Following two years in the USA, where he researched various new business ideas, Mike returned to the UK and set up Barchester Healthcare – now one of the UK's most successful companies.

Barchester Healthcare has developed the premium positioning, offering a range of care products to mostly the private pay market and specialist markets. It is the only care provider listed in Sunday Times Top 25 Big Companies To Work For 2010 and is certified as one of Britain's Top Employers 2010. The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table (2010) ranks Barchester in 30th place. The company was also named as the second biggest employer on the league table.