GM Chamber members St Ann’s Hospice closed trading on the London Stock Exchange yesterday. They received the honour after being crowned Winner of Winners at the 2021 Chamber Business Awards.
Now in its 18th year, the Awards are one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, highlighting the role of business in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities.
St Ann’s Hospice, members of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, is one of the oldest and largest adult hospices in the country, outside of London. It was founded in 1971 and today its three sites – the Neil Cliffe Centre, St Ann’s Hospice Heald Green and St Ann’s Hospice Little Hulton – provide a complete range of care for both patients and their families. This care is based on the simple idea that a person who has a life-limiting illness or is dying – is still very much a living person, with unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
They were crowned winners after the judges praised their commitment in in operating and solving urgent and immediate problems in an extremely challenging ‘market’ and wider environment.
Speaking about their win, Rachel McMillan, CEO of St Ann’s Hospice, said:
“The covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone. At the very outset of the pandemic our teams quickly sprang into action, every department came together. They supported each other and used their resilience and creative thinking to be innovative and re-think how they could carry on delivering our services so people could still access the specialist care we provide. We led change, we were bold and brave, and we were stronger together. It is a huge privilege to accept this award on behalf of the organisation, one that I am immensely proud to be part of. I am so proud of everyone at St Ann’s, who found solutions, supported each other and made things happen despite the huge challenges we faced.”
BCC Chair Sarah Howard said:
“If ever there was a worthy winner of this award, then St Ann’s Hospice is it. The difference its staff is making in people’s lives on a daily basis is already incredible. But the speed and inventiveness with which it then responded to its funding crisis following the impact of Covid-19 was truly phenomenal. In doing so it ensured its patients, friends and families continued to receive the support they needed at a time of great uncertainty.”
“Congratulations to the team at St Ann’s Hospice. We wish them every success, and hope they enjoy the opportunity to close the prestigious London Stock Exchange.”
To find out more about St Ann’s Hospice, visit their website: https://www.sah.org.uk/