BGF has made a multi-million-pound investment in CWC Group, a family-owned specialist care provider, based in County Down, Northern Ireland. The investment is the first BGF has made into a female-powered business, since it committed at least £300 million to the Invest in Women Taskforce’s funding pot, to support scaling female-powered businesses over the next five years.
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BGF backs CWC Group, as part of £300m pledge to female-led businesses
Based in Northern Ireland, the family-owned specialist care provider has secured a multi-million-pound investment, to support its growth plans.
11 August 2025
CWC Group’s Chief Learning & Development Officer Shauna Byrne, NXC Paula Kane, and Chief Executive Aisling Byrne
First founded in 1983, by sisters-in-law Monica Byrne and Imelda McGrady, CWC Group is a healthcare company that provides high-quality domiciliary, residential nursing and disability care, across seven locations throughout Northern Ireland. The business continues to be family-run, now operated by Monica’s daughters: Chief Executive Aisling Byrne and Chief Learning & Development Officer Shauna Byrne.
Commenting on the deal, Chris Nixon, Investor at BGF, said: “CWC Group has an exceptional heritage of providing high-quality care services to those in need. At a time when there is a shortage of quality facilities to meet demand in Northern Ireland, we’re looking forward to working with Aisling, Shauna, and the wider team, to expand their care home portfolio and continue to provide a vital service to communities across the province.”
BGF’s investment will support CWC Group’s acquisition of new sites and develop its service offering in specialist care.
The company has also welcomed Paula Kane to its Board, as Non-Executive Chair, and David Jones, as Non-Executive Director, to provide further expertise as the company scales. Paula was previously Founder and CEO of Ashdale Care Ireland, while David is an ex-Deloitte UK healthcare partner.
Aisling Byrne, Chief Executive of CWC Group, said: “This investment from BGF comes at an exciting time for CWC Group, and will enable us to take the next steps towards developing our care services for our service users and geographical footprint in Northern Ireland. We have a solid pipeline of new specialist care homes that will enable us to further support the NI Trusts with high-quality, dedicated care facilities for adults with specialist care needs.
“BGF’s investment, alongside the experience and know-how of our new Board members, will support the advancement of our ambitions, and retain exceptional levels of care and dedication to our service users that are at the very heart of our core values.”
Family-run CWC Group’s leadership team, sisters Aisling and Shauna Byrne
Andy Gregory, CEO of BGF, commented: “CWC Group has been built on deep expertise and a profound commitment to care. What stands out is not just the strength of its services, but the calibre and vision of its leadership. We’re proud for this to be our first investment, since making our £300 million commitment to female-powered businesses.
“As a founding member of the Invest in Women Taskforce, we have reaffirmed our determination to help shape a more balanced and representative entrepreneurial economy — one that reflects the full spectrum of talent across the UK.”
BGF’s pledge to invest in female-led businesses forms part of its overall commitment to invest £3 billion in high-potential businesses across the UK, over the next five years.
BGF CEO Andy Gregory speaking at our 2025 WEB (Women in Entrepreneurship and on Boards) Forum
Hannah Bernard, Co-Chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, added: “Our recent data found that all-female founded businesses in Northern Ireland received just 2% of the nation’s total equity funding in 2024, compared to 78% for all-male teams. The Invest in Women Taskforce has been working hard to change this trend and it’s fantastic to see the capital starting to be deployed into such brilliant businesses across the UK. More investments like this from BGF are critically needed to support economic growth.”
“The first deployment by BGF from the Invest in Women Taskforce funding pool is a huge moment”, said Debbie Wosskow, Co-Chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce.
“We set out to create a generational shift in how capital is allocated, and the shift is starting to happen. BGF has identified in CWC Group a purpose-led business in its provision of care, but also one led by incredible women for four decades, to become the Ireland-wide network it is today. These types of female-run businesses are right under the noses of investors and are being overlooked.
“But this is just the start. The trend has been declining for so many years that we need much more action and much more leadership from institutions to join us in doing the same — and reap the benefits.”
