Celebrating North bay Group’s £100M Portfolio Sale: A Landmark Deal in UK Social Care

By : Don Diamond Seasoned Care Consultant & Asset ManagerExpert in Mergers & Acquisitions | Care Compliance | Care Business Growth

I’m thrilled to congratulate Northbay Group on the successful sale of their six-care home portfolio across the North of England for approximately £100 million to a leading American fund.

As someone who has spent years in the care sector consulting, mergers & acquisitions, and asset management, I know firsthand how much dedication and strategic planning goes into building a high-quality, future-proof care platform. Northbay’s leadership and vision have truly set a benchmark in the industry, and this deal is a testament to their hard work and the strong demand from institutional investors for premium UK social care assets.

A Deal That Proves the Future of Social Care

The six care homes in this portfolio aren’t just standard properties—they are state-of-the-art facilities, designed to provide exceptional care in a luxury setting. They also incorporate top-tier ESG credentials, including solar PV systems and EV charging units, making them attractive, sustainable investments.

Full credit goes to the Northbay team for an excellent platform. This is further evidence of the very strong demand from overseas investors to deploy into the UK social care sector, ensuring much-needed care provision across the country.

Northbay will continue to operate these homes post-sale, which speaks volumes about the strength of their business model and the quality of their operations. Their ability to attract international capital while maintaining operational control is exactly what I have been advising my clients on—this is the future of social care.

Privileged to Work Alongside the Best

Having had the opportunity to interact with some of the key stakeholders involved in this transaction, I can personally say that the level of expertise, dedication, and strategic execution in this deal has been nothing short of exceptional.

I’m also excited to be working with some of these same stakeholders again as we prepare another portfolio for sale. This ongoing collaboration reinforces my belief that the right expertise, market insight, and structured approach are crucial to achieving high-value exits in this industry.

Small Providers Must Scale, Merge, or Exit—There’s No Other Option

This sale further validates what I’ve been saying to my clients for years:

✅ Exiting to a fund or high-net-worth individuals is the future of social care.✅ Small operators who don’t scale will struggle to survive.✅ April 2025 will be the final nail in the coffin for small providers who aren’t stepping up.

As Dr. Jane Townson OBE highlighted in her piece on the brutal reality of council fee rates, financial pressures on small providers are only going to increase. And as I detailed in “UK Care Business: Scale, Merge, or Sell”, operators who fail to act now will find themselves unable to compete.

Northbay Group: Leading the Way with Smart Growth

Beyond this transaction, Northbay Group is proving they understand the market inside out. Just four months ago, they exchanged on another site in Preston, with plans to start construction in early 2025.

This new development will set a benchmark for sustainability, targeting:

🏡 EPC A rating🌱 BREEAM Very Good certification🔋 Sustainable materials & technologies

They’re not just growing; they’re growing smart—and that’s exactly how care providers should be thinking right now.

A Personal Message to Care Providers: The Time to Act is NOW

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking:

"Oh Don, £100 million is a lot of money—you think we all have big pockets like you and your backers?"

Well, my dear friends, I didn’t come from money.

For those who know my journey in business, at one point, when I was still training to be a nurse, my best friend and I owned a courier company. We put everything we had into it, and when our van was stolen, I had no choice but to sleep in my office—I had already given up my student accommodation to make sacrifices for the business.

I’m sharing this because I want you to understand: a journey of a thousand steps begins with just one.

Start where you are.

Start with a £10K deal. Then £100K. Then maybe £400K. One day, you’ll be looking at a million-pound deal, and then you’ll keep moving up.

But let me be clear—don’t get into care for the money.

Get into care because you genuinely care and want to make a difference.

The money will come—but most of the time, the real opportunities come from building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships based on integrity.

I have managed assets worth over £200 million, but I wasn’t the owner. Yet, those relationships eventually paid off.

Final Thought: Build Gradually, Dream Big

If you’re in care and wondering, "Where do I start?", my advice is simple:

🔹 Start small, and you will grow from there.🔹 Surround yourself with the right people.🔹 Stay focused on your vision and build gradually.🔹 Don’t chase money—chase excellence, and the money will follow.

Your growth is only limited by how far your eyes can see.

Once again, congratulations to Northbay Group on this phenomenal achievement. This is proof that care providers who think big, plan smart, and execute well will always be ahead of the game.

Let’s keep moving forward together.

Don Diamond is a seasoned Care Consultant and Asset Manager with expertise in Mergers & Acquisitions. With a unique blend of nursing experience, care compliance excellent care management and care restructuring  acumen, Don specializes in helping care organizations achieve sustainable growth.

Contact Don via email-  Don@collincarter.co.uk