PharmiWeb.com - Global Pharma News & Resources
01-Dec-2020

UK HEALTHTECH START-UP CERA REACHES $120M REVENUE RUN-RATE IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS, CONFIRMS 5,000 NEW ROLES NATIONWIDE

  • Tech-enabled care firm cements its position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing businesses, reaching $120m in revenues and EBITDA positive in less than four years
  • Firm aims to double its headcount by announcing 5,000 new roles in the UK
  • Cera recently expanded into Scotland, and now employs more than 5,000 staff across 50+ UK offices

Monday 30th November, London: Cera, the UK healthtech start-up launched in 2016, today confirms it has reached $120 million revenues (run-rate) in less than four years, and the creation of 5,000 new jobs nationwide as it seeks to double its headcount. The firm, which leverages cutting edge digital and data technology to provide in-home care, is already EBITDA positive.

Marking its fourth anniversary since launch this month, Cera has already grown to become one of the largest care providers in Europe with several thousand employees across more than 50 offices in England, Scotland and Wales. The firm is currently delivering over 25,000 care visits per day, and has provided more than 2.5 million in-home visits throughout the pandemic. Cera has also established more than 100 partnerships with local government and the NHS to deliver digital-first care.

The firm’s commercial growth has been equally rapid, with Cera growing from zero to $120 million in revenues, with the business now being one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies. In addition to its revenue growth, Cera is already EBIDTA positive.

Having grown at such pace in a short amount of time, Cera is continuing its nationwide recruitment drive. The firm has already filled 5,000 new jobs at Cera this year, and today announces an additional 5,000 jobs for which it is actively seeking candidates over the coming months. Notably, Cera is seeking to attract new carers from industries that have been hardest-hit by COVID-19 and which carry transferable skills, such as hospitality, retail and airlines.

The firm, which was co-founded by its CEO and British entrepreneur Dr Ben Maruthappu, has raised more than $100 million in debt and equity funding to support its rapid expansion. Having recently launched its services in Scotland, it aims to accelerate its current growth rate and is forecasting sales to more than double by 2022.

Cera uses pioneering digital and data analytics technologies to monitor the health of users, which enables their families and medical professionals to track their wellbeing and any changes in their condition in real-time. The use of these digital systems means health concerns can be identified much quicker, and treatment agreed sooner.

Earlier this year Cera was selected as the UK Government Department for Health and Social Care’s recruitment technology partner – making its digital recruitment and training platform available to more than 24,000 care companies nationwide.

Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, CEO of Cera Care, commented:

“We couldn’t be prouder of our achievements to date, and how far we’ve come in such a short space of time. Regardless of the challenges we’ve faced, our vision for the business and our technology has always remained the same; to transform care for the better, to the benefit of all.

The past year has shone a spotlight on historic problems in the sector and reaffirmed just how important care is for society as a whole. Whilst the pandemic has presented us with immense challenges, it has also offered us the chance to accelerate transformation of the sector. Through our technology and continued expansion across the UK, we’ve been able to care for older and vulnerable people, support NHS services and boost the economy by employing thousands of new carers.”

The firm’s growth, and the creation of these new roles, comes at a time of unprecedented pressure on the social care sector in the UK. Those over the age of 65 years have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, particularly those requiring care. Cera’s ambition is to transform the care sector through technology, and to empower people to live longer, healthier and better lives.

Cera has confirmed that its latest recruitment drive will specifically target those who have lost work from industries hardest hit by the recession, and which carry transferable skills for care. Examples of such industries would include retail, hospitality, airlines and fitness.

Through Cera’s unique digital platform, successful applicants can be trained, certified and deployed into the field after a series of online training modules and in-person shadowing in as soon as ten days from their initial application.

Those interested in a role, and considering a rewarding career in care, are encouraged to visit: www.CeraCare.co.uk or www.JoinSocialCare.co.uk