44 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2026 the way Lucy leads, allowing her to maintain industry-high standards without ever compromising on the values both of the private residential care homes stand for. “What is most important to me is that care is never reduced to a transactional service.” Being a woman working in elderly care has certainly shaped Lucy’s experience of this environment, as whilst the industry has always had strong female representation, especially on the frontlines, leadership and ownership have not always been so diverse. With the sector changing and more women progressing into senior roles, the future of the space looks bright, even in the face of regulatory changes, financial pressures, and operational intensity, all of which make leadership more difficult, regardless of gender. Lucy explained: “One of the challenges I have encountered is the perception that empathy and emotional awareness can be seen as a lack of toughness in leadership. In reality, I have found the ability to combine empathy with decisiveness is one of the strongest leadership qualities you can have, particularly in care. My advice to other women would be to trust your competence and your intuition. Build strong commercial knowledge, understand your sector in depth, but do not feel the need to suppress your natural leadership strengths.” There are many women across Lucy’s teams successfully balancing work with family and other personal responsibilities, and ensuring they have all of the support they need to do so effectively is a cornerstone of the culture at both Towans Care Limited and Castle Hill House Limited. Being family owned and run businesses means less constraints and more flexibility when helping team members through personal or professional challenges, this level of internal support is mirrored in the holistic support the team themselves provide. Turning our attention to the future, Lucy remains focused on advocating for person-centred care home services and the provision of high-quality elderly residential care, all whilst continuing to attract clients to value a more personalised experience from their care. As for her own plans, Lucy is looking to strike a balance between strengthening leadership and ensuring culture and standards are maintained longer term. In closing, this award-winning elderly care business leader encapsulated what makes her work so important: “At its core, this is about people, relationships, and trust. Being able to support families through significant moments in their lives is a privilege, and it is something my family and I approach with a great responsibility and immense pride every single day.” Contact: Lucy Ledger Company: Towans Care Limited & Castle Hill House Web Address: https://www.towans.co.uk | www.castlehillhouse.net Aug22499 Most Influential Elderly Care Business Leader 2026 (South West England): Lucy Ledger & Values-Led Leadership Excellence Award 2026 he care homes Lucy Ledger, her family and her teams offer are beautiful, character properties set within established grounds and designed to feel like your home from home. Residents across them have described these settings as being more like a hotel than a traditional care home, but with the added reassurance of exceptional, compassionate care tailored to the specialised health needs of the individual. Working primarily with older adults and their families, Lucy recognises the importance of going beyond the provision of care, with emotional support instead being provided at every stage of what is undoubtedly one of the most important chapters in their lives. The long-lasting relationships formed as a result see the team serve as a support network, or extended family, for not just the individual in care but also their relatives, this support and relation with families can exist even once a loved one has passed away. As an owner, director, and nominated individual, Lucy’s multifaceted roles in this space see her hold responsibility for the strategic direction, compliance, culture, and operational performance of these care homes. Lucy’s success across these positions comes from a background in the family businesses for the last 12 years, and she has held numerous operational, managerial, and leadership roles over the years working her way up through the companies. She cites these experiences as being key in giving her a deep understanding of the industry, from the delivery of frontline care to maintaining regulatory frameworks. Whilst the operational side of her work is obviously key, it is her ability to understand people that really sets Lucy apart as a leader. The family-run nature of the businesses she is a part of has also shaped Residential care homes often feel cold, clinical, or institutional. It is critical for these settings to create an atmosphere of warmth and support to guide people as they navigate the significant life transition the move into care warrants, and this is exactly where Lucy Ledger comes in. Lucy is the owner and director of Towans Care Limited and director of Castle Hill House Limited, two independent, familyowned and run residential care homes specialising in respite, long-term, and end-of-life care for the elderly. We caught up with Lucy for more on her leadership following her recognition in this programme. T Towans Care Limited & Castle Hill House
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