Celebrating 30 years of the people behind Achieve together

I’m incredibly proud of the start we have made to 2026, our 30th anniversary year. Over the past three decades, Achieve together has grown and evolved significantly, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to people.

What began as a small organisation with a clear purpose is now a leading UK provider of specialist support for people with complex needs, helping thousands of people live happy, healthy and meaningful lives. This journey has been shaped by the dedication, compassion and professionalism of our team members, who have consistently adapted, learned and grown alongside the organisation. 

As we celebrate this milestone year, we are proud not only of how far we have come, but also of the strong, values-led culture that continues to guide us forward. 

We have already had a fantastic start to our anniversary year. For the second year in a row, Achieve together has been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 500 Employers by the Financial Times. We are also finalists in two categories at the prestigious HealthInvestor Awards, and co-production continues to thrive across our organisation. 

At the heart of our success are our team members, supported by a strong community of leaders. Our leader’s role-model our values every day. They build high-performing teams and create environments where open, honest conversations can take place. This culture of clarity, accountability and care helps ensure that Achieve together remains an employer of choice within the adult social care sector. 

Supporting our colleagues to grow and progress is a key part of building that culture. Over the past year, we have refreshed our operational Career Adventures programme and expanded it to include colleagues in our Community Hub and Home Manager roles. Career progression should be visible and achievable for everyone, and we are committed to making development pathways clear, supportive and accessible. 

We have also continued to strengthen the fundamentals that matter most: structured induction programmes, completed annual reviews, and a strong focus on high-quality supervision and meaningful one-to-one conversations. These regular opportunities to connect, reflect and plan development are essential in helping colleagues feel supported and confident in their roles. Encouragingly, we are seeing the positive impact of this work across the organisation, with stronger engagement and improved retention among both our managers and team members. 

Training remains a priority, with compliance across the organisation standing at over 98% for elearning and over 84% for face-to-face training.  Alongside this, we are taking a proactive approach to delivering the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on learning disabilities and autism. Through Unity, our pioneering co-production group, this training is delivered by people with lived experience, helping ensure our teams develop the skills, understanding and confidence needed to provide the very best support. 

Living our values continues to be central to our ambition of building one Achieve together culture. Over the past year we rolled out new reflective ‘Living our Values’ training to all colleagues and relaunched our diversity, equity and inclusion network and wellbeing forums as At:Bu, bringing fresh energy and focus to this important work. Our first At:Bu event brought colleagues together to share learning, celebrate differences and highlight what makes us stronger together. 

While we are proud of everything we have achieved, we know that recognising and valuing our team members remains essential. We remain committed to rewarding our teams and providing practical support that helps their money go further, ensuring they feel appreciated for the vital work they do every day. 

Our people are one of our greatest strengths. By investing in them, listening to them and celebrating their contributions, we are building not just a high-performing organisation, but a community where everyone can thrive and where the people we support have the very best teams around them. 

In the video below, a few of our dedicated team members share their experiences of working at Achieve together. Their stories reflect the passion, commitment and compassion that define our organisation and bring our values to life every day. 

As we mark 30 years of Achieve together, it is our people who will continue to shape the next chapter of our journey.