Hesley stands strong despite cuts

Specialist care provider The Hesley Group weathered the storm from the knock-on effects of government cuts posting a steady set of results for the year ended 31 December 2011. Turnover rose 2.4% to £35.8m from the previous year’s £34.9m and operating profit stood at £5.9m, £1m more than 2011’s figure due to a reduction in administrative costs. Average occupancy levels for its facilities supporting people with autism and complex needs and severe learning difficulties, including day and respite places, stood at 152 compared to 148 in 2011. Hesley’s board said the company had responded to ongoing restrictions on commissioner’s budgets that have led to price pressures on providers by monitoring its cost base and reducing costs wherever possible. They added: We are fortunate in having invested heavily in all of our sites over the past six years and, as a consequence we enjoy a high quality estate with excess capacity that we can now fill with minimal capital expenditure being incurred. Furthermore, our core central services are able to cope with additional occupancy with little or no need for extra resource, manpower or otherwise.’