A YORK care home company is looking to expand its team after winning a new contract with North Yorkshire County Council.

Based in Escrick, Riccall Care has been awarded a four-year contract with the authority to provide domiciliary care services for the elderly, vulnerable and children with disabilities.

The contract wins comes as the independent, family run business is one of three finalists in the Family Business of the Year category in the The Press Business Awards, due to be announced tomorrow night.

Owned and operated by Gill and Tony Conroy, together with son-in-law Mike Richards, Riccall Care employs more than 230 local people and through the new tender is currently recruiting for new care support workers.

Mrs Conroy said: "We are very pleased to win the NYCC tender. I started Riccall Care with my mum and dad and, carrying on the work they began it’s wonderful to see how we are growing and extending our values to our clients, our great care team and those who train with us."

To win the tender Riccall Care fought off competition from numerous other providers, including national franchise agencies, through demonstrating their care training and systems, which include the use of smart phone technology to help ensure their care team doesn’t miss an appointment and can keep in constant contact with their base.

Riccall Care was established in 1894 by current director Gill Conroy’s parents Peter and Sheila Lawson, who after selling the family home used all their life savings to open a care home for the elderly.

As the home care side grew, in 1999 Mr and Mrs Conroy took on a second care home; a third in 2001, followed by a fourth in 2006.