As well as treating West Yorkshire’s pets, vet Sarah proves she has a head for business

As well as treating West Yorkshire’s pets, vet Sarah proves she has a head for business

VET Sarah Reeves went back to university on the day her son started school – and has now achieved a prestigious academic qualification.

Sarah, clinical director at Shearbridge Vets, achieved her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from York St John University business school after two years of studying part-time.

Sarah began the course in September 2018 on the same day her son Albert, now six, started school.

She has worked at Shearbridge Vets, which has branches in Queensbury, near Bradford, and Hipperholme, near Halifax, since 2009 and was promoted to clinical director in 2017.

Sarah is among 12 other employees, who work at VetPartners practices across the UK or at the veterinary group’s headquarters in York, who are studying for, or have completed, their MBA, an academically challenging qualification that provides an overview of key business practices and is highly valued by top employers.

Sarah, who lives in Hebden Bridge with husband Simon, who works in financial management, children Albert and Edith, eight, and their cat Betty, had to juggle working 30-hour weeks as a vet at a busy West Yorkshire practice with studying for her MBA.

However, the chance to add business skills and knowledge to her clinical background provided a great opportunity to develop her career.

Sarah, who qualified as a vet at Liverpool University in 2004, said: “Studying for the MBA was a lot of hard work and a big commitment when you work and have a family, but I really enjoyed it.

“Being a mum, having time for myself to study while the children were at school was a luxury. I love studying and it was great having time to myself to learn and develop my skills.

“It was strange going back to university on the days we had lectures and I also studied at home. A big challenge is time management so I would set clear targets so it didn’t impact on the children or my work as a vet.”

Studying for an MBA, which is one of the most sought-after qualifications, will enable Sarah to progress further in her career with VetPartners, which has more than 130 veterinary practices all over the UK, with more than 5,500 employees working in around 450 sites.

She has already put her new-found knowledge to good use at the practice, which employs 17 vets, veterinary nurses, admin team members and receptionists across its two branches.

“The MBA course we did was tailored to our needs and related very well to the veterinary industry,” said Sarah.

“I had been in practice for a long time, before switching to management. Completing the MBA has given me knowledge and skills, as well as increased confidence to do my job.

“I had to do projects for the MBA and one was to implement automated stock control for our practice. The feedback from the team has been great and there have been financial gains for the practice. I also applied change management to our Pet Health Club scheme and we are having good success and sign up.

“I’ve been able to add business skills to my clinical skills so I feel much more equipped.”

For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Senior PR and Communications Manager, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk