A successful Norfolk company which runs two care homes for adults with complex learning disabilities has been sold to a major national operator.

Progress Pathways, which runs the two homes in Marham, has been sold to Achieve Together, a specialist firm which operates over 350 similar facilities in England and Wales, including eight in Norfolk and six in Suffolk, for an undisclosed sum.

Progress Pathways was founded in 2008 by current managing director Jane Drinnan-Payne and her late husband Robert Payne. As well as the two homes, the company also operates a domiciliary support/supported living service, aimed at supporting young people and adults with learning disabilities who are living in their own homes.

Mrs Drinnan-Payne commented, “I am very happy that the business, and the people for whom we care, are going to be in safe and experienced hands as part of the Achieve Together group.

“I am very grateful to Lovewell Blake for their expertise in helping us find the right buyer and for working tirelessly to support me along the way. Birketts have provided excellent legal support to ensure that the transaction proceeded smoothly to completion, with the team providing down-to-earth advice all the way along.

“The sale of a business like this is not a simple matter, as it’s about the welfare of our residents as well as the business aspects, and I am able to step away from the business confident that the excellent levels of care delivered by its staff will continue.”

Hannah Douglas of Lovewell Blake’s Corporate Finance team, which used its extensive experience in the sector to find the purchaser and negotiate the sale, said, “It was very important to find a buyer which had the right expertise and experience to continue to deliver the quality care for which Progress Pathways is known.

“Achieve Together has a national reputation, and we are very pleased to have played our part in securing the future of the two homes in Norfolk, their residents and the staff.”

Ed Savory, corporate partner at Birketts, added, “I could not be happier for Jane, who deserves this so much. She has been such a delight to advise, and her patience is incredible. It is always fun working on transactions alongside Lovewell Blake, who have impressed with their commercial nous, and showed real care for Jane.

“I think it is testament to both firms that we have been able to finalise and complete a transaction of this nature during the COVID-19 lockdown.”

Other members of the Birketts team who worked on the sale were Shereen Semnani, Macauley Alsford, Sam Greenhalgh, Andrew Ridout, Emily Mills and Ben Clarke.