We’re delighted to announce that our Chief Operating Officer, Cheryl Guest, has been named a finalist for the Outstanding Partner Award at the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards (WAGS) 2026. What makes this recognition extra special is that Cheryl was nominated by one of our customers, PerCurra.
About the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards (WAGS)
The Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards, also known as the WAGS Awards, celebrate the women leading, innovating and making a lasting difference across the sector. With more than 85% of the social care workforce being female, the awards shine a light on the achievements of women in every role, from frontline care to leadership and the partners who support providers.
Run by Care Talk and the Kent Integrated Care Alliance, the awards aim to promote gender equity and celebrate female leaders across the whole of social care, including services for older people, people with learning disabilities and autism, and children, young people and families. They also recognise that many women in the sector juggle the challenges of family life alongside their careers. You can find out more on the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards website.
This year, the organisers received an exceptional number of high-quality nominations. The category winners will be chosen by an independent judging panel led by the awards’ Patron, Dr Cecilia Anim CBE, former President of the Royal College of Nursing.
The Outstanding Partner Award
The Outstanding Partner Award recognises exceptional women who provide quality products and services to social care. Judges look for a proven track record in quality, innovation and partnership working that delivers positive outcomes for the customer.
For a home care software company, it’s the category that matters most to us. Our software is only as good as the partnership behind it, and this award celebrates exactly that.
Nominated by a customer
Cheryl was put forward by Gill Heppell, founder of PerCurra, who described her as
“a trusted adviser, a skilled problem-solver and a genuine partner”.
In her nomination, Gill highlighted Cheryl’s ability to listen and understand the realities of home care, and her talent for bridging the gap between care teams and technical specialists, so that both client and developer feel heard, respected and understood.
Most award entries come from the nominee’s own organisation. To be nominated by a customer, and then shortlisted for the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards by an independent panel, is something the whole Unique IQ team is incredibly proud of.
About PerCurra
PerCurra was founded by Gill Heppell in 2008 and has grown into a respected home care provider with services across the UK. From visiting and overnight care to live-in and specialist support, PerCurra helps people stay safe, happy and independent in their own homes. Their ethos, “excellence through care”, shines through in the way their teams support every person they care for. We’re proud to work alongside PerCurra, and grateful to Gill and her team for recognising Cheryl in this way.
Cheryl’s role at Unique IQ
Cheryl leads the operational and commercial direction of Unique IQ, bringing together our commercial, operations, marketing and people teams so the business delivers for every care provider we work with. With more than 20 years’ experience in the technology sector, she combines a sharp commercial eye with a genuine understanding of the pressures facing care providers.
She is also a passionate advocate for women in social care and technology, championing flexible working and greater opportunities for women across the sector. It’s a cause that sits at the heart of the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards, and one Cheryl is proud to share.
“I was thrilled to be nominated, and to now be named a finalist is beyond anything I expected. I’m completely over the moon! A huge thank you to Gill and everyone at PerCurra. To be recognised by a customer means more than I can say, because partnership is at the heart of everything we do. I hope this also shows other women that there’s a place for them in care technology, and I’ll keep doing all I can to open doors and create opportunities for women across our sector.”
Cheryl Guest, Chief Operating Officer, Unique IQ
What partnership means to us
Cheryl’s nomination reflects something we care about deeply. We’ve never seen ourselves as just a software provider. We work alongside care providers as partners, taking the time to understand their challenges and finding practical solutions that give care teams more time for the people they support.
Join us at the WAGS Awards 2026
The winners will be announced at the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards Gala Ceremony on Tuesday 1st December 2026 at the Hilton London Bankside, hosted by Ashley James. We’ll be there to cheer Cheryl on and celebrate the inspiring women recognised across social care.
Congratulations, Cheryl, and good luck to all the finalists! Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram for updates on the night.
Discover the Unique IQ difference
Want to see what working with a true partner looks like? Call us on 0800 888 6868 or book a demo to find out how our home care management software could support your service.