Culduthel Care Home named Elderly Home of the Year at Dunblane Hydro ceremony
Meallmore has recognised carers, nurses and support staff at its 2026 Colleague Awards, after receiving 2,150 nominations, the highest number in the awards’ 15-year history and up almost a quarter from last year. The ceremony took place at the Dunblane Hydro, with 230 people attending from Meallmore’s 27 care homes across Scotland.
The awards celebrate colleagues who have made a positive impact on the lives of colleagues, residents and their family members over the past twelve months. Categories cover nursing and care, meaningful activities, hospitality, leadership, and home support, with a new Deputy Manager of the Year award introduced for 2026 to recognise the leadership, reliability and daily support that deputy managers bring to residents and colleagues.
Alongside the category prizes, 24 colleagues received long service awards: 11 for 20 years of service, six for 25 years, and seven for 30 years. A special Chairman’s Award was presented to Bruce Mason, Care Home Manager at Kinmylies Lodge Care Home in Inverness, recognising his contribution to mental health nursing in the Highlands and his 30 years of service with Meallmore.
Culduthel Care Home in Inverness was named Elderly Home of the Year, with nominations describing a whole-team approach involving residents and families as their needs and wishes change. Alderwood House in Dumbarton won Specialist Home of the Year, with the team praised for building trust, supporting wellbeing and relationships, and helping each resident move forward at their own pace.
All of Meallmore’s 2,000-plus colleagues were eligible for an award, with nominations submitted by residents, families, visiting professionals and team members in the weeks before the ceremony. Category winners received a certificate, trophy and a choice of prize, including an Apple Watch, a Nintendo Switch, Apple AirPods, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones, a Sonos Smart Speaker, a Ninja Air Fryer, a Shark Air Styler & Hair Dryer, a ghd Professional Hair Straightener and a De’Longhi Coffee Machine.
Cillian Hennessey, CEO of Meallmore, said: “The record-breaking response to this year’s awards is the perfect way to mark 15 years of our Meallmore Colleague Awards. Each nomination showcases the compassion, dedication and teamwork that define our Meallmore community and the impact our colleagues have on the lives of our residents, their families and the wider team. This is what makes Meallmore an exceptional place to live and work. Reading the nominations makes us so incredibly proud – all 2,150 of them!”
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He added: “These annual awards are a celebration of our shared achievements and give us much-deserved pride, purpose, and optimism for the coming year. I’d like to congratulate all the finalists, and of course, our very worthy winners who have blown us away, as always.”
Meallmore said it is committed to providing high quality care and support, investing in staff training, engagement and communication. The company operates 27 homes across Scotland: 21 for older people, five for adults with mental health needs and one for adults with learning or physical disability. Three new homes are in development, for Aberdeen City, Broughty Ferry and Clarkston.
