VBJ articles

November 2018

Getting teeth into dental initiatives: it’s a team effort

Increasing the amount of dental work your practice performs can be a great way to improve pet health and drive revenue. Yet, without the engagement of the whole clinical team, these initiatives can often lack bite.

21 mins
Building an employer reputation online

Successful recruitment begins long before a vacancy arises. In an increasingly transparent profession, employer reputation is a vital tool in the competition for our most valuable resource: people. This will be a major theme at SPVS/VMG Congress in January.

19 mins

October 2018

Practice Profile: Cromwell Animal Rehabilitation Centre

It is often said the best things come in small packages. For a branch of Cromwell Vets, that package proved to be a 9m by 4m prefabricated box. It’s not a lot, but, as VBJ discovered, it's already having a big impact ...

28 mins
Skills in short supply: deconstructing the recruitment crisis

Medivet senior partners Adi Nell and Erwin Höhn, in the first of two articles, look at the manpower problem as a precursor to delivering a framework for analysis and a strategic plan for all stakeholders in part two ...

36 mins

September 2018

Technically speaking: modern medicine in the digital age

Nuala Summerfield explains that rather than being a cause for concern, technology provides real opportunities for anyone prepared to embrace it.

34 mins

August 2018

Practice builders: staking your claim on ‘Brand Alley’

Just being good at medicine is no longer enough for practices hoping to attract and retain clients. Experience is a big priority for owners visiting and, as Simon Power explains, getting your branding right is a crucial start.

23 mins

July 2018

Client engagement – why you need to reach out to feel the love

Engaging and communicating with pet owners is essential if vets are going to administer consistent patient care and remain relevant as animal experts. Engagement begins with outreach, and outreach originates in need ...

37 mins
Pet health plans: a ready remedy to keep your practice front of mind

Health care plans can be a great way of protecting pets, bonding with clients and marketing a veterinary practice. But the devil's in the detail when it comes to deciding what to put in, what to leave out and how much to charge ...

17 mins
Practice Profile: Northlands Veterinary Hospital

There is something very British and familiar about a high street veterinary practice based in a converted red brick house. Late Victorian and Edwardian era buildings often ooze character and charm, but also present some unique challenges to a growing business...

11 mins

June 2018

Choose your weapons: winning at germ warfare

Antimicrobial resistance has been described as one of the biggest threats facing both human and animal health. But there are steps all practice owners or managers can take to keep their own house in order and help beat the bugs.

12 mins

May 2018

When the chips are down: making the most of pet identification

Vets and VNs see the benefits of microchipping on a daily basis, but is this always the case for their clients? Madeline Haynes looks at what practices can do to overcome the barriers and maximise the business opportunities…

21 mins
Playing the end game: a life of luxury – or life on the breadline?

Deciding when and how to exit your veterinary practice can be one of biggest decisions any owner or senior partner will make. Whether you’re wanting to put a succession plan in place, or considering a sale, a realistic strategy is needed to prevent you from ending up out of pocket.

18 mins
Buying or selling a vet practice, part 4

In the final part of this series, corporate finance expert Gary Baines discusses the period after completion – and the skills required to go with this.

7 mins

April 2018

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

March 2018

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

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

22 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
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

January 2018

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