The Hearing Place celebrates opening new Haxby clinic with mayoral visit

York independent business The Hearing Place celebrated opening the doors of its new Haxby clinic with a visit from the Lord Mayor of York.

Owners Jess and Sam Kyei-Yamoah and their team were joined by Councillor Martin Rowley to welcome the first visitors to the clinic in Haxby Shopping Centre on Friday, 10^th October.

Audiologist Jess said: “We’re really proud to have opened our first high-street clinic in Haxby. We chose the village because it already has lots of fantastic independent businesses here and a strong community spirit.

“We’ve been blown away by the generosity and support we’ve received since we collected the keys to the building in July. We asked local business owners if they’d like to donate to The Haxby Hamper - a prize for one visitor on our opening day – and received contributions worth £650!”

Previously an empty greengrocer’s shop, Jess and Sam have totally transformed the unit, which now has a new reception area with coffee station, and private treatment rooms.

“People have been really complimentary about it – they say it’s unrecognisable!” said Jess, who started the award-winning business with Sam, a Hearing Care Assistant, in 2020. “The location is also great as it’s near the main high street, so it’s really accessible, plus there’s plenty of free parking.”

The Hearing Place team also includes audiologist Claire Whitby, who joined in March this year, Jess’ mum Helen Overton, a Hearing Care Assistant, Caroline Campbell, Client Services Coordinator, and virtual assistant Beki Warriner. Jess and Sam’s daughter Mya has also joined the family business and works in the Haxby clinic’s reception.

Jess added: “It’s an exciting new chapter for us because it means the whole team can work together for the first time.

“Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. We really value our clients and care about providing an excellent, consistent level of care. We want this to be more than a clinic - a lot of our clients live alone, so we want people to feel that they can pop in for a quick cuppa and a chat.”

The team certainly has plenty to celebrate this month. Not only does the business mark its fifth anniversary in October, it’s a finalist in three categories at the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards: Business Services Excellence - Small Business, Retailers & E-tailers, and Leadership Excellence - Jessica Kyei-Yamoah.

It’s also a finalist in two categories in the YorkMix Choice awards: Best Household Service (which it won in 2023 and 2024), and Best Independent High Street Business. (The YorkMix Choice awards are open to a public vote).

Councillor Rowley said: “It’s always great to support family owned businesses in York. 

“The Hearing Place is now in the heart of the community in Haxby, offering an essential service to residents. I wish Jess, Sam and the team all the very best.”

The Hearing Place offers professional ear and hearing care services, including ear wax removal, hearing assessments, and a hearing aid fitting and repair service. The team use an award-winning micro-suction system for ear wax removal, which gently sucks out any wax safely and painlessly. And people can see ‘before and after’ photos of their ears.

As well as Haxby, it holds regular clinics at Clifton Moor and Murton, plus Malton, Selby, Boston Spa, Sherburn In Elmet and Easingwold. Clients can also choose to have any service as a home visit.

Jess, who previously worked for high street hearing care providers for 15 years, explained: “Wax removal is unfortunately not a regulated service. All our clinicians hold specific audiology or ear-health qualifications. We’ve all had extensive training, we’re highly-skilled, and we’re all voluntary members of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA), a professional body committed to upholding the highest standards of audiology. If you have an appointment with us, you can rest easy knowing that you’re in very safe hands.”

The Hearing Place clinic in Haxby is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm. It’s also open until 2.30pm on alternative Saturdays, and until 7pm on alternative Mondays (by appointment only).

During its first two weeks after opening, it is donating £5 per ear wax removal service to non-profit community organisation, Do Drop Inn, which provides low-cost lunches locally. This has already raised £135.

To discuss your hearing health, or book a clinic appointment or home visit, please call 01904 862422 or visit www.hearingplace.co.uk