Hearbase
Hearbase is a UK-based audiology services provider in Folkestone, founded in 2001, delivering diagnostic hearing assessments and hearing aids to NHS patients in Kent under the AQP framework. The company is exiting its NHS AQP contract.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersFolkestone, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hearbase does
Hearbase is a UK-based, private audiology services provider headquartered in Folkestone and founded in 2001. The company has historically delivered diagnostic hearing assessments, hearing aid fitting, audiology treatment, and ongoing hearing care to NHS patients in Kent under the NHS Any Qualified Provider (AQP) framework, a credentialed status permitting publicly-funded service delivery. It also operates under the trade name 'Hidden Hearing - Hearbase,' suggesting a co-branded relationship with the Hidden Hearing retail network. Headcount sits in the 11-50 range and operations are confined to a single UK county, with no disclosed geographic expansion.
The business model is anchored in NHS-funded service delivery under contract framework; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company's core offering is described as NHS audiology services, with no proprietary software platform, digital product, or technology stack evident in the source material. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, integrations, or third-party platform dependencies are documented. Leadership is led by CEO Nicholas Gawrit.
The most material recent development is the decision not to renew the NHS AQP contract. Hearbase is coordinating with the local NHS Integrated Care Board to manage continuity of care for existing patients during the wind-down. The source contains no disclosure of replacement revenue streams, acquisitions, new geographies, or new product lines, and the medium-term operating posture remains undefined.
Hearbase firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hearbase
- Legal name
- Hearbase
- Website
- https://hearbase.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hearbase is a UK-based audiology services provider in Folkestone, founded in 2001, delivering diagnostic hearing assessments and hearing aids to NHS patients in Kent under the AQP framework. The company is exiting its NHS AQP contract.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hearbase industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hearing Healthcare Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)
- SIC
- Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)
Keywords
Where Hearbase is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Folkestone
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Hearbase business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Hearbase product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hearbase is a private audiology and hearing care provider offering hearing assessments, hearing aid dispensing, and ear health services to local patients. The practice delivers diagnostic hearing evaluations and tailored hearing aid solutions, primarily serving individual patients in the Folkestone area.
Product overview
Hearbase operates as a healthcare service provider offering NHS audiology services under the Any Qualified Provider framework. The company has recently decided not to renew its NHS AQP contract and is working with the local NHS Integrated Care Board to ensure continuity of care for existing patients. The primary service offering consists of NHS-funded audiology services in Kent.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hearing Assessments Diagnostic audiology evaluations to measure hearing levels and identify hearing loss for individual patients.
- Hearing Aid Fittings Dispensing and fitting of hearing aid devices tailored to individual patient hearing profiles and lifestyle needs.
- Ear Health Services General ear health and audiology care services for patients seeking treatment and advice on hearing-related conditions.
Companies that use Hearbase
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hearbase technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hearbase partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves3 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Hearbase competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boots Hearingcare: Boots Hearingcare operates a national network of high-street hearing care clinics offering assessments, hearing aids, and ongoing services. It is a direct competitor to Hearbase for private hearing aid customers in the South East and nationally.
- Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care: Scrivens provides hearing assessments, NHS and private hearing aid services through a UK regional branch network of opticians. It competes with Hearbase for both NHS audiology contract work and private hearing aid sales in overlapping regional footprints.
- The Hearing Care Partnership: The Hearing Care Partnership provides audiology services (hearing assessments, hearing aids, wax removal, tinnitus support) typically co-located with optical practices across the UK. Comparable to Hearbase as a regional audiology service provider serving NHS and private patients.
- Specsavers Hearcare: Specsavers Hearcare is one of the largest UK hearing care chains, providing NHS and private hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and aftercare through the high-street Specsavers network. It is a direct competitor for both NHS AQP audiology contracts and private hearing aid sales in Kent and across the UK.
- Bloom Hearing Specialists: Bloom Hearing Specialists is a UK provider of hearing tests, hearing aids, tinnitus services, and ear wax removal through a multi-branch network, including NHS-related audiology services. Directly comparable to Hearbase on service offering and customer base.
- Hidden Hearing UK: Hearbase operates under the Hidden Hearing brand, making Hidden Hearing itself the most directly comparable peer as a national private hearing care chain offering hearing tests, hearing aids, and ongoing aftercare across the UK through a branch network. The two share the same brand, services, and target customers.
Regional players
- Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care: Leightons is a South East England-based optical and hearing care provider with branches across London and the Home Counties. It is a regionally focused peer to Hearbase for hearing assessments, NHS services, and private hearing aid fittings in the same geography.
- David Ormerod Hearing Centres: David Ormerod Hearing Centres is a long-established independent audiology practice in the South East of England offering hearing tests, hearing aids, tinnitus treatment, and wax removal. Comparable to Hearbase as a long-running independent audiology provider in the same UK region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Hearbase social profiles
Digital presenceHearbase financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hearbase leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hearbase funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hearbase M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hearbase
What does Hearbase do?
Hearbase is a private audiology and hearing care provider offering hearing assessments, hearing aid dispensing, and ear health services to local patients. The practice delivers diagnostic hearing evaluations and tailored hearing aid solutions, primarily serving individual patients in the Folkestone area.
Is Hearbase a public or private company?
Hearbase is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hearbase founded?
Hearbase was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hearbase based?
Hearbase is headquartered in Folkestone, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Hearbase's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boots Hearingcare, Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care, The Hearing Care Partnership, Specsavers Hearcare, Bloom Hearing Specialists and Hidden Hearing UK. Regional players are Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care and David Ormerod Hearing Centres.
Does Hearbase have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hearbase.
What industry is Hearbase in?
Hearbase's product category is Hearing Healthcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAKAH, Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers, with a secondary code of HLAKAMAI, Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated). Its NAICS code is 621340 and its SIC code is 8093.