I’m genuinely pleased to see our client Neil Eastwood recognised with an MBE for services to Adult and Children’s Social Care.
It is a well-earned honour, and a fitting moment to celebrate not just Neil’s success, but the impact of the work behind it.
What always stood out to me about Neil’s work with Care Friends was the clarity of the question driving it: “How do we attract more of the right people into caring roles – people who will love the role, provide outstanding care and stay for the long term?”
That is not just a recruitment question. It is a question about how we strengthen care, support healthier communities, and build more resilient systems around the people who need them most.
Care Friends helped turn that thinking into something practical and useful, creating better pathways into care through trusted recommendations and a more human understanding of motivation.
That is why this recognition matters. It celebrates an individual achievement, yes, but it also shines a light on work that helps care providers grow, helps more people find meaningful roles, and ultimately helps more people receive the support they need.
Congratulations to Neil on a remarkable and well-deserved honour.