Start-up Spotlight: Window to the Womb celebrates Yorkshire birth
A FAST-growing business which specialises in private prenatal baby scanning has launched in Yorkshire.
Window to the Womb has opened a studio in Farsley near Leeds and uses the latest ultrasound technology to offer families a real time first glimpse of their unborn child in moving four dimensional images.
A variety of non-diagnostic services are on offer, from identifying the baby’s gender from 16 weeks – four weeks earlier than offered by the NHS – through to 4D videos. The scans allow parents to witness the unborn child’s early movements from yawns, stretches and tugging at the umbilical cord as well as a first glimpse of their baby’s facial features.
The site is the 15th to open outside of Window to the Womb’s Nottingham-based flagship studio, which first opened in 2004 and is part of a nationwide franchise which generates combined turnover of around £3.5m.
Window to the Womb is aiming to have 25 sites by the end of this year and a further ten by the end of 2017.
The family business was started by husband and wife team Trevor and Glenda Bowbanks and their three children, Julie Terry and Robyn, are all employed within the company.
In late 2013, the business was joined by franchise experts, Tony Harrison, Mark Witter and Andrew Lockwood.
Mr Harrison, director, said: “After 12 years and over 50,000 scans under our belt, expectant parents can be confident that we have both the experience and expertise to deliver the most professional, compassionate and efficient care.
“As well as offering scans from as little as £50, we are also able to accommodate as many as 10 additional family members and friends into our scanning room, enabling grandparents, siblings and friends to share in the special first moments of life.”
The Window to the Womb studio in Farsley is run by Catherine Blyth, who has relocated from the south and has worked in the care sector for many years.
She says: “Starting any franchise was not an option for me; it had to be something that has real meaning and is inspirational. As a parent myself I feel very proud to be able to combine my life experiences and offer and share such an exciting experience to local couples.
“I also wanted to make this experience accessible to as many people as possible from a price and location perspective; we are very fortunate to have a large studio in Farsley so are able to have family groups of up to seven coming to enjoy the special occasion. Farsley is the ideal location for Window to the Womb, enabling us not only to serve the local community but also the rest of the West Yorkshire area. The appointment diary is filling fast, and we have already decided to open up on Thursdays as well as Saturdays.”
