Meet The Preston Team

Muhammad Iqbal

Managing Director

Muhammad brings extensive experience across HR, training, operations, customer service and business management to his role as Managing Director of Caremark Preston. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in HR, area management and learning and development, with a strong focus on leadership, employee engagement and staff development.

He holds a Master’s degree in Psychological Contracts, a specialist area of Human Resource Management, alongside a range of professional and managerial qualifications. His career has included working with multinational organisations, delivering lectures and building successful businesses within the local community.

Inspired by personal family experiences, Muhammad entered the care sector with a vision of delivering genuinely person-centred care built on quality, trust and meaningful relationships. He believes great care extends beyond practical support and should promote dignity, independence, companionship and wellbeing.

Having previously built and sold a number of businesses in the UK and abroad, Muhammad is passionate about growing Caremark Preston into a service that families can trust. He is also committed to encouraging more people, particularly younger generations, to consider rewarding careers in care.

Outside of work, Muhammad enjoys cricket, squash, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Muhammad’s philosophy: “You can do a lot more than you think. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, ask for help and keep moving forward.”

Michelle Hawley

Registered Manager

Michelle has over 30 years of experience in health and social care and has dedicated her career to supporting others. Beginning as a Care Assistant in the 1990s, she progressed through a variety of roles, including Deputy Manager, Care Coordinator and now Registered Manager.

Since joining Caremark Preston, Michelle has achieved her Level 5 qualification and continues to champion care as a skilled and rewarding profession.

Alongside her care career, Michelle spent 16 years with Lancashire Constabulary as a paralegal and later as a Volunteer Officer, recruiting, training and supporting volunteers across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. She has also worked within the charity sector, raising funds and organising events for a sight loss charity.

Passionate about creating a positive workplace culture, Michelle leads with kindness, energy and humour. She is committed to ensuring colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to deliver outstanding person-centred care.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys playing netball, walking her dachshund Bongo and planning future trips to the Maldives. She’s firmly team coffee, loves summer and remains convinced pineapple has no place on a pizza.

Michelle’s motto: “If you love your job, you never work a day in your life.”

Sammi Calvert

Field Care Supervisor

Samantha, known to many as Sami, has built her career around supporting people and helping them live independently. Beginning her journey with Sue Ryder, she has gained experience across a range of care settings and developed a strong understanding of the difference great care can make.

As Field Care Supervisor at Caremark Preston, she supports both customers and care staff, ensuring high standards of care are maintained while helping colleagues develop and succeed in their roles.

Sami has achieved her Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care and is currently working towards her Level 3. She is passionate about treating people with dignity, compassion and respect, and values being part of a close-knit team that shares the same commitment to making a difference.

Described as caring, fun and sociable, Sami brings warmth and positivity to everything she does.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two boys, socialising with friends and the occasional game of bingo. One day, she hopes to visit Australia and New Zealand.

Her advice: “Don’t eat soup with a fork.”

Tahira Anwar

Care Assistant & Dementia Champion

Tahira joined the care sector with a genuine desire to help others and quickly discovered how rewarding the role can be. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with the people she supports and understands how even small acts of kindness can make a significant difference to someone’s comfort, dignity and independence.

Alongside her role at Caremark Preston, Tahira works as a beautician, bringing excellent people skills and a natural ability to help others feel comfortable and valued.

As Caremark Preston’s Dementia Champion, Tahira promotes greater understanding of dementia and supports a compassionate, person-centred approach to care. She is currently studying towards her Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care to further develop her skills and knowledge.

Helpful, cheerful and thoughtful, Tahira brings a calm and positive presence to the team.

Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, listening to music and exploring new places. She hopes to visit Saudi Arabia in the future and enjoys a good KFC.

Her motto:“Be humble.”

Sophie Proctor

Care Assistant & Local Marketing Lead

Sophie has two years of experience in care and is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Her studies complement her caring nature and strengthen her understanding of how to support people’s independence, wellbeing and quality of life.

For Sophie, the most rewarding part of her role is knowing she has made a positive difference to someone’s day. Kind, energetic and bubbly, she brings enthusiasm and positivity to every visit.

Outside of work, Sophie enjoys cheerleading, reading and spending time with friends and family. Having recently travelled through Australia and Indonesia, she is now hoping to explore more of Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand.

A self-confessed Starbucks enthusiast and lover of Italian food, Sophie firmly believes that a Jaffa Cake belongs on the biscuit aisle.

Her motto: “Smile at everyone, always be kind.”

Beverly

Care Assistant

Bev’s journey into care began after caring for her mother, an experience that inspired her to support others. Sixteen years later, she remains just as passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.

She particularly enjoys knowing she has helped brighten someone’s day and values being part of a supportive team where people feel listened to, respected and encouraged.

Kind, loyal and full of life, Bev brings a wealth of experience to her role and is known for her warm and approachable nature.

Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, swimming and spending time with her three children and granddaughter. She would love to visit Italy one day to experience its culture and cuisine.

One fact people are often surprised to learn? Bev is a former beauty queen.

Her advice: “Live life to the fullest. You never know what tomorrow will bring.”

Paida

Care Assistant

With four years of experience in care, Paida is passionate about helping people feel safe, comfortable and respected while maintaining as much independence as possible.

She finds great satisfaction in knowing her support has had a positive impact, whether through practical assistance, companionship or simply helping someone feel valued. Paida particularly enjoys being part of a team that shares the common goal of improving people’s lives.

Known for her kindness, positivity and caring nature, she brings warmth and enthusiasm to her role every day.

Outside of work, Paida enjoys walking, watching films and spending time with friends and family. She loves learning about different cultures and hopes to visit Thailand, Bali and Singapore in the future.

A coffee lover and self-confessed night owl, she is also a big fan of Chinese food.

Her advice: “Kindness costs nothing but means everything.”

Her motto: “Carpe Diem.”

Freeha Mazhar

Care Assistant

Freeha believes that everyone should be treated with the same care, kindness and respect we would want for our own families. This philosophy shapes her approach and underpins everything she does.

With two years of care experience and over a year at Caremark Preston, she enjoys building meaningful relationships with the people she supports and helping them maintain their wellbeing, comfort and independence.

Freeha particularly values Caremark’s commitment to person-centred care and the opportunities available for learning and development. Caring, reliable and supportive, she takes pride in making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Outside of work, Freeha is a proud mum of three and enjoys spending quality time with her family. She would love to visit Switzerland and Greece one day and enjoys a Chinese takeaway.

When it comes to pizza, she’s firmly on team pineapple.

Her motto: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Penni

Care Assistant

Penni has four years of experience in care and is passionate about helping people maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life. She particularly enjoys seeing the positive impact that support and companionship can have on someone’s wellbeing.

Since joining Caremark Preston, Penni has valued being part of a supportive team where colleagues work together to deliver outstanding care. She loves meeting different people, hearing their stories and learning from their life experiences.

Described as funny, bubbly and full of energy, Penni is a proud mum to two boys. She enjoys camping, family days out and exploring beautiful places across the UK.

Before working in care, Penni baked professionally, a fact that often surprises people. She would love to visit Thailand one day, particularly to experience its famous festivals.

A dedicated tea lover, Penni jokes that her ideal superpower would be the ability to produce the perfect brew whenever it’s needed.

Her motto: “Be kind, always.”

Christa Catlow

Care Assistant

Christa is a compassionate and dedicated Care Assistant who takes pride in making a positive difference to the lives of the people she supports. She believes it is often the small things that matter most, whether that’s sharing a conversation, offering reassurance or simply bringing a smile to someone’s face.

Her commitment to delivering high-quality care has been recognised through being named Caremark Preston’s Carer of the Month. She is highly valued by both customers and colleagues for her professionalism, reliability and caring approach.

Outside of work, Christa enjoys running, weightlifting and staying active. She also loves travelling, spending time with friends and creating lasting memories with her family.

Friendly, approachable and supportive, Christa is passionate about helping people feel valued, respected and cared for every day.

Arshiya

Care Assistant

Arshiya believes great care is about building relationships and understanding what matters most to each individual. She takes pride in helping people feel comfortable, respected and supported while maintaining their independence.

Alongside her role as a Care Assistant, Arshiya is studying Pharmacy, giving her additional knowledge and insight into health and medicines that complements her caring role.

Kind, thoughtful and people-focused, she enjoys getting to know the people she supports and making a positive difference through both practical assistance and meaningful conversations.

Outside of work and her studies, Arshiya enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and travelling whenever the opportunity arises.

Her compassionate approach and commitment to person-centred care make her a valued member of the Caremark Preston team.