THCC Named 'Ethical Business Runner Up 2007'
12/06/2007
THCC Named 'Ethical Business Runner Up 2007'
After winning five major business awards in the last two years an Ipswich company has now been named one of the UK’s Small Business Champions.
The Hearing Care Centre Ltd, which has its headquarters in the High Street, and 11 out-reach centres across Suffolk, was runner-up in the Federation of Small Businesses’ Ethical Business Award at a prestigious ceremony in London last night.
The award marked the ethical values in the Company’s business behaviour “encompassing all aspects of business conduct,” say the organisers who wanted to recognise businesses which demonstrated positive impacts on staff, local communities and the environment.
The Suffolk firm was among 30 finalists at the dinner at the Gibson Hall in the heart of London’s East End. All had got through three stages of the competition including a visit to their premises by the judging team.
British Small Business Champions (BSBC) was launched in 2003, to celebrate and recognise the achievements and importance of the UK's small business sector. It invited entries for its 2007 awards from established, thriving businesses that are well run, highly regarded by staff and customers and preferably involved in their local community.
Afterwards she spoke of her delight and pride at being runner-up in the competition. “When I set up The Hearing Care Centre my aim was to provide independent, holistic and ethical services to the hard of hearing in Suffolk, and I am so proud that we now have our achievements confirmed and recognised through our performance in this award,” she said, adding: “Most of all though, I’m proud of the team here who have owned my dream and helped me to make it happen.”
The company is the current East Anglian Daily Times Small Business of the Year and was the British Chamber of Commerce National Entrepreneur of the Year two years ago. Last year it won the Chamber’s National and East of England Workforce and Skills Development awards. In 2005 The Hearing Care Centre Ltd was named East of England Business of the Year.
Karen Finch is immediate past president of her professional body, the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists and currently co-chair of their Marketing Group.
