and a reminder of how community generosity helped us take our first steps.
Building a recruitment agency
Believe it or not, Ocala Healthcare started life as a recruitment agency. It wasn’t until August 2020 that we began delivering our own CQC-registered care services.
Between 2020 and 2022, we operated as both a care provider and a recruitment agency. During this time, we won our first award in 2018 – a business growth award from the Mid Suffolk Rising Star Awards.
We also weathered the pandemic, which cost us 50% of our agency work overnight. It was a worrying time. Sam and I felt a deep responsibility to keep our team in work, and we negotiated with care homes to ensure our workers had enough hours to meet the cost of living – under the condition that they worked exclusively in one setting.
Today, the agency still exists – as Ocala Recruitment.
Our evolution as a care provider
Ocala’s journey as a care provider has been incredible. What started with supporting just two people for a short period in 2020 became a 10-month commitment. We now provide two services to people in their own homes and have secured a local authority contract.
There’s been fun along the way too – Christmas parties, anniversary celebrations, Carers Week events – all of which have helped build a culture of appreciation and connection.
What makes Ocala so easy to love is the impact we see every day: on the people we support and on their families.
Celebrating carers
One of my favourite things we do each year is the Suffolk Carer Appreciation Event. It’s a truly unique event – no sales pitches, no stands, just a big thank you. We host a free afternoon tea, a raffle supported by local businesses, and live music.
Now in its third year, the event is gaining momentum and becoming something very special. It’s open to carers across Suffolk – not just those who work for Ocala – and is a highlight of our calendar.
Our first office
Some of you may remember our very first office – a tiny space above a furniture refurb business in Stonham Aspal, previously used for storage. Sam and I even put our three-year-old daughter to work helping us tidy it up!
It might not have been conventional, but it allowed us to grow our office team and expand our services. It was a vital part of our evolution from a feisty start-up to a dynamic, established business.
Moving forward
In February 2023, we moved to new premises near Stowmarket train station. The space is more accessible, more comfortable and better equipped – and it’s allowed us to keep growing our brilliant team.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
To be an entrepreneur, you need resilience, creativity, and drive. Sam embodies all three. So when she was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the East of England by the Federation of Small Businesses – and then went on to win the national title – it was an incredibly proud moment.
She juggled building a business, having two children, and being an exceptional mum – all at the same time. No one deserved it more.
The heart of Ocala: our people
Ocala is just a vehicle – it’s our people who make it special.
Leza, our first employee, joined us when we were still working out of our garden shed. Her support was vital in helping us push forward while raising our young family.
To all our care staff, thank you. Your commitment makes it possible to help people live incredible lives. To our office team – Felisha, Chloe, Annabelle, Steven, Rachel and of course Sam – your hard work, support and energy make Ocala an amazing place to work and an incredible organisation to be part of.
The last seven years haven’t been without challenges, but they’ve been full of joy. I can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us.
