VBJ articles

April 2018

Piling on the pounds: how treating obesity can bulk up the bottom line

With a recent report suggesting overweight cats, dogs and rabbits will soon outnumber healthy-sized pets, there's benefits to be gained all round for those prepared to address this growing problem.

18 mins
Mum’s the word – part two: ‘D-Day’ and the perinatal period

In the second part of her groundbreaking series, Liz Barton discusses preparing for the ups and downs of delivery and the perinatal period.

26 mins
It’s not personal, it’s strictly business

There’s no shame in making money from the veterinary profession. This fact, however, doesn’t negate the feeling of guilt when turning away clients who can’t afford treatment for their pets, says Nick Marsh.

20 mins
Practice Profile: The London Animal Hospital

The best things often come to those who wait – and, as VBJ discovered during a rare visit to south London, that has certainly been true for The London Animal Hospital in Camberwell.

6 mins

March 2018

Buying or selling a vet practice, part 3

Following on from Alan Kelly‘s focus on due diligence and documentation phases, corporate finance expert Gary Baines advises on factors to consider as completion approaches.

8 mins
Practice planning: build a business while avoiding growing pains

Tempted to discount? Can’t see where to tap into new revenue streams? When it comes to growing your business in the right way and at the right speed, Ernie Ward recalls he has been there, done that and got the T-shirt…

26 mins
Senior pet clinics: using education to solve an age-old problem

Senior clinics allow clients to receive friendly and professional advice regarding the welfare of their pets. RVN Louise Olley explains how these clinics can be used to educate owners about their elderly pets – and increase footfall to your practice.

19 mins
Big 6: surgeon gender

While data reveals 57% of new graduates were female in 1994, fast forward 20 years and that disparity had increased significantly, with women making up more than three quarters of graduate output. It doesn’t take a statistical genius to conclude that in a few decades time the vast majority of the veterinary profession – at all levels and locations – will be staffed by women…

48 mins

Sally Clarke, director of vets, provides an overview of how Simplyhealth Professionals help practices make the most of their membership.

22 mins
Practice Profile: Frank Pet Surgeons

In 2016 Scott Rutherford hit on the idea of setting up a practice focused on surgical referrals with a sustainable, fair pricing structure and a commitment to open-handed dealing. This is Frank...

6 mins

February 2018

Buying or selling a vet practice, part 2

Acquisitions expert Alan Kelly talks paperwork as he describes the processes of due diligence and deal documentation, while offering key points for business owners to consider during each phase.

11 mins

The British Veterinary Receptionist Association (BVRA) has been established to recognise and raise the status of veterinary receptionists within veterinary profession.

CPD: delivering lifelong learning in the here and now

With the profession changing at such a rapid pace, it has never been more important to ensure your clinical staff get the CPD they need to stay up to date. Improve International’s David Babington looks at the mix of options open to practices.

19 mins
Buying or selling a vet practice, part 1

Corporate finance expert Alan Kelly looks at the first of six main phases to consider during the process of selling a veterinary practice, and how to deal with some issues that arise.

8 mins
Getting your money’s worth: how to cash in on the tax system

Tax planning may not be at the forefront of your mind right now, but the end of the 2016-17 tax year – 5 April – is just around the corner. So, if you made a new year’s resolution to get a tighter grip on your finances, now’s the time to act – before it’s too late.

Mum’s the word – part one: a guide to juggling work...

The changing gender balance of the profession has increased the number of vets who are juggling parenting/work trade-offs. Liz Barton explores the challenges and opportunities experienced by parents, employers and the veterinary sector in balancing family and vocation.

25 mins
Practice profile: Seadown Veterinary Group

Since its first days trading from a single room behind a residential house in 1923, the practice that would become Seadown Veterinary Group has been central to life in the New Forest.

1 mins

January 2018

What main hurdles do I need to overcome to sell my practice?

In the first of a new series of business articles, legal expert Alan Kelly focuses on the trials and tribulations of selling a veterinary practice and advises owners to run their businesses “with one eye on the exit”.

8 mins
Big 6: growing the market

One topic that kept coming up during the research phase of the Big 6 project was how the profession could expand the market for its products and services. So, we asked our panel to discuss ideas their colleagues in practices across the UK might adopt to generate growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace...

46 mins
Recruitment: how to avoid making a drama out of a crisis

With practices nationwide complaining of a lack of clinical team members for hire, Dave Nicol explores why this is happening, and offers some practical suggestions for maximising your mid to long-term chances of hiring the right people to power your practice.

24 mins