Bluebird Care is a franchise and brand providing home care services to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The company has just over 200 franchises covering areas in the United Kingdom and a further 26 in the Republic of Ireland.
History
The company was founded in 2004 by Paul and Lisa Tarsey initially as a local health care provider in Petersfield, but always with the intention of expanding via franchising. The state of the market allowed rapid expansion up to around 2010 with at times a new franchise being established every 14 days. The name "Bluebird" derived from the Tansey family connection to the Campbell family and their Bluebird record-breaking vehicles.
In 2013 it was bought out by Florida-based Interim Healthcare, an enterprise that operated over seven countries and claimed "combined network sales of $850m" by 2015.
In June 2020 it acquired the Irish master franchise business from Clemac Home Care Services.[1]
As of 2019 managing director Yvonne Hignell says the company has just over 200 active franchises (in the United Kingdom) and a further 26 in the Republic of Ireland.
In March 2022 care assistants employed by the offices in Exeter, Exmouth, East Devon, and North & West Devon were given a 17% pay rise because of their “heroic efforts” throughout the pandemic and in hopes to attract more care assistants into the industry.[2]