AS the owner of a home care company, providing support for families across North Yorkshire, Luke Norbury's working life has taken a vast change of direction from his early earlier career as an investment banker.

After six years in London, Mr Norbury completed an MBA at Warwick Business School, going on to work in commercial finance in the telecommunications industry for four years, before founding Home Instead Senior Care in York.

He was attracted to the idea of making a real difference to people’s lives in their own homes, as well as providing employment opportunities in the community and running a successful business at the same time.

Mr Norbury, and his wife Ann-Marie, have three young children, and found they understood how difficult it can be for family members who have to work but also have a loved one who needs support and care throughout the day.

By putting clients at the heart of every business decision, Mr Norbury and his team have found that the business has started to grow by recommendation and now has a team of 60 people providing care and support throughout York. The business operates from Home Instead’s office in Clifton Moor and a new office is opening in Malton to serve clients in the Ryedale area.

What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

"I would love the opportunity to review and reshape how social care is funded and how it is delivered across England.

"If I were to choose a completely different career path, I would like to revive my childhood ambition to be a vet. I think I’m a bit long in the tooth to retrain now though!"

Greatest achievement?

"I’m very proud of what we have achieved at Home Instead Senior Care, but on a personal level I’m hoping fulfil an ambition to climb Mt Kilimanjaro this year."

What makes you most angry?

"Selfishness and thoughtlessness – so many people think they are busier than anyone else. One of the things I learned from working with the York Dementia Action Alliance was that something as simple as giving more time to people who might have a reason to be slower (such as having dementia) makes a huge difference and it’s not really a lot to ask."

Biggest mistake?

"Not spending more time with my dad before he died."

What do you need to make life complete?

"I already have everything I need – my family is what it’s all about. Working on a daily basis with people that have lived at least twice as long as me has opened my eyes to what really matters in life."

Why do you make a difference?

"I care about what I do and feel strongly that if you’re going to do a job you should do it properly. I want to provide a service that I would be happy for my own family to receive."

Epitaph

"What next?"