Sam Wymer, Sales and Marketing Director of The Body Doctor based in Clayton West recently caught up with Charles Maltby, our Programme Director, to give an overview of his family business and their thoughts on Huddersfield.
The Body Doctor has a vision to supply innovative solutions that focus on primarily promoting and optimising eye health which are backed by science, and supported by experts in appropriate medical fields. A public access clinic is on sight to help detect and hence offer support for people with particular eye conditions.
They have received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2016 and 2022 in the innovation category and more recently co founder, MD, and Sam’s mum, Sue Grant, has been awarded an MBE for Services to Entrepreneurship in the King’s Birthday Honours.
1 – Tell us about you and your business story so far?
The Body Doctor is a family run business in which I am one of the founders and Sales & Marketing Director. We set up in Denby Dale back in 2012 and specialise in healthcare manufacturing and distribution, primarily focused on eyes. Originally other areas: muscle and hands, were looked into as well, but the Eye Doctor work took off and we concentrated on that, going from 1 product to now around 30 items. Future plans for 2025 including products for ears, nose and mouth. We distribute to 26 countries of which the USA is the largest, although new activities in the Middle East could change this.
2 – How has Huddersfield helped you be successful in business?
I have lived in Huddersfield all my life and having a business in the north where around 90% of the team also live in Huddersfield, means commuting times are short. We are a community based company supporting the local area and having a history of everyone living and working in Huddersfield carries quite a lot. The town’s rich history is used when speaking with international customers – a contrast for American and Middle Eastern people assuming business needs to be focused around London as when they are here, they truly see this is a special place.
3 – What advice would you give to someone looking to set up or relocate their business in Huddersfield?
As an advocate for Huddersfield, access to the whole of the UK is easy from here with the M1 and M62 not many minutes away. The costs of running a business here are tremendously advantageous when compared to Manchester or Leeds where avoiding “city life” is a benefit, although via the railway, both cities are easy to reach when required. Having worked in both Leeds and London, the community here makes matters so much simpler and people communicate more readily, avoiding the ongoing use of headphones when walking around! The new university investment into the National Health Innovation Campus is going to help put Huddersfield on the map from a healthcare point of view and level up the opportunities locally including attracting a lot of quality people into the area.
4 – What future plans do you have for your business that involve investment into Huddersfield?
The Body Doctor has invested in a new building near their existing location in Clayton West, which goes live this month and offers significant opportunities for growth in both sales and staff, including being able to hold 600 pallets. We filled our existing office location within 18 months of opening a space I could visualise being full of people, so much that I bought all the desks! We held our sales and marketing AGM at the John Smith Stadium a few days ago where we set out our ambition to grow internationally and to expand the product range as commented earlier over the next 4-5 years. 2024 was the springboard year setting the foundations for the new growth to build on.
5 – What are Huddersfield’s strengths from a business point of view?
Obviously, the people, that goes without saying. The short commutes and being able to get anywhere quickly via train or car as well as being located in wonderful West Yorkshire/Pennine countryside. Access to grants locally has helped the business and for a healthcare company both the university’s new NHIC and the West Yorkshire Innovation Zone in the town will add to available resources. One particular grant allowed us to invest in IT systems that benefit our customer experience significantly.
6 – What do you think Huddersfield’s future holds?
Championship promotion for Town – who we sponsor and indeed it is where as a 14 year old I sold programmes – my first earning experience! Better hotels with now the planned activities at the stadium as well as the George Hotel reopening soon by the station These support business needs as well as leisure interests for the towns visitors and will hopefully draw more people here for their work and personal interests. Also to be able to visit the town centre to hold business meetings, near the station and other central buildings, in a buildings/areas with pleasant environment/surroundings and excellent food and drink!