Sweet success for VetPartners

Sweet success for VetPartners

VETPARTNERS CEO Jo Malone is enjoying the sweet taste of success as the York company she founded celebrates its fourth anniversary.

Jo established the veterinary group, which owns more than 120 of the UK’s most prestigious veterinary practices, on 31st October 2015 – the day after celebrating her birthday.

As nearly 100 team members, based at VetPartners’ headquarters in Spitfire House, York, celebrated the company’s milestone this week, they presented the CEO with her weight in her favourite sweets as an extra special gift.

Some 50kilos of Haribo arrived as a surprise for Jo, who was previously a vet and partner at The Minster Veterinary Practice in York, one of VetPartners’ founding practices.

Jo is particularly fond of the well-known brand of jelly sweets and was delighted with the surprise.

After being established with three practices – Minster Vets, Dowding Vets in Gainsborough and Westway Veterinary Group in Newcastle – VetPartners is now one of the UK’s largest groups.

More than 120 of the UK’s most respected and trusted small animal, mixed, equine and farm practices, are part of VetPartners, with 5,250 employees working in more 450 sites and central team in York. The group diversified to include a research dairy, laboratories, locum agency, small animal veterinary nursing school and equine veterinary nursing school.

The group is looking to expand across Europe, with interest in acquiring practices in France, Germany, Holland and Italy. To support its growth, the group secured the support of leading international investment company, BC Partners, which has Euros 17 billion of assets under management in private equity and credit across the globe.

VetPartners CEO Jo Malone said: “We have some of the best veterinary businesses across small animal, equine, mixed and farm, and 2020 will see further growth in each of our species groups, both in the UK and Europe. It has been an incredible journey since our early days and our success has been built on the hard work, dedication and skills of our truly fantastic team members in practices and our central team in York.

“When we started, our aim was to be the veterinary group of choice by providing outstanding care for patients, an excellent experience for clients and being a great place to come and work, while developing our business in an efficient, ethical, sustainable and profitable way through the acquisition of desirable practices.

“Our culture sets us apart, with values like respect, collaboration, being approachable and supportive, and that helps to attract talent, drives engagement, impacts happiness and satisfaction, and affects performance.”

Jo, who was educated at Joseph Rowntree School in York, wanted to be a vet since age of eight.

She studied veterinary medicine at Glasgow University, qualifying in 1998. After starting her career at a mixed practice in Market Harborough for two years, she then joined Minster Vets, where she became a partner in 2009, combining management and veterinary work.

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