On 15 September 2025, the magical grounds of Chewton Glen Hotel in the New Forest played host to a truly inspiring event: the Agincare Heroes Awards 2025. With over 100 team members gathering from across Agincare services nationwide, the day was packed with recognition, pride, and plenty of joy.
An Unforgettable Event
Hosted by the inimitable Adam Luckhurst, joined by award VIP presenters Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst and Group Chief Executive Raina Summerson, the event kicked off with a welcome reception followed by an uplifting awards ceremony. The programme was packed: Employee of the Year, Chef of the Year, Nurse of the Year, Outstanding Leader, Care/Support Worker of the Year, Support/Customer Service of the Year, Care Team of the Year, Registered Manager of the Year, the Will Mitchell Award for Outstanding Contribution, and culminating in the award of five prestigious Agincare Hero Medals.
Opening the awards Adam Luckhurst said:
Since we first gathered for these awards after the pandemic, the Agincare Heroes Awards have become the biggest event in our social calendar. A time for us to celebrate our extraordinary team members who go above and beyond.
These are the people who make us truly great. They are the ones who have helped build and protect our lasting reputation as one of the nation’s most trusted care providers.Year after year, Agincare continues to grow sustainably and independently. As a family-owned care provider, we do things differently. Unlike so many others, big or small, we’re not driven by distant investors or private equity groups looking to make a quick buck and move on. We’re here for the long term. Here for the thousands of people we support, for their families, and for our wonderful team members who make it all possible.
The Winners: Rising Stars, Leaders and Heroes
Here are the shining stars from the 2025 Agincare Heroes Awards lineup:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Rising Star (sponsored by Advania) | Jacob Chalker (Head Office HR team) |
| Employee of the Year | Viorica Kratokwil (Live-in Care Southwest) |
| Chef of the Year (sponsored by Brakes) | Fatou Konteh (Greenhive Care Home) |
| Nurse of the Year | Nicole Smith (Waterside Care Home) |
| Outstanding Leader | Rosie Dalley (Furlong Close Suported Living) |
| Care/Support Worker of the Year (sponsored by Bates Officer Services) | Rozeena Sadiq Fazmy (Torquay home care team) |
| Registered Manager | Maxine Booth-Isherwood (Nightingale Care Home) |
| Care Team of the Year (sponsored by Blueleaf Care) | Rochester Care Home |
| Will Mitchell Award (Outstanding Contribution) | Sarah Leskinen-Keel (Agincare Head Office) |
| Agincare Hero Medals | Natasha Plimmer (Orchid House), Debra Young (Bristol Home Care), Emma Boyes (Swindon Supported Living), Dinesh Visidagama and the Oxford Home Care Team, Julie Marrs (Victor Care Home) |
View the winners and highy-commended team members
Thanks to all Sponsors and Supporters
A big shout-out goes to all the companies that helped to ensure the Agincare Heroes Awards 2025 was a fitting event to recognise and celebrate not only award winners but also the valuable contribution of the social care workforce across the country.
Brakes: Headline Sponsor (also proudly sponsoring the Chef of the Year award)
Blueleaf Care: Care Team of the Year award sponsor
Bates Office Services: Support Team/Individual of the Year award sponsor
Advania: Rising Star of the Year award sponsor
Supporters included Mediahawk, NH Maintenance, Platinum Productions and Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa.
Special Moments and Highlights
The event wrapped up with moving closing remarks from Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Lukchurst, and Group Chief Executive Raina Summerson before guests departed exhausted in the best possible way.
Laughter, high emotion, and heartfelt thanks were in abundance. Colleagues cheering colleagues, stories of going “above and beyond,” and touching tributes made it so much more than an awards ceremony: it was a celebration of what makes Agincare so special.
What it means…
Agincare Heroes Awards is now in its fourth year, and each year it reaffirms something fundamental: it’s all about people. Recognising not just the big wins, but the daily small things – the compassion, the leadership, the kindness, the steady reliability that often goes unseen. These moments ripple out to impact residents, colleagues and communities.
We can’t wait to celebrate again next year!