BusinessVeterinary

VetPartners acquires the Northern Locum Agency

The Northern Locum Agency will be joining veterinary investment group, VetPartners, as the owner of the locum agency Julie Frost prepares to retire from the business she set up in a spare bedroom of her house in Warrington in 1987.

The former qualified veterinary nurse built up one of the country’s most successful locum agencies, with an average of 800 locum vets on her books and 3,000 veterinary practices.

The Northern Locum Agency will now be based at the head office of one of VetPartners’ practices, Willows Veterinary Group in Northwich, but will continue to serve a broad base of practices right across the UK.

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Frost will remain at the agency in the interim until she retires, while team member Jane Threlfall, who has worked there for 10 years, is staying with the business.

Frost started her working life as a 16 year old veterinary nurse at Willows Veterinary Group’s hospital in Hartford, near Northwich, and spent eight years in the profession, before setting up the Northern Locum Agency.

VetPartners is made up of UK-based small animal, farm and equine practices, with 3,000 employees working in 350 sites, including their headquarters in Leeman House, York.

Frost said: “I chose the buyers carefully as I really care about the agency and want to see it run in an efficient and professional way. VetPartners and the Willows are part of the veterinary world and are the right people to take the agency onwards.

“I will be around for a little while and Jane is staying on a permanent basis. She has worked alongside me for more than 10 years so I am confident that she will lead the recruitment side in her usual efficient way.”

When she retires, Frost plans to spend more time teaching dance and working as a TV extra as she has a Diploma in Dance and Drama and her equity card.

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