Pendine Park Manager Kate Ackerley Wins Wales Care Award 2026

Key Points

• Business Operations Manager at Pendine Park Kate Ackerley has recently won silver in Outstanding Service at the Wales Care Awards aged 35.
• The award marks 14 years of hard work in the background ensuring that the care services run smoothly in Wrexham by Pendine Park.
• She began at Pendine Park as a teenager working as a filer and gradually progressed to her current position.
• Kate Ackerley was nominated by Ann Serridge who has just retired as an Executive Manager of Pendine Park Training Academy.
• Her responsibilities included developing databases, refining administration procedures, and helping out with services in the period of the Covid lockdown.
• Kate Ackerley and her colleagues are based at Pendine Park’s head office, Bromfield House on Wrexham Technology Park.
• The awards ceremony was held at the Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.
• Pendine Park was founded in 1985 by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife Gill.
• Mario Kreft is also the founder of the Wales Care Awards which presented over 900 awards to social care professionals since 2003.
• Kate Ackerley’s mother Cynthia Edwards works at Pendine Park for 32 years already. Her husband Richard works there too.

Wrexham (Wales Times) November 14, 2026 — Pendine Park business operations manager Kate Ackerley has been recognised at the Wales Care Awards for 14 years of work that has supported care services across the organisation.

As reported by uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham.com, Ms Ackerley, 35, won a silver award in the Outstanding Service category after being nominated for her contribution to systems, administration and operational support at Pendine Park.

Who won the Wales Care Award?

Kate Ackerley, a business operations manager at Pendine Park, received the silver award in the Outstanding Service category at the Wales Care Awards.

The award acknowledged her role in developing services behind the scenes, enabling managers and care teams to focus on delivering care to residents.

Ms Ackerley began working at Pendine Park as a teenager, filing paperwork, before progressing through the organisation to her current senior operational position.

Why was Kate Ackerley recognised?

Ms Ackerley was nominated by Ann Serridge, the recently retired executive manager at Pendine’s training academy, in recognition of her wide-ranging contribution to the organisation.

According to Wrexham.com, her work included developing databases, improving administrative processes and supporting services during the Covid pandemic.

Pendine Park founder Mario Kreft MBE said Ms Ackerley had a “tremendous ability to find solutions, improve systems and develop new ways of working”.

He said her expertise and creativity had supported managers and teams to concentrate on “providing the very best care for our residents”.

What did Kate Ackerley say?

Ms Ackerley said receiving the award was a “lovely surprise” and a “really proud moment”.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Pendine for the faith they have shown in me over the years,” she said, according to Wrexham.com. “I’ve been given so many opportunities to learn, develop and take on new challenges, and I’ve always had the support and encouragement to grow in my role.”

She said one of the aspects she valued most about her job was that “no two days are the same”.

“Knowing that the work we do behind the scenes makes a real difference is incredibly rewarding,”

Ms Ackerley said.

How does her family connect to Pendine Park?

Ms Ackerley said her family was “incredibly proud” of the award, which made the recognition even more special.

Her mother, Cynthia Edwards, has worked for Pendine for 32 years, while her husband, Richard, is also employed by the organisation.

Ms Ackerley also described a personal connection to Pendine Park’s care services. She said her grandmother, or “nain”, had been cared for at Hillbury and Highfield, while her grandfather stayed at Gwern Alyn.

“Seeing the care they received showed me first-hand how much of a difference the people working in this sector make,”

she said.

Where is Pendine Park based?

Ms Ackerley is based with her team at Pendine Park’s head office at Bromfield House, on Wrexham Technology Park.

Pendine Park was established in 1985 by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill.

The organisation operates care services in Wrexham, with Ms Ackerley’s work supporting homes and departments across the business.

What are the Wales Care Awards?

The Wales Care Awards were founded by Mario Kreft, who is also a founder of Pendine Park.

According to Wrexham.com, the awards have given out more than 900 awards to social care workers since they were established in 2003.

The ceremony at which Ms Ackerley received her award was held at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.

What role does behind-the-scenes work play?

Mr Kreft said much of the work carried out by Ms Ackerley and her team happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt throughout Pendine Park.

He said the work included developing systems and processes and helping the organisation navigate the challenges of the Covid pandemic.

“From developing systems and processes to helping us navigate the challenges of the Covid pandemic, she has played a vital role in ensuring our services run effectively,” Mr Kreft said.

He added that Pendine Park was proud of Ms Ackerley’s achievements and grateful for what she brought to the organisation.

Background of the development

Pendine Park was established in 1985 by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife Gill. The organisation has developed care services in Wrexham, with its head office located at Bromfield House on Wrexham Technology Park.

The Wales Care Awards were established in 2003 by Mario Kreft. The awards recognise individuals and teams working across the social care sector in Wales and have presented more than 900 awards since their creation.

Ms Ackerley’s recognition reflects the role of operational and administrative staff in care organisations. Her progression from an administrative role as a teenager to business operations manager illustrates a 14-year career within the same organisation.

The award also highlights the contribution of staff whose work supports care delivery indirectly, including database development, administrative systems, process improvement and pandemic-related operational support.

Prediction: how this can affect care workers

For care workers and administrative staff in Wales, the recognition of a behind-the-scenes employee may reinforce the value of operational roles within residential and community care settings. The award highlights how systems, records, administration and planning can affect the ability of frontline teams to deliver care.

For Pendine Park employees, the public recognition of a long-serving colleague may draw attention to internal development opportunities, particularly for staff who begin in entry-level administrative positions and progress into management.

For the wider social care sector, the Wales Care Awards continue to provide a platform for recognising contributions beyond direct hands-on care. The awards have recognised more than 900 social care workers since 2003, indicating an ongoing emphasis on acknowledging a broad range of roles within the sector.