Performance Physiotherapy Ltd was formed in Pontypridd in 2003 and are celebrating their 15th anniversary as a Physiotherapy/Sports Injury Clinic in the centre of the town. The BID spoke with Director/Senior Physiotherapist Ben Searle about the business, the challenges of his work and the future of Pontypridd.

Good afternoon Ben, can you tell me about your range of work and clients at Performance Physiotherapy and how long the business has been going?

I started the business in 2003 as a sole trader, having previously worked as a physiotherapist in the NHS. Initially the clinic was a single room practice with me as the only member of staff! Since then we have grown and I now have a team of around 6 physiotherapists and a full time practice manager. As well as our clinic in Pontypridd we also provide physiotherapy services to local GP clinics and occupational health physiotherapy services to a number of local organisations.

Why did you decide to set up the clinic in Pontypridd and what are the advantages and of being a small business in the heart of the town centre?

As someone born and bred in the Rhondda I know Pontypridd very well and felt that its location within the Valleys was ideal for my business. The main advantage of being within the town centre is that is central for many patients and that we also get a lot of passing trade from people who were in town for other reasons but passed the clinic and decided to pop in!

What advice would you give to young people looking to explore a career in physiotherapy and what are challenges of setting up a clinic?

The best advice I would give for younger people trying to explore a career in physiotherapy would be to try and get some work experience/shadowing done before you apply for courses as it will improve your chances in what is a very competitive process. Local NHS physiotherapy departments are often the best place to enquire about this. If you want to work as a Chartered Physiotherapist (vital for many jobs) you will need to ensure that the course you apply for gives you this qualification and so it is important you consider this.

The Your Pontypridd BID is currently in its third year, how important has this been in supporting your business?

The BID provides a good local network of businesses and allows for owners to work together to help facilitate business activity within the town. It is good to have a central voice that can be used to share ideas or concerns.

Shockwave therapy is one of the treatments the clinic provides and has been described as ‘a highly effective way of treating pain without the need for surgery’ how important is it for the business to have this unique selling point?

Shockwave therapy is a relatively new treatment that has shown to be effective as part of the overall management of tendon related injuries such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendonitis. We invested in a machine about 18months ago and are one of the few private clinics in the area to be able to offer this service. We’ve had some great results using the treatment with some of our patients who have reported significant improvements after a course of treatment.

On your website it states that you have a special interest in sports injuries and have worked with numerous clubs including the Dragons, Cardiff Blues and Pontypridd RFC – how have these experiences influenced you and helped you grow as a physiotherapist?

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked in professional rugby with some great clubs/organisations over the past 15 years and have had some amazing experiences. Due to the recent expansion of the clinic/business I have had to devote more time to this and so unfortunately am no longer involved in professional sport anymore. However, I think that my time working in professional rugby has helped me develop enormously as a physiotherapist. I am now able to transfer the experiences and knowledge gained from this time for the benefit of the patients that I we see in the practice- helping us give them the best possible care.

What hopes do you have for the business with the ongoing redevelopments in the town centre such as Taff Vale and the YMCA?

I think it’s a really exciting time and will be a big boost for Pontypridd when everything is completed. Hopefully the developments will provide a lift for the economy and also help improve the image of Pontypridd to those not from the area.

The business is part of the BID’s student discount card scheme, how important do you think the students are to the future of Pontypridd?

I think that the student population are important to the economy and local businesses of any town, for many reasons, and Pontypridd is no different to this. We often see students at the clinic or patients who were ex-students but have set up home in the Pontypridd area.

What other ways would you like to see the BID and Performance Physiotherapy working together in the future?

I think the BID has come up with some excellent ideas in terms of helping stimulating business activity in Pontypridd since its inception. I look forward to seeing the BID grow and working alongside the other businesses in Pontypridd for the benefit of everyone.

Many thanks for time today Ben, we look forward to seeing the clinic continue to grow on Gelliwastad Road and continuing to support your business.

To find out more about Performance Physiotherapy visit www.performance-physiotherapy.co.uk/

To see the rest of our interview series visit www.yourpontypridd.co.uk/your-interviews