Introduction

We are thrilled to announce that Apax has been recognised as the Winner of the prestigious Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2025 in the Development and Innovation category. This significant achievement was announced during a celebrated ceremony on Friday 14th March at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, hosted by Sally Lindsay.

This recognition comes at a time when new approaches are increasingly necessary to address the rapid rise in mental health challenges across society. As we continue to embrace digitalisation and develop agile ecosystems, this award validates our efforts to adapt quickly and respond proficiently to evolving demands, relieving pressure on our invaluable support system.

Standing alongside other remarkable finalists including UK3Lions CIC and The Hoppiness Project with Alive Activities, this award affirms our commitment to transforming supported housing through creative approaches and forward-thinking solutions for vulnerable adults.

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About the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards

The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards have become a highly respected fixture on the care sector events calendar over the past 11 years. These prestigious awards shine a spotlight on worthy individuals and organisations that improve the lives of people facing tremendous challenges across the UK.

Organised by Care Management Matters (CMM) and headlined by Markel UK, these awards specifically celebrate excellence and achievement within the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. The judging panel includes experts from various organisations, including Choice Support, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Association of Mental Health Providers, and the Royal Hospital Chelsea (RHC).

The Development and Innovation Award specifically honours organisations that have implemented pioneering approaches to address complex social challenges. Winners in this category have demonstrated:

  • Creative problem-solving in response to emerging social needs
  • Effective implementation of innovative programmes or services
  • Measurable positive outcomes for their beneficiaries
  • Sustainable approaches that can be maintained or scaled over time
  • A commitment to continuous improvement and learning

As Lisa Werthmann, Director of Creative Operations at CMM, noted during the ceremony: "We couldn't be more pleased for this year's winners, who have all gone above and beyond to support people in their communities... The not-for-profit sector's continued resilience and dedication to providing outstanding care and support despite the numerous ongoing challenges it faces is clear to see."

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Our Innovation & Development Journey

Our path to this award has been shaped by our core value of striving to be creative in thought, ideas, and action. We believe that innovation isn't just about implementing new technologies—it's about reimagining how support services can truly empower individuals on their unique journeys toward independent living and social cohesion.

Some key innovations that contributed to this recognition include:

  • Developing a digital transformation journey that has created an agile and collaborative ecosystem, enabling our support workers to spend more quality time with residents
  • Implementing our VR Wellness initiative, which transforms mental health recovery through immersive virtual reality experiences
  • Creating tiered support models that offer personalised pathways from high-support accommodation to semi-independent living
  • Establishing innovative partnerships with external agencies and charities to provide comprehensive support for vulnerable adults

Our digital transformation has been particularly significant. As noted in our corporate history, by 2023 we completed this journey, "enabling an agile and collaborative ecosystem. Apax is paperless!" This transformation has removed outdated manual processes and increased operational efficiency, allowing more time for high-quality support interactions with residents.

Throughout this journey, we've embraced the possibility of making mistakes along the way. By adopting a humble posture of learning and pursuing creative expression, we've developed a unique value proposition for all our stakeholders.

What This Award Means for Our Residents

At the heart of everything we do are the vulnerable adults we support. This award represents tangible benefits for our residents, who experience the positive impact of our innovative approaches every day.

Our innovations have enabled:

  • More personalised support plans tailored to individual needs and aspirations
  • Greater opportunities for residents to develop independence and life skills
  • Enhanced community integration and social connection
  • Improved access to digital skills training and technological resources
  • More effective pathways to education, training, and employment

The impact of our VR Wellness initiative exemplifies these benefits. Through strategic partnerships with technology providers Tripp and Meta, alongside technology solutions expert Insight, we developed an eight-week trial that yielded remarkable results:

  • A notable proportion of residents successfully ceased smoking
  • Participants reported significant improvements in thought patterns and mental outlook
  • Most remarkably, 40% of the residents who participated in the trial progressed to independent living arrangements

This success rate particularly stands out as it demonstrates the programme's ability to support residents in achieving greater autonomy and self-sufficiency—a core objective of supported housing services.

The Impact on Our Support Services

This recognition has also had a profound impact on our support services and the dedicated team that delivers them. Innovation has enabled us to:

  • Create more efficient systems that reduce administrative burden and allow support workers to focus on meaningful resident interactions
  • Develop more effective training programmes that equip our team with cutting-edge skills and knowledge
  • Establish clearer pathways for residents transitioning between different levels of support
  • Build stronger partnerships with external agencies and services
  • Measure outcomes more effectively to continually improve our support offering

Our ability to provide different levels of supported housing—from high support for highly vulnerable adults needing intensive 24/7/365 assistance, to medium support, low support, and semi-independent living—has been enhanced through our innovative approaches. This tiered system ensures that residents receive the appropriate level of support as they progress along their journey to independence.

As described in our range of services, we focus on "help[ing] residents build confidence, independence and stability, reducing possible future risk of homelessness." Our innovations have strengthened our ability to deliver on this promise through more effective and personalised support.

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Looking to the Future

While we celebrate this achievement, we recognise that innovation is an ongoing journey rather than a destination. This award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities in supported housing.

Our future innovation priorities include:

  • Expanding our VR Wellness initiative to reach more residents and explore new therapeutic applications
  • Developing additional digital tools to enhance resident independence and wellbeing
  • Creating more opportunities for residents to contribute to service design and improvement
  • Strengthening partnerships with education and employment providers
  • Exploring sustainable funding models to ensure the longevity of our innovative programmes

Our history demonstrates our commitment to continuous growth and development. Since our founding in 2010, we have consistently expanded our services, with new accommodations launched regularly and significant innovations implemented throughout our journey. This award marks not an endpoint but a milestone in our ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

As we move forward, we remain committed to our mission: striving for excellence to improve ourselves, transform services, enhance lives, and advance society.

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Final Thoughts

Winning the Markel 3rd Sector Care Award for Development and Innovation represents a significant milestone in our journey, but the true measure of our success lies in the positive impact we have on the lives of the vulnerable adults we support.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team, whose creativity and commitment make innovation possible; to our partners, who collaborate with us to create comprehensive support networks; and most importantly, to our residents, who inspire us every day with their resilience and determination.

We also wish to congratulate all the other winners and finalists across the various categories of the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2025. Together, we demonstrate the extraordinary impact that the voluntary and not-for-profit sector can have on addressing complex social challenges and improving lives across the UK.

This award reinforces our belief that by embracing innovation and development, we can create a future where vulnerable adults have the support they need to live independent, fulfilling lives as valued members of our community.

As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of supported housing, we remain focused on our core values and our commitment to excellence in everything we do. Through innovation, compassion, and dedication, we will continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we support.

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