The seventh edition of CP Deals’ annual Healthcare Hacks event took London’s X+Why The Orchard by storm, cementing its place once again as a must-pencil date in Health & Social Care leaders and industry experts’ calendars.
The event attracted a full house of founders, CEOs, investors and advisers to the stunning B Corp certified venue overlooking Hyde Park.
The buzz in the room was tangible. Conversations flowed, lightbulbs sparked, and the insights from fast-growth Healthcare founders and sector M&A experts came thick and fast.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the biggest talking points and stories from three incredible speakers that defined Healthcare Hacks 2025.
BUILDING A VALUES-LED BUSINESS THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES
Sarah Wakeling, Founder & CEO of Positive Support Group (PSG), was the first speaker to take the stage.
Her organisation is firmly rooted in behavioural psychology, working to support people with complex needs in leading safer, more fulfilling lives – ultimately helping to ease the burden on the wider healthcare system.
PSG’s distinctive Five-Stage Framework is a person-centred model that takes into account an individual’s history, health, emotional needs, and aspirations. The approach is designed as a preventative measure to de-escalate potential crises before they occur, delivering life-changing outcomes for service users while also achieving substantial cost savings for the taxpayer.
Sarah’s motivation for founding PSG stems from her own personal journey. Embarking on studies in psychology led her to university – the first in her family to attend – where her passion for supporting disadvantaged individuals quickly emerged. She began her career in NHS Psychological Services, driven to improve understanding of complex behaviours and expand the evidence base for interventions. This pursuit of better outcomes took her to California, where she witnessed the transformative impact of high-quality behaviour support on people’s lives.
Upon returning to the UK, she launched what was then called Positive Behaviour Support Consultancy. The organisation quickly made a significant impact—reducing risk, enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable individuals, and supporting providers to earn outstanding CQC ratings, all while experiencing steady, sustainable growth.
As with many founder-led businesses, PSG carries the values of its founder at its core. Sarah’s principles are deeply embedded in the culture and operations of the organisation, guiding every stage of its development. PSG’s growth has been carefully and deliberately managed with what Sarah describes as “precision” and “care.”
“We hire for values and train for skills,” Sarah shared. “I drew a lot of inspiration from other sectors, consistently prioritised social value, and as a result, built a highly capable, specialised, and deeply human-centric business.”
A pivotal step in PSG’s continued evolution was selecting the right investment partner. Sarah met Andy Parker and the CP Deals team at the HealthInvestor Awards, and they soon emerged as trusted advisers. “I knew what I was looking for in a partner,” she explained. “A shared commitment to high quality, a pragmatic approach, quick decision-making, and strong interpersonal alignment. Working with Andy and his team was an incredibly positive experience.”
With investment now fuelling digital transformation initiatives and an enhanced sales function, PSG is poised for further growth. Under Sarah’s continued leadership as CEO – anchored by her unwavering, values-driven approach – that upward trajectory is set to continue.
SCALING WITH HEART, CULTURE & A LOT OF DEALS
Next up came Jo Malone, Founder & CEO of VetPartners, who shared her extraordinary journey from teenage veterinary assistant to leading a multinational, PE-backed business with £170m EBITDA.
Founded in 2015 after a wave of consolidation in the UK veterinary space, VetPartners has grown to over 850 sites in nine countries, completing an average of 30 acquisitions a year. But it’s not just about scale – Jo’s focus on quality, culture and integration has been key.
“Acquisitions are addictive,” Jo joked. “But you have to decide early what you’re going to integrate and what you’re not. Get the cultural fit right first – without that, the rest won’t work.”
Jo’s philosophy is grounded in authenticity. “You imprint yourself on your business,” she said. “Then you indoctrinate others with that same energy.” For her, culture isn’t lip service – it’s systemic. From banning the word “staff” to running hardship funds and field-based teams that work alongside local practices, Jo’s built a business in which values scale alongside revenue.
Today, she’s been working with private equity for over 10 years, but Jo was candid about her initial fears. “You need to find a cultural match,” she stressed. “They need to understand our purpose – to provide outstanding care and be a great place to work. I was worried initially about PE, but they’ve been a vital driver in our success.”
As VetPartners’ incredible tally of acquisitions unfolded, Jo made sure to meet each one face to face, gauging the cultural alignment from day dot and deciding early on how they could add operational value.
Jo’s hands-on approach wasn’t without its challenges, however.
“I arranged two acquisition meetings on the same day in Portsmouth and Plymouth,” she said. “And in Italy, you have to have lunch several times before a deal happens. COVID made that tricky, for obvious reasons.”
The business moved office four times in an attempt to keep pace with its lightning-fast growth journey, but it was Jo’s unwavering dedication to cultural and strategic alignment that made the tidal wave of acquisitions a roaring success.
Today, with over 13,000 employees across the globe, Jo’s leadership remains grounded and purpose-driven. To maintain such a bold culture and purpose through so many acquisitions requires an impeccable leader, and Jo told us she won’t be handing over the keys any time soon.
“I want to carry on being CEO until there’s someone better,” she said. “I’ve loved every moment – even if there have been a few sleepless nights.”
Whatever the future holds, Jo has moulded VetPartners into a shining example of a business that has stayed true to everything that makes it great through unfathomable change.
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN A CHANGING MARKET
Healthcare Hacks’ final speaker before a fast-moving panel session was back by popular demand. James Silk, Partner at CIL Management Consultants is a leading healthcare consultant and a go-to expert for private equity transactions in the sector.
James walked our eager audience through four phases of recent healthcare market evolution: pre-COVID, the COVID boom, post-COVID disruption (with a shout-out to Liz Truss) and today’s uncertain mix of political change and global economic pressures.
His “health warning”? The marketplace is a rollercoaster – but don’t ignore the opportunities.
“The demand for healthcare is absolutely there,” James explained. “An ageing population and systemic pressures mean the need isn’t going anywhere. But the challenge is how we meet that demand.”
He highlighted the staggering backlog in the NHS – a 2.3 million increase since the start of COVID in the number of referral to treatment pathways over 18 weeks – and a 20% drop in productivity since 2019, referencing the ONS (Office of National Statistics). As such, investors are hungry for solutions that unlock capacity, enhance access and reduce pressure.
“Social care could be a massive part of that solution,” James added. “And the more we invest in that, the better it is for businesses and patients alike.”
Technology and data will be vital in that, and James noted some top-performing businesses are light on optimising data. “If you want to raise finance or sell your business, the more evidence you can bring to the table, the better.”
Technological change and the deployment of AI are another key interest for investors, and if your business can help alleviate the systemic pressures on the NHS, you’ll be viewed in a positive light.
Despite a relative dip in PE activity since the sky-high levels of the COVID era, James remains optimistic for the sector, but he had some more advice for businesses looking to tap into the ongoing demand.
“Growth is obviously really important for investors,” he said. “But there is a point where if your business is growing fast and margins are high, people will still want to understand how sustainable this is and the outlook. The specialism you have and your adaptability are really important. What happens if the taps get turned off or policy changes? How will your business cope? The demand is there, but how can you unlock it? And how can you make the right decisions and choose the right partners when it comes to raising finance or selling your business? These are all important points to note that will support a potential deal.”
After James’ talk, it was clear: there are huge opportunities for the right operators and investors in Health & Social Care, particularly those who focus on quality, run their business with robust evidence, utilise technology and partner smartly.
Thank you to all our guests and speakers for another Healthcare Hacks that will live long in the memory. Roll on 2026.
