Portland Vets in East Grinstead, a thriving small animal veterinary practice with branches in Edenbridge and Horley, has joined XLVets. The collaboration is set to enhance an already growing practice and secure its future as an independent practice.

Founded by George and Jenny Christopherson in 2004, Portland Vets is located in a  converted 1890’s house which is now the setting for a modern, specialised practice. As the business has grown, the exceptional standards of care have remained constant with a team of experienced vets, many of whom are certificate holders. Offering competitive routine work and wellness plans, Portland Vets boasts a fully equipped hospital and an affordable referral clinic for emergency, surgical, medical and diagnostic imaging cases.

The decision to join XLVets came from founder, George Christopherson’s, passion for independent practices. “Portland Vets is family owned and run, and it was important to us to keep this aspect of the business. Being an XLVets member means we can stay true to our values and collaborate with other independent practices, working together for the greater good. Being able to react and adapt to our clients’ needs is vital and we want to be able to make the decisions that have a positive impact on the ground”.

The practice has come out of the Covid pandemic stronger than ever and George credits much of this to their ability to adapt, and the overall wellbeing of his workforce. He continues “We have instilled measures to ensure all our staff are happy, from mentorship to mental health support. Investing in my team is essential and our business supports everyone in developing their careers. As a result, staff turnover is low and the current recruitment crisis is thankfully not affecting us.”

The flagship practice in East Grinstead is supported by two branches, with plans for a third branch currently ongoing. The expansion accommodates the streamlined referral service which offers referring vets the ability to be involved in their cases. The service is particularly useful for uninsured cases, or those with limited finances, as a collaborative approach keeps costs to a minimum.

Susan Goodfellow, Chief Marketing Officer of XLVets, expresses her delight at Portland Vets becoming a member practice “We are thrilled to have such a strong, thriving practice join our community.  Portland Vets share our commitment to high-quality veterinary care and collaboration. We know other member practices will gain much from the experience they bring, and we are excited to support the new future for this growing practice.”

XLVets is a community of independent practices that collaborate with each other to share their skills, knowledge and experience. Members share a commitment to clinical excellence and work together to achieve much more than they could do alone. The community also offers a range of training courses from clinical CPD to business courses on running a practice.