Changing care
for good

Whether you’re a seasoned care home manager or a newly qualified nurse, we think you’re incredible. Spending each day lifting spirits, coordinating care and ultimately saving lives. But who’s looking out for you?

At Florence, we’re on a mission to make the healthcare industry simpler and fairer for everyone, in the UK and beyond.

No more extortionate charges, complicated processes or wasted shifts. Although we’re a tech company, we’re run by real people (which means everything we do is for our customers).

Our story

In 2016, Charles and Dan met. Observing the care industry from the inside, the pair were unsettled by what they saw. Unfair fees, outdated systems and a recruitment structure so broken that it created unemployed care professionals and overstretched care organisations. None of it made sense – and worst of all, no one else seemed to care. That’s when Charles and Dan founded Florence, as the much-needed solution to the care industry’s problems. The issues the pair observed then are the very same issues we’re actively solving now. By taking traditional processes and making them simpler, clearer and more powerful, we’re giving control back to care professionals and organisations, one shift at a time.

Meet the team

Dr. Charles Armitage

Co-founder and CEO

Dr. Charles Armitage

Co-founder and CEO

Charles is a doctor who traded his stethoscope for a spreadsheet to co-found Florence. His favourite part of being a doctor was the camaraderie with the nursing staff, who he describes as resilient and hilarious. Charles was motivated to start Florence after seeing the challenges healthcare workers face firsthand. Known for his problem-solving skills and love for data, Charles is determined to build a company that transforms lives. When he’s not leading Florence, you can find him gardening with his dog, Rosie, who is undoubtedly the real CEO.

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Dan Blake

Co-founder and COO

Dan Blake

Co-founder and COO

Dan co-founded Florence with a mission to fix rota gaps in healthcare. His eureka moment came while volunteering at a care home, where he saw an administrator manually inputting timesheets for hours each week. Dan’s background includes time as an army officer and a stint in financial services. Known for his boundless energy, Dan is driven to make Florence the leading technology for healthcare workforce management. At home, he juggles the antics of his three young sons with the support of his wonderful wife, Emma.

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Karen Ko

Chief Financial Officer

Karen Ko

Chief Financial Officer

Karen, an Oxford graduate and chartered accountant, brings over 15 years of commercial finance experience to Florence, including roles at Pleo, Babylon, Openreach, and KPMG. Inspired by her husband, an Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Consultant, Karen has seen the healthcare system’s pressures firsthand. She excels at making numbers understandable and prioritising what matters. Karen’s mission is to support Florence’s growth sustainably. When not crunching numbers, she enjoys family time and playful moments with her dog, ensuring a balance between spreadsheets and slobbery kisses.

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Lauren Rofe

Chief Operations Officer

Lauren Rofe

Chief Operations Officer

Lauren Rofe, formerly a strategic consultant at PwC, joined Florence to shake things up and be part of a mission-driven team. Passionate about cross-functional transformation, she leverages technology to tackle healthcare staffing shortages. Lauren oversees customer service, recruitment, compliance, account management and operational excellence at Florence. Known for turning chaos into clarity, she believes in collaboration and the power of a good coaching session. Her mission? To create a stellar user experience and scale Florence across the UK and beyond. Lauren is a dot-connector, an insatiably curious mind, and her team’s biggest cheerleader. Plus, she loves a fun fact and a hearty laugh!

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Shanice Daeche

Chief Marketing Officer

Shanice Daeche

Chief Marketing Officer

Shanice joined Florence driven by a passion for its mission. With nearly a decade at Hult International Business School as VP of Marketing, Shanice brings a wealth of experience and a creative flair. Her early experiences at her family’s healthcare business taught her the importance of quality care. Shanice is known for her humour and ability to create a positive workplace culture. Her goal is to build a world-class marketing team that elevates Florence’s profile. When not at work, Shanice enjoys theatre, live music, and travelling—sometimes all at once.

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Tom Wilshere

Chief Technology Officer

Tom Wilshere

Chief Technology Officer

Tom has always been fascinated by the intersection of healthcare and technology. As a long-time volunteer with St. John Ambulance, Tom has seen the challenges faced by healthcare staff firsthand. He previously held roles at innovative tech companies and brings that experience to Florence. Tom is passionate about using technology to solve problems and improve patient care. Known for his love of climbing and hiking, Tom spends his spare time scaling mountains and dreaming up tech solutions that could move them.

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Caroline Hayes

Head of People Operations & Governance

Caroline Hayes

Head of People Operations & Governance

Caroline is an Irish dynamo with 15+ years in people management, education, strategy, and project management, drawn to Florence’s mission to revolutionise healthcare. With family members in nursing, she knows the profound impact of healthcare professionals.

At Florence, she leads both the people operations and governance teams.

Caroline ensures all reported incidents are investigated thoroughly and with sensitivity. Caroline advocates for both the organisations we serve and our care professionals, ensuring a fair and empathetic incident management process. In addition, she oversees people programs, operations, training, and employee engagement. Caroline aims to make Florence a fantastic place to work by fostering growth, attracting passionate people, and ensuring everyone feels valued and supported

Outside work, she brings her vibrant touch to live music, theatre, and everything she does.

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Ross Burton

UK MD for NHS

Ross Burton

UK MD for NHS

Ross’s journey with the NHS started at 18 and includes roles as a carer and provider of services. His vision and values align perfectly with Florence’s mission to bring reform to NHS staffing. Ross brings deep NHS expertise and leadership to the team. His goal is to integrate Florence’s technology into NHS operations, making workforce management more efficient. Outside of work, Ross enjoys quality time with his family and believes in leading with both heart and humour.

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A year in headlines

Watch a recap of our recent milestones, from our international expansion and groundbreaking “Give a Shift” campaign to becoming a Sunday Times Top 100 company.

Want to join the revolution?

Browse the open roles we have here at Florence UK. Who knows… you might be just the person we’re looking for.