Published 27 July 2026
Advanced Healthcare Group has acquired two award-winning mobility retailers in the north of Scotland, bringing more than 50 years of combined trading heritage under one owner. Able Care and City Mobility both continue to trade under their existing names, with the same staff and management teams in place, but they now sit within a fast-growing group that has made three acquisitions in under two years.
Able Care was established in 1996 and operates showrooms in Inverness and Aberdeen, selling a specialist range of mobility and daily living aids. The retailer was recognised as the UK’s Accredited Distributor of the Year for Stannah Stairlifts in 2024 and holds high-level technical certifications, which matters a great deal for buyers who need installation and ongoing servicing rather than just a product sale. If you are weighing up brands, our guide to stairlifts explains how accredited distributor status affects warranty cover and callout response.
City Mobility, founded in Inverness in 2002, is the UK’s most northerly Motability powered wheelchair and scooter dealership. Its catchment reaches just over half of Scotland, covering a large rural area where independent mobility retailers are thin on the ground. It was named Best Retailer in Scotland at the Scotland Business Awards in 2023. For customers comparing what is available through the scheme against a private purchase, our mobility scooters and wheelchairs sections set out the practical differences.
The deal follows Advanced Healthcare Group’s acquisition of Dundee-based Allardyce Healthcare last year. Gary Lynch, director at Advanced Healthcare Group, said the group intended to honour both companies’ legacy while advancing services across Scotland, describing the purchase as “another early step in our mission to reshape healthcare and mobility services in the UK and beyond”. Steve Elliot, managing director of Able Care, said the acquisition meant “an even brighter future for both businesses with a younger, experienced team from the mobility and healthcare industry taking over at the helm”, and stressed that both businesses would continue operating as before.
What consolidation means for buyers
Independent mobility retailers have been steadily absorbed into larger groups over the past few years, and the pattern is now well established across the UK. For customers the upside is usually greater buying power, wider stock ranges and more robust aftercare infrastructure. The risk, where it exists, tends to sit with long-term service commitments. A stairlift bought today may need annual servicing for a decade or more, so it is worth confirming in writing who holds the service contract after an ownership change and whether callout charges are fixed. Our guide to stairlift servicing covers the questions worth asking before you sign.
Rural customers in the Highlands and north east Scotland stand to benefit most if the group invests in engineer coverage. Distance is the single biggest constraint on service response in that part of the country, and a larger parent company with more technicians on the books can shorten waits considerably. Buyers in the area comparing local options can browse suppliers through our directory at find a company.
Anyone budgeting for an installation should also check whether their local authority can contribute. Disabled Facilities Grant funding in England rose again this year and equivalent schemes operate in Scotland through Care and Repair services, which can cover a meaningful share of the cost. Our breakdown of stairlift costs shows typical price ranges before any grant is applied.
Sources: THIIS Magazine, Stannah, Motability Scheme.
Related guides on Review Mobility
- How much does a stairlift cost?
- Stairlift servicing and maintenance
- Choosing a mobility scooter
- Daily living aids explained
- Find a mobility company near you
Published 27 July 2026
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