With years of experience both at Progress and in the wider Care Industry they really are an interesting bunch. If you would like to know more about our team you can get in touch with us here.
Bal Dhanoa MBE
Chief Executive Officer
Bal is the driving force of Progress, which she founded in the year 2000. With a professional background spanning over four decades in health and social care, including roles in public, voluntary, and private sectors, Bal’s deep expertise and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped Progress into a leader in innovative care solutions. Her vision is evident in the design and planning of all residential homes across the group, which are crafted to the highest standards. Bal believes that one should always build homes that you or your loved ones would want to live in.
Bal’s strong leadership provides guidance and support to a highly skilled and motivated senior executive team, who drive the operational and commercial strategies of Progress. Progress has consistently achieved ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ ratings across its services, a testament to the standards Bal upholds.
A recognised and respected businesswoman, Bal has received numerous prestigious awards, including the recent honour of Business Woman of the Year. Her commitment extends beyond her professional achievements; she is a dedicated philanthropist supporting charities that align with her values, and she has long sponsored vulnerable children in Africa and India, helping them access education and improve their communities.
Most recently, Bal was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 for her Services to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs—an accolade that she is particularly proud of.
As a family woman, outside of running the business, Bal enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is an avid gardener who loves to explore the world when she can, trying new delicious delicacies on the way.
Raj Dhanoa
Chief Financial Officer
After establishing Progress in June 2000 with Bal, Rajinder handled Finance, Payroll and HR. Thanks to having a competent team in place and excellent growth, Raj has been able to step back from operational work. He now sits on the Progress board and focuses on project management of the new properties. He handles all aspects of development pre-completion. As well as asset management, he manages the overall company finance and legal compliance.
Since a young boy, Rajinder has loved playing percussion music everywhere he could; on doors, the school desk and even on metal dustbins. He had the opportunity to join a band with some older locals and was able to travel; playing at a variety of locations, from temples in the Midlands to cultural shows all over the world. Meeting his old band mates is his favourite way to let off steam.
Claire Rogers
Managing Director
Claire’s career began as a trainer in the fitness industry before going on to compete as a bodybuilder. After a painful back injury, Claire moved into various retail management roles. Feeling unsatisfied, she took a career leap into care and started working at a school for children with special needs. She found the industry to be the right fit for her; somewhere she could make a difference.
In 2002 Claire applied for a Senior Support Worker role at Progress and quickly progressed to Deputy Manager and subsequently a Registered Manager over two services. Having progressed throughout the company and then grown into Interim MD role, Claire became Managing Director in 2015; leading day-to-day operations and helping shape Progress into the business it is today.
Her responsibilities include upholding the values of the company; care, trust, respect and progress. Claire ensures Progress as an organisation doesn’t drift from its original purpose; to never compromise on the quality of care and always be a listening and evolving business, that keeps people at the heart of everything it does.
Claire is very family orientated, is married with a teenage daughter to whom she devotes her time outside of work. She has two large dogs which she enjoys walking and when not doing that, can be found wild swimming, in lakes and rivers around the UK. As a family, they enjoy pulse-raising experiences on holidays, such as zip wiring, quad biking or braving a hot air balloon.
Mike Butler
Board Advisor
Mike started his career in South Africa, continuing in the UK with Deloitte in audit, then management consultancy. He left Deloitte to take up a Finance Director position with the NHS, before taking on senior director roles in the private sector, providing business process out-sourcing and consultancy services into the public sector and ultimately establishing, building and selling his own business.
Mike is currently owner and managing director of Peopletoo, who deliver strategic and operational transformation across local government and the NHS, including Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Integrated Care. Mike has wider expertise in finance, digital technology, property services and commercial procurement, as well as a wealth of experience in growing start-up and established SMEs. Mike is also a Trustee at Newport Live, a leisure and cultural Charitable Trust that also does community outreach sports development programmes for children and young adults. Mike is Chair of the Strategy Committee for the Trust.
Mike joined Progress towards the end of 2021 and brings substantial commercial experience of local government and the private sector, to support the Board and senior management team in developing and delivering on our strategic ambitions.
For relaxation, Mike follows all sport, particularly cricket and rugby, and enjoys cooking and holidaying in South Africa.
Angeline Freer
Head of Corporate and Commercial Services
Angeline’s business career spans over more than 30 years, across the financial services, education, health and social care sectors. This has included every size and stage of organisation, from start-up (including her own) through to global corporations.
She moved into the social care sector in 2011 and was thrilled to take the opportunity to join Progress in 2015, leading on business development, marketing, contracts and building capacity of foster carers and staff. Angeline was delighted to widen her remit to lead on all head office shared functions in 2019, bringing top class support to our operational colleagues and therefore the young people we support.
Angeline joined the Progress Board in 2021 and was appointed to the Board of the Children’s Homes Association at the start of 2024. She feels honoured to be able to share her expertise more broadly to further support the sector she is passionate about.
Angeline’s qualifications include an MBA from the University of Leicester, and CMI Level 7 Strategic Management & Leadership, along with Change Management (foundation and practitioner), CIPD Training Practice, and Prince2 Project Management (foundation and practitioner). She completed the Institute of Directors’ Role of the Director and the Board training to support her in undertaking her Board responsibilities.
Outside of work, Angeline enjoys cooking and walking her two dogs.
Tina Bhardwaj
Head of Children’s Services
With over a decade’s worth of fostering experience, Tina is the Fostering Manager here at Progress. Her overall responsibilities are to ensure the smooth running of the Fostering service. By providing her team ongoing training and support, she enables them to operate to the best of their abilities. Her hard work ensures children and young people are kept safe within their foster placements. She does this by being an integral part of the entire process. She monitors the inbound referrals of children and matches them to suitable Foster Carers, as well as collaborating with the Business Development Team to recruit the right people.
To wind down, Tina enjoys cooking, going to the theatre and working out at the gym. She loves experiencing new cultures, making an effort to travel when she can.
Phil Mcdonald
Head of Adult Services
Phil started out in his working life as a tax man. Unfulfilled, on the recommendation of his sister already working in the care sector, he took a leap of faith to do the same and never looked back. He began in children’s services working alongside young people with Autism and behavioural support needs. Wanting to make more of a difference, he took a progressive step towards a senior role and transitioned into adult services.
Phil joined Progress, as a Senior Residential Support Worker at Oak Cottage before moving into his first managerial role at Regis House. This exposure to the fast-paced and varied short breaks care model further caught Phil’s passion, and he took on the development of the Hub Services in the Service Development Manager role. More recently, Phil has moved into the role of Head of Adult Services, bringing with him the ethos of helping the people we support to achieve their life choices and independence.
Outside of work, Phil has three children and enjoys spending time with them. He is a self-confessed ‘nerd’ and enjoys reading, movies, gadgets and football. Phil is a child at heart and can often be found playing at home with his kids, building Lego, or enjoying a relaxing break in Wales to get away with his family. Days on the beach and walks by the river are his favourite.
Harjinder Deo
Finance Manager
After completing a Management Degree covering aspects of IT, Finance and HR, Harjinder, who likes to be known as Harry, decided to pursue a Finance career. Setting his eye on working for a big corporate company, he was fortunate in securing a role at Barclays Bank. After ten years in banking, he spent four years in insurance before he and his family decided to relocate above the M25 corridor to Wolverhampton. It was then in 2012 that Progress came onto his radar.
Harry took a step away from the corporate world where he was just another number, transferring his knowledge and experience to an organisation he could grow with and develop as an individual. As Finance Manager, Harry is responsible for money in and out of the organisation.
As a dad of two very active boys, Harry finds himself spending a lot of time bouncing between various clubs and activities, as well as being an avid football supporter himself. He is a dedicated Liverpool fan who likes to try and make the games when he can.