When it came to a career in music Calum Gray marched to the tune of the Army for more than 33 years.
He joined up as a 16-year-old trumpet player, later became bandmaster of the Royal Hampshire Regiment and then director of music of The Band of The Rifles based in Winchester.
But, now, the 51-year-old Scot is hitting all the right notes as managing director of Caremark (Winchester and Eastleigh) – a company that provides personal and domestic care to people living in their own homes.
“Our aim is to do our level best to ensure that vulnerable people who require support in any shape or form can remain living in their own homes and maintain as high a degree of independence as possible,” said Calum.
The company, based in Eastleigh Council’s Wessex House business centre, has been trading for 18 months and provides services for both private and local authority clients. It employs four full time staff, 33 carers and has just been awarded approved provider status by Hampshire Primary Care Trust.
And while Calum says they are still very much “new kids on the block” he points to the support offered by being part of a national franchised network of branches.
More than anything he is delighted with his choice of new career and the way it has taken off.
He said: “I knew I wanted to leave the Army and set up my own business but it was only by leafing through a magazine that I came upon the world of domiciliary care.
“Seeing what it was about and the opportunities to build a business and provide vital support for people in our community ticked all the boxes immediately.”
For details of office space and business services at Wessex House telephone 023 8061 9722 or visit the website.