Gillian Ashcroft, stands at the head of Exceptional Care and Think Tank Academy, embodying the essence of a serial entrepreneur and an inspiration in the field of social care. With a trajectory marked by academic excellence, multi-award-winning entrepreneurial ventures, and a deep commitment to making a difference, her journey is remarkable and she has grand plans for the year ahead.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Gill demonstrated entrepreneurial flair through UK property and US land investments. Her diverse portfolio includes retail, beauty, energy, and a successful Family Entertainment Centre. She’s a major shareholder in Hectron International, a water filter innovator, and Alphagenix, an innovative TRT and HRT company.

It was these successes and a desire to effect positive change in people’s lives, that led to her path into the care sector. Nearly a decade ago, at only 26, she secured her first residential childcare home, becoming one of the youngest-ever responsible individuals—a testament to her exceptional leadership qualities. Exceptional Care, an organically grown residential childcare provision, emerged as one of her most successful companies, providing therapeutic and nurturing homes for many young people.

Think Tank Academy: Empowering Excellence in Care

Gill’s entrepreneurial ventures extend beyond care provision, after seeing a gap in high-quality therapeutic-led training, she founded Think Tank Academy, a leading health and social care training hub. The academy, through 2D and 3D animation, interactive AI powerpoints, VR, videography and engaging face-to-face, e-learning, and virtual training, offers a unique learning experience with bespoke packages to enable providers to induct, train, and qualify their staff with CPD accreditation. Think Tank Academy is distinguished by its significant investment in a state-of-the-art Learning Management System (LMS), a testament to Gill’s commitment to transforming care provision through enhanced training quality and frequency.

National Recognition and Initiatives for Change

Gill’s mission is rooted in changing the lives of children and adults globally by improving not only the provision of care but all through quality of services and support offerings, policy change, upskilling professionals and raising awareness. Her dedication to driving policy change and advocating for vulnerability remains unwavering. She recently launched the groundbreaking national conference, ‘See It Through the Eyes of a Child,’ bringing together industry luminaries to address critical issues in the sector. Building on this momentum, she introduced the first-ever Combined Care Consortium—a pioneering initiative aimed at ushering transformative change in the sector and beyond through Westminster. With a track record in this area, she was recently involved in policy change for online gambling through YGAM.

Community Impact and Future Vision

Gill goes beyond business success, actively contributing to job creation in the North-West community. Engaging in charity work, she supports various causes like The Hive, the Liberty Centre, Caudwell Children, The WhiteChapel Homeless and Housing Charity, NSPCC, and Changemakers, a group driving policy change on child abuse. She serves as a patron for the LGBTQ and Collaborative Group in Liverpool, emphasising the importance of collective support. Gill’s commitment to innovation and community engagement earned her the Business Enterprise Innovation Award 2020 from Edge Hill University.

Gill is set to launch her radio show, ‘The Real Show,’ with Liverpool Live Radio. Looking ahead, she envisions expanding her care business globally, making a lasting impact on vulnerable lives. Think Tank Academy aims to be a leading training provider, focusing on therapeutic input and excellence in care provision. In 2024, Gill initiated the CCC (Combined Care Consortium), bringing industry stakeholders together to discuss and present cases for policy change in Adult and Child Care to Westminster.

Awards and Recognition

Gill’s exceptional contributions garnered numerous awards, including two GBEA Awards in 2023 (Service and John Caudwell Award). Notably, she received a Highly Commended at the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards 2023 and ranked 6th in the Social Care Top 30 awards. She was nominated for Outstanding Contribution to Social Care at the Great British Care Awards 2023, and she achieved a Highly Commended Winner at the EdgeHill Innovation Award 2020.

Professional Leadership and Community Engagement

Gill’s influence extends to her role as a Board of Advisors member at Edge Hill University and a previous Board member of CHA (Children’s Homes Association). These positions underscore her commitment to shaping the future of the care sector and supporting educational opportunities for young people.

Gillian Ashcroft’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship, education, and a deep commitment to social care. Her impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals, coupled with her visionary leadership, positions her as a trailblazer in the sector, driving positive change and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of social care and education.