Physiotherapy business in Hatfield Broak Oak celebrates after winning at Uttlesford Business Awards

A Hatfield Broad Oak business is celebrating after being dubbed ‘the one to watch’ at the inaugural Uttlesford Business Awards.

Holisticare, in Brook View, scooped the Judges Award at the ceremony on June 30, for its work in physiotherapy and myofascial release – a treatment designed to untangle restrictions causing pain, tension and inflammation.

Nikki Robinson, owner and therapist, said: “It feels great to be recognised locally as ‘one to watch’. We have clients coming from all over the UK and even from overseas to our world class treatment centre, but nothing is more inspiring than to play a big part in the local community.

“I am very grateful to the judges for recognising the hard work that the Holisticare team does every day.”

The business looks after patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, with the aim to reduce pain and tightness and increase independence and mobility.

Patients also visit the centre when pain they have been living with has not responded to other treatments, or for ailments that have gone undiagnosed.

The company, which employs four full-time therapists, one part-time and two receptionists, was started in 2006 and operated from Mrs Robinson’s home.

She said: “I took a career break from working as a physiotherapist in the NHS in 2001 when I had my children, then in 2006 I was looking for a course to update my skills and found myofascial release.

“I didn’t know anything about it, but it sounded interesting. After five minutes I knew that this was for me, but I didn’t realise how much it was going to change my life.”

After taking on other therapists, she decided to build a designated building, which opened five years ago, before a larger centre started seeing customers just a few months ago.

Mrs Robinson said: “Many of our patients have complex medical problems and have had only limited help from the NHS – due to limitations in numbers and types of treatments and long waiting times.

“We have seen increasing frustration from people who have tried everything without results.”

She added: “New patients are increasingly finding us from an internet search of ‘myofascial release’ as awareness of the effectiveness of the technique is growing.”

The company offers a range of therapies, including an intensive programme of 15 hours of treatment over two or three weeks.

For more, visit holisticare.co.uk.