"There is huge demand for our service so we have rapid expansions plans."
Verity Batchelder
The home help company, launched in Southampton and Eastleigh in 2019, and now operating across Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex, connects older adults with hand-picked, vetted, caring Helpers from their local community, who provide their services for a reasonable hourly fee - building a new friendship and alleviating loneliness.
Good Life Sorted was inspired by founder Constantine Karampatsos’s grandmother Zoe, who stayed active and independent in her own home until she was 96 thanks to the help of her caring neighbour who provided company and a little help with the daily chores. There are 1.4 million older adults in the UK who are often lonely, according to Age UK. Good Life Sorted aims to help combat this and there are almost 200 Helpers already operating across the region, providing companionship and daily help to older adults.
Cofounder Verity Batchelder says, “We’re delighted to win this award in recognition of our different approach. This is about company, respect and empowerment, as our customers want to remain in their homes and might just need a little company and day to day support - not personal or medical care. There is huge demand for our service: we are being approached by several councils, so we have rapid expansions plans, and based on the success of the southeast region and the professionalism and warmth of our wonderful Helpers, we plan to launch in more regions over the next six months.”
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards launched in 2012 to celebrate the best of British enterprise, inviting founders from across the UK to apply with their entrepreneurial success stories. In partnership with Starling Bank, the awards ceremony was held at Grosvenor House in London on 22 November and saw 159 entrepreneurs across the UK recognised for their entrepreneurial stories and achievements over the last year.
Over the last decade, the Awards has celebrated some household names including Julie Deane OBE of Cambridge Satchel Co, Alan and Juliet Barratt of Grenade and Shaun Pulfrey of Tangle Teezer. Its most recent headline-grabbing success story is its previous winner, and speaker at this year's event, Steven Bartlett, who in May was announced as the youngest ever Dragon on BBC’s Dragons Den.
The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and leaders of influential UK businesses, including some of the prize winners from previous years.
Francesca James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, spoke highly of the entrepreneurial talent coming out of this year’s cohort: “It was fantastic to hear so many inspiring business stories after a difficult few years, and even better to have been able to invite all of our finalists to the in-person ceremony and celebrate together.
“With more than 1,200 attending, the evening was a real snapshot of the UK economy. The winners were thoroughly deserving, overcoming some stiff competition from their fellow finalists, and we look forward to welcoming them into our alumni community and seeing what they do next. It’s always exciting to watch our previous winners go on to achieve amazing things and I don’t expect any less from this year’s award recipients, who we will support all the way.”
