Managing Director of Harrison Family Vets, Tim Harrison with his 8 month old Whippet, Katie
Veterinary Industry Stalwart Returns To Launch New Practice Group
3 years ago 
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A well-known industry figure who previously established a successful national chain of practices, has returned to the sector to launch a new and independent veterinary group that will push the boundaries of pet care, customer service and employee wellbeing.
Managing director, Tim Harrison has launched Harrison Family Vets with operations director, Kristie Faulkner. The first practice opened earlier this month in Woodley, Reading, in a £350,000 investment that has initially created eight jobs.
The next practice will open later this summer in the Midlands, before the group expands into the North West towards the end of the year. The pioneering group is now searching for further properties across the north and south of England, with plans to open 75 practices by the end of the decade.
Tim was a co-founder of Vets4Pets in 2001 before joining US giant Mars Inc. to head the overseas growth of Banfield, then the world’s largest veterinary practice. More recently he spearheaded the growth of his family business, White Cross Vets, into one of the UK’s most progressive practices.
Kristie joined White Cross Vets as operations manager in 2016 and when the company was acquired by IVC Evidensia in 2018, it operated 20 practices across the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Following the sale, Tim immediately exited the business and Kristie progressed to become regional operations manager at IVC Evidensia, overseeing more than 200 of the firm’s practices across the South East of England.
Between 2012 and 2018, White Cross Vets was repeatedly named as one of the UK’s best employers and a truly extraordinary place to work. The company secured a place in the prestigious ‘Top 100 Sunday Times Best Small Companies to Work For’ league table for seven consecutive years, as well as being the inaugural SPVS Wellbeing Award Winners. These are ambitions that Harrison Family Vets are keen to exceed.
Tim explained: “The whole ethos at Harrison Family Vets is about fostering a culture within our team that sets us apart and differentiates our practice from all others. Every individual’s strengths and personality traits will contribute to what we do, in a family orientated environment. Our culture is about looking after people. Focus on attracting the very best people and then look after them as much as possible. A successful practice with a fabulous reputation amongst the profession and amongst clients is what automatically follows.
“Our state-of-the-art clinics boast extensive facilities including on-site laboratories, full x-ray suites, operating theatres, ultrasonography and separate dog and cat wards that have been carefully designed with mood lighting, aromas and music to offer a calming atmosphere.
We’ve also worked hard to create a customer experience that’s more akin to an Apple store, than a traditional veterinary practice. We don’t have a reception desk and instead, our front of house team have the autonomy to freely interact with our clients and their pets.
Our waiting areas feature bespoke pods, which give clients their own space and offer pets privacy, thus shielding them from the stresses of facing other pets in a traditional waiting room. Each pod also has its own tablet where clients can update their details, sign up to our Total Wellness Plan or even order fresh and healthy dog food from Butternut Box.”
Finally, Tim added: “Everyone wants to know why we want to start another veterinary group now. For Kristie and I the timing is perfect as there is a clear void to fill. The people focused independent practice is becoming a thing of the past and is what the profession is yearning for. This will attract the very best team members which in turn will provide a superior client and pet experience.
Creating a successful business and building a fantastic team is incredibly exciting and we genuinely believe Harrison Family Vets can become the most innovative, forward-looking and caring practice, as well as the employer of choice for vets and nurses, in the UK.”
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