A Bolton based entrepreneur with an inspiring back story is hoping to take his company to the next level by working with “eco-friendly vets.”

Sed Shaikh, battled back from a cancer diagnosis at the age of just 21 in 2015 to found Bamboo Buds, a company which supplies environmentally friendly cotton buds.

His innovation has already proven to be a big hit with customers, and he has not begun to supply them to Vet Direct, one of the biggest suppliers to veterinary clinics across the UK.

Mr Shaikh said: “It’s just mainly about being able to donate more to cancer charities and being able to do good for the environment along the way.

“The more sales I make, the more I can donate and the more good I can do on the environment side of things the better obviously.”

The inspiration came from a friend of Mr Shaikh's who produced bamboo toothbrushes, from there he had the idea to try this with cotton buds, which are far better for the environment than plastic products.

His motivation to use the wealth he creates to help fund cancer charities stems from his own personal experience surviving the disease, which has was struck with while still a student.

But having survived and come back stronger he hopes he can help others do the same.

The Bolton businessman, who has also worked for Sports Direct and at management level for Sainsburys, started the company in 2019 and since then has seen it go grow and grow.

The partnership with Vet Direct marks one of the biggest deals in the company’s history and Mr Shaikh hopes to see it followed by many more in the months and years ahead.

The bamboo buds will, Mr Shaikh says, help vets to become more eco-friendly while also allowing them to provide better service for pets and their owners.

His efforts have already seen him honoured by the British Muslim Awards earlier this year, where he was one of 35 Muslim businesspeople from all around the country honoured for their inspiring work.

To find out more, go to bamboobuds.com.