Entrepreneur Of The Year Challenge 2008

Mario was a regional finalist in The Bank of Scotland and Sunday Times Entrepreneur of the Year Challenge 2008.

The judges were impressed by how Mario has developed the organisation to offer choice and continuity of care and by the way he has helped shape the care sector. Mario has always been a leading figure in the social care sector. In 2008 he was named as one of the 50 most influential people in social care in the UK by the magazine, Caring Business.

What particularly impressed the judges was Mario’s vision for a new way providing dementia care and developing services in the community – with a hub at the centre and flexible community care to give dementia suffers and their familes the right care and support , when and where they need it.

Pendine Park’s plans were highly commended and the panel heard how the proposed business model for centres of excellence could be rolled out across the UK.

Among the first to congratulate Mario was Wrexham Labour AM Lesley Griffiths, who said: “The Entrepreneur Challenge is widely recognised as one of the top business awards in the country.

“For Mario to be the only Welsh finalist is a great achievement in itself. However, when you consider some of the competition he was up against you begin to appreciate what he has achieved.”

Mario said: “I was delighted reach the final and it has helped raise awareness of the issue we face as a society. Our plans for the centre of excellence (Bodlondeb) were never dependent on the competition and we are determined to make our vision a reality.”