A CWMBRAN woman who built up a successful care business after opening up her home to three elderly women nearly 20 years ago has won an award.

Gwyneth Virgo, 65, went on to open three different dementia care homes and created 150 jobs in Cwmbran after creating her business in 1995.

Ms Virgo, of Ty Canol, Cwmbran, won top prize in the residential care leadership and management category at the 2014 Wales Care Awards, held in Cardiff.

She said: “I’ve only just got over the shock of winning. I was surprised to win because there are a lot of inspiring people working in care throughout Wales.

“I know I work hard, but I’m sure they deserve to be recognised just as much as me”

Ms Virgo runs Virgo Care Homes with the help of her whole family. The homes specialise in dementia care and complex nursing needs, and care for nearly 100 residents.

The mother-of-three said: “For a long time, I had been the main breadwinner, working as an auxiliary nurse all over the place, local hospitals, GP practices, private work.

“Then one son joined the Army, the other son joined the police and my daughter married. So I needed to rethink my life.”

In 2000, she bought Hollylodge Residential Home, in Two Locks, with son Mark and daughter-in-law Nanette. In 2004, the trio bought Silver Birches Nursing Home on Victoria Street, Old Cwmbran, which was later named the Thomas Gabrielle Nursing Home in honour of Ms Virgo’s parents. They added a purpose-built dementia care home called Thomas Gabrielle EMI Residential Home, in 2012.

Mark is the company’s finance officer, while another son, Anthony, and Ms Virgo’s partner, Haydn Hussey, handle maintenance.

“It’s very much a family business,” Ms Virgo said.