About the Role
This is a rare opportunity to become a practice owner with Vets for Pets' innovative ownership model—designed for experienced vets who dream of running their own practice but want expert support alongside genuine clinical autonomy. You'll be opening a brand-new small animal practice in Ashby de la Zouch, a vibrant market town conveniently positioned between Leicester, Birmingham, and Nottingham. The practice will be housed within an existing Pet Care Centre, giving you immediate access to a steady stream of potential clients and the chance to establish yourself as part of the local community from day one.
This is a full-time permanent position where you'll take a salary from day one, earn 100% of future profits, and build a valuable asset for your future. You'll have complete clinical and operational autonomy—defining your own protocols, client relationships, team culture, and business direction without corporate oversight. The practice space will be tailored to your needs across a mezzanine area, with three consulting rooms, theatre, prep area, X-ray, pharmacy, laboratory, separate cat and dog wards, isolation facilities, and fully branded reception. The practice could be operational within around nine months.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish and lead the clinical direction of your new small animal practice
- Build and manage your clinical team (vet nurses, reception, support staff)
- Develop your own clinical protocols and treatment approaches without corporate direction
- Manage client relationships and practice reputation in the local community
- Work with dedicated support teams on recruitment, finance, payroll, IT, marketing, and HR
- Oversee practice profitability and business growth strategy
- Make day-to-day operational and clinical decisions independently
Requirements
- Qualified veterinary surgeon (MRCVS) with significant clinical experience
- Entrepreneurial mindset and ambition to own and run your own practice
- Strong business acumen or willingness to learn (comprehensive support provided)
- Ability to invest £20,000 (or split equally with co-owner/s) as initial practice capital
- Eligible for mortgage finance through partnered banks to cover remaining startup costs
Benefits
- Ownership & Autonomy: 100% of future profits, complete clinical and operational freedom, no corporate direction on protocols or decisions
- Salary & Security: Competitive salary from day one, pension, life cover, and income protection included
- Leave: Generous 28-day holiday package annually
- Financial Support: Flexible investment model (£20,000 minimum for sole ownership), two-year loan repayment holiday to build your business, access to partnered bank financing
- Dividends & Growth: Once loans are repaid, dividends paid twice annually; you benefit from the value your practice gains over time
- Exit Strategy: 100% entitlement to goodwill and asset value when you exit; partnership team supports finding a buyer
- Business Support: Dedicated expert teams for recruitment, finance, payroll, IT, marketing, and HR; revenue share on sliding scale (based on net turnover, never profit)
- Community: Access to a thriving network of fellow practice owners for peer support and social events
- Protection: Insurance cover for locum fees during unexpected life events (e.g., bereavement, illness)
About the Practice
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Vets is a brand-new small animal practice being established in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, as part of the Vets for Pets ownership network. The practice will occupy a purpose-designed mezzanine space within an existing Pet Care Centre—a well-established referral point for new pet owners and a magnet for ongoing client flow. The location is strategically positioned to serve the local community while benefiting from proximity to major urban centres.
Vets for Pets supports practice owners through a unique model that combines clinical autonomy with comprehensive business support. The network comprises independent-minded practitioners united by shared values, collaborative spirit, and access to expert guidance on everything from recruitment to marketing to financial management.
