A PORTLAND care company celebrated thirty years of business and community development.

Dorset based Agincare is one of the largest independent providers of care in the country, delivering a range of services from live-in care, nursing homes, respite, dementia care and prison support.

To mark three decades since its formation, a party was held at the Portland Head Office last Friday, as a thank you to the many staff and residents who have supported Agincare over the years.

Chief executive Raina Summerson, who has been with the company for 12 years, said: "We had a great night celebrating at our headquarters with staff and managers, MP for South Dorset Richard Drax also came down to show his support."

Company founder Derek Luckhurst opened his first care home in 1986, from which Agincare was later formed.

From humble beginnings, Agincare has gone on to have considerable influence in both the private and public sectors, working with CCGs the breath of the country to deliver local care and engaging with national policy and lobbying.

Ms Summerson said: "We are very proud of where we have come. Today we have a turnover of £56m and 3000 staff across 45 locations in the UK."

The care providers have over 600 long term residents and supply more than 2.5m care visits each year.

Ms Summerson added: "In our thirty years we have remained loyal to Dorset and have invested time and money back into the community. A third of our business and half of our employees are based in the county."

As an indication of Agincare’s commitment to job creation in Weymouth and Portland, Mr Luckhurst recently invested millions into the regeneration of Castletown in Portland.

Ms Summerson attributes much of the company’s success to the entrepreneurship Mr Luckhurst and the commitment of its long term staff.

She said: “We have staff who have grown with us and care about their work and the future of the company.

"Most importantly we all have fun, despite our size, we are still a very family oriented business. All of our employees work very hard, it’s a hard job, but there is a great deal of job satisfaction."

Over the coming months, Agincare will acquire a further two homes, creating another 110 beds and an estimated business growth of £6m in the next financial year.