Vets4pets

Vets4Pets Ltd^[1] was a Guernsey based veterinary business which operated a national network of joint venture Partner veterinary practices focusing on treatment of small animals(domestic pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits etc.).^[2] The group company enters into a Joint Venture Partnership with one or more Veterinary Professionals (usually a veterinary surgeon or Veterinary Nurse)^[3] to open a new small animal practice in a predetermined location. The Practices were supported by two main Support Offices located in Guernsey^[2] and Nottingham^[4] which provide partners and their practices with full administrative support.^[5]

The business was sold to the Companion Care Ltd arm of the Pets at Home Group in 2013.

The company was the brainchild of Peter Watson^[6] following his 10 years experience working with the Joint Venture business model in the Optical profession. In 2001, prior to the formation of Vets4Pets Peter was joined by father and son team Craig and Tim Harrison (now the Managing Director of White Cross Vets)^[7] along with Jeremy Camm,^[5] a colleague of Peter's during his Vision Express years. Together, they worked to build the company, opening the first practices in Eccleshill and Bramley.^[8] As of 1 June 2013, the company had a total of 97 practices across the UK, including 5 in Scotland, 3 in Wales, 2 in Northern Ireland and 2 in Guernsey.^[9]

Takeover by Pets at Home

On 8 April 2013, it was announced that Vets4Pets would be acquired by Pets at Home,^[10] the UK’s largest pet store business and that the founder, Peter Watson, was set for a ‘multimillion-pound windfall’ in the deal.<ref the Guardian The Guardianname= "Pets at Home pays around £40m for Vets4Pets">http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/apr/09/pets-at-home-buys-vets4pets?INTCMP=SRCH Retrieved on 9 April 2013</ref> Vets4Pets’ 97 Practices^[11] will sit alongside Pets at Home's existing 116 in-store Companion Care practices,^[12] as well as six stand-alone practices. Sally Hopson, customer and people director at Pets at Home has stated there is 'no intention of rebranding either company' and that it is 'business as usual' for the 2 companies, however, the Guernsey Support Office closed in May 2014 with the loss of all jobs and was closely followed by the Nottingham Support Office with the loss of some jobs, as Pets at Home transferred the support network to their Companion Care Support Team in Kingston Lyle, Oxon and the Pets at Home Support team in Handforth, Cheshire. Despite the takeover, the brand of Vets4Pets continues to trade with the existing practices from the time of sale, and the brand has grown significantly as new practices are opened under the new ownership.

Pets at Home acquired the equestrian's multi-channel business Ride-Away^[13] in December . Nick Wood, CEO of Pets at Home, predicts ‘’a lot of growth potential’’ in the industry, which, in April 2013, comprised 2500 veterinary practices across the UK . During the 12-month period between March 2012 to 2013, the businesses had combined sales in excess of £100 million, with Companion Care being accountable for approx. 57% of this.

Business structure

Vets4Pets operates practices under a system called the ‘Joint Venture Partnership’.^[14] This is similar to a franchise between Vets4Pets and the franchisee; however, Vets4Pets own shares in the franchisee business rather than just providing services under a franchise agreement. The Practices are supported by two main Support Offices located in Guernsey and Nottingham which provide practices with full administrative support.

History

Vets4Pets was founded in 2001 with the opening of the first practices in Eccleshill and Bramley. Founding members were Peter Watson, previously the Managing Director of Vision Express and Business Development Director of Specsavers, Craig Harrison, at the time President Elect of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Clinical Director of White Cross Vets, Craig's son Tim Harrison who worked with Craig as a Director at White Cross Vets and Jeremy Camm, previously a Finance Manager for Vision Express. Together, they worked during the early years to establish the company and build the foundations for its growth. The main support centre was based in St Peter Port, Guernsey with a satellite office based in Leeds.

Between April 2001 and December 2005 the company opened 20 practices, firmly establishing itself within the UK veterinary profession. In August 2004, the company's main support centre moved to larger premises in St Martin, Guernsey. In June 2005, Tim Harrison left the business in order to concentrate on a new opportunity with Mars Inc and towards the end of 2005 Craig Harrison also left the business in order to concentrate on the development of his White Cross Veterinary Group.

Between January 2006 and March 2013 Vets4Pets opened a further 77 practices throughout the UK and in 2008 opened a small UK based support centre in Nottingham to supplement the larger Guernsey based office. In March 2013 the company was sold to Pets at Home for an undisclosed amount. At the time of sale, the company was operating a total of 97 practices.

Between April 2013 and December 2015 Pets at Home expanded the Vets4Pets practice portfolio through a mixture of new openings and the rebranding of some of its sister branded Companion Care practices. As at December 2015 the Vets4Pets group operates over 265 practices throughout the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Advertising and sponsorship

In September 2012, following on from their win of ITV's show Britain's got Talent, Ashleigh and Pudsey A.K.A 17-year-old Ashleigh Butler from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and her six-year-old dog, Pudsey, joined forces with Vets4Pets to help raise awareness of the importance of preventative pet healthcare and responsible pet ownership.

References

External links

• Official website