AN entrepreneur who bought back the hearing care business his father started before selling to a large multinational upon retirement is the first to enter the 2015 Press Business Awards.

In its 25th anniversary year, the award welcome Charlwood Hearing Care as its first entry as the business hopes to progress in the New Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories.

The business is owned by managing director Neil Charlwood, who first started working in the hearing care business in 2001 with his father who owned it as Ebor Hearing Healthcare with branches in York and Scarborough.

When Mr Charlwood senior retired eight years ago he sold his shares in the business to the company now known as Bloom Hearing Specialists, owned by Widex, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer.

Mr Charlwood then left Bloom in February last year to take over the Scarborough branch of the business, re-branding as Charlwood Hearing Care and returned the branch back to it's roots of being independent operation.

Mr Charlwood said: "I have moved the business forward by increasing the number of satellite clinics I run.

"Previously I partnered with two local opticians in Hunmanby and Driffield, as well as an established clinic at the BMI Duchy Hospital in Harrogate.

"Since setting up Charlwood Hearing Care I have partnered with two more opticians' branches in Malton and Helmsley, and I have more recently established a new clinic at the Nuffield Hospital in York.

"These satellite clinics help to widen the area I can offer my services in, as well as increase turnover for the business."

In his first 12 months trading, Mr Charlwood has already built upon revenues achieved by Bloom, and has taken on a new member of staff to carry out reception duties and to develop customer service.

Charlwood Hearing Care, which is based in Scarborough's Castle Road, says one of its fastest growing areas of the business is ear wax removal, with the company capitalising on a decreasing number of GP surgeries offering the service.

Mr Charlwood said: "As a an independent family-run business, you really have to put the customer at the heart of everything you do.

"If there are any problems or issues that a customer is having then everything must be done to ensure a satisfactory outcome.

"Our philosophy is always to do our best for each individual customer, and I believe as a family business, this is the only way to succeed."