The turnout at this year’s Care Show first day was truly impressive. The venue was alive with energy and a genuine sense of optimism and excitement in the air. It finally feels like the post-pandemic pessimism that has hung over events for the past five years is behind us.
In previous years, I’ve spent most of my time here attending talks, but this time I’m focusing on having meaningful conversations with exhibitors, potential customers and others who share a passion for innovation and collaboration in social care. My day has seen two talks delivered by CareLineLive which, rather than dwelling on the industry’s familiar challenges like recruitment and retention, focused on how we can move the sector forward, elevating its reputation and giving it the recognition it truly deserves.
It’s clear that to achieve this, home care providers must be given the right tools, support and strategic guidance to strengthen their operations and drive their businesses forward.
Marie Page’s guide for care providers: Getting found by Google and AI search
CareLineLive’s very own Marketing Manager, Marie Page was asked to step in at the last minute to deliver a tech talk. She chose to talk about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for beginners and gave insights on how providers can deploy keywords strategically across their websites to improve their performance on Google and other search engines. Her talk also covered the topical subject of AI Search (also known as Generative Engine Optimisation) where she explained how providers can get cited by AI platforms like Chat GPT and Gemini. If you missed it there is a recording of a webinar on the topic on YouTube.
Marie’s second talk focused on local search – how providers can use Google Business Profile to boost their chances of being seen when prospective clients search using phrases such as “home care provider near me”. Again this talk is available as a pre recorded webinar on our YouTube channel.
The Care Workers’ Charity
It was fantastic catching up at the Care Workers’ Charity stand! CareLineLive has loved supporting this amazing charity, including joining in their Wear It Orange Day to raise funds and shine a spotlight on the incredible work they do. Everything about this charity is focused on helping others and supporting those who dedicate their lives to social care.
I had a great chat about the events they host throughout the year, so keep an eye out for their 2026 events timetable coming soon. To see more about the invaluable work they do and how you can get involved, follow this link!
Education with the Digital Care Hub
The Digital Care Hub stand was buzzing with visitors keen to learn about their practical support for digital security. We discussed some of the challenges providers face around data security policies and highlighted the importance of:
- Understanding the specific issues providers encounter before creating or updating policies
- Ensuring policies are fit for purpose and accurately reflect their services
- Making policies clear and easy for staff to understand
They’re also hosting live interactive sessions throughout the show, be sure to visit Stand B11 and meet Cyber Sam, their very own ethical hacker!
Roar-some tech: Introducing Clive, our digital dinosaur
Clive has gained a roar-some amount of attention! Yes, a proper techno-T-Rex roaming Hall 3 of the NEC! While he may have a Jurassic-sized appetite for data and insights, he’s surprisingly gentle with exhibitors and visitors (no stomping on laptops, promise).
Clive has a knack for sniffing out the latest innovations, roaring in approval at clever ideas and occasionally getting distracted by anything that looks like a coffee cup. He may be old-school in name, but in the digital world, Clive is anything but extinct, he’s here to make social care smarter, funnier, and just a little bit more prehistoric.
With Clive on the team, CareLineLive proves that even in the fast-paced world of digital innovation, a little prehistoric charm goes a long way, bringing insight, fun and a giant roar of energy to the social care industry.
I’m excited to catch up with Clive again tomorrow to discover what surprises he has in store, whether it’s cutting-edge innovations from Edinburgh University or the latest updates from exhibitors.
