Starting from scratch: Our journey to opening our new practice
by Dave and Cat Hough, The Vets @ Dronfield
By Dave and Cat Hough, Co-owners of The Vets @ Dronfield
We're not sure we've had that one glorious “we did it” moment yet. But we do occasionally stand outside our new building, see our name on the sign, and feel a quiet pride. The Vets @ Dronfield is real. It’s open, and we made it happen!
We opened in April 2025, so it’s all still very new. We’re based in Dronfield, a lovely little town between Sheffield and Chesterfield – a place we’ve called home for over a decade. We’re both practising vets with about 20 years of experience each, and this practice is a culmination of a long-held ambition to do things differently.
You can get a sense of what we’ve created at thevetsatdronfield.com, but this is the story of what it really took to open our new practice. Spoiler: it wasn’t easy. But we’d (probably!) do it again.
We’ve both worked in a variety of practices - from independent to corporate - and over time, we started to talk more seriously about setting something up ourselves. For Dave, who’d spent years in corporate practice as a clinic director and had the experience of running teams and businesses, there were more and more things he wanted to try – and realistically, the only way to do them properly was to be in charge. It wasn’t about control, but about creating a space where the team is valued, clients are listened to, and good medicine isn’t rushed.
Cat’s background was a little different. She’d always worked as a vet, never in a leadership role, and had no real experience of running a business. So, when we started this journey, it definitely felt like Dave was at the wheel and Cat was in the passenger seat - or, as she likes to joke, "I sort of just work here." The learning curve, particularly behind the scenes, has been steep. But we’ve tackled it together.
We’d always said if the right place came along, we’d go for it. So, we did, and that’s when, in Cat’s words, “all hell broke loose!”
What gave us that push to get started? The perfect building came up – a 3,500 sq ft former nail polish factory, right in the heart of Dronfield. We hadn’t actively been searching, just keeping a general eye out, and it was the first building that ticked all the boxes: residential location, parking, size and potential for growth. We’d always said if the right place came along, we’d go for it. So we did. And that’s when, in Cat’s words, “all hell broke loose!”
When we first spoke to Shire Financial Management, it became clear we weren’t following the usual route. We hadn’t written a detailed business plan or secured funding first – we saw the building, secured it, and then figured out the rest as we went. That might horrify some, but it made sense for us. We’re quite linear in our thinking, and we knew there was no point in building a business on paper until we had the right premises locked down. The building is the biggest rate-limiting step, so once we had that, everything else started to fall into place.
There’s a well-trodden path, and people along the way are incredibly generous with their time and advice. A one-hour chat with VetDynamics led us to Shire, who helped shape our business plan. From there, we were directed to Vetsure, and then NVS and other wholesalers. At every stage, there was someone ready to help and share their knowledge. And yes, many of these people had a financial interest in helping us - but there was also this genuine enthusiasm for independent practices and a real willingness to support us, often just because they’d been through it themselves or wanted to see us succeed. It reminded us of how we work with clients: give someone ten minutes of your time, build a bit of trust, and that connection can grow into a lasting relationship.
We also found there’s a real sense of community in the profession. People would say things like, “Oh, I know someone who opened a similar practice a couple of years ago - do you want their number?” That kind of informal support network has been invaluable, both professionally and personally. It’s made the whole process feel a lot less daunting and a lot more human.
From day one, our vision has been simple: to do the fundamentals exceptionally well. We’re committed to providing high-quality, first-opinion care rooted in decades of clinical experience. At the heart of that is working in true partnership with pet owners, especially in managing long-term conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or renal disease.
A big part of our approach, and one of Dave's key ideas, was to develop a nurse-led model of care. We’re proud to work with a fantastic team of RVNs. Sam has a special interest in behaviour and pain management, Katy focuses on canine conditioning, and Sarah champions feline medicine. By putting our nurses at the forefront of managing ongoing conditions, we’re not only making full use of their skills – we’re giving them more meaningful, autonomous, income-generating roles.
By putting our nurses at the forefront of managing ongoing conditions, we’re not only making full use of their skills – we’re giving them more meaningful, autonomous, income-generating roles.
We’ve also made communication and education a top priority. Tools like WhatsApp and our ever-growing website help us keep clients informed, engaged, and supported. We’ve introduced longer appointment times and offer unlimited vet consultations through our payment plan, because we believe in removing barriers and giving people the time and reassurance they need.
It’s early days, but we’re proud to be building a supportive, positive environment – for our team, our clients, and the pets we care about.
The only original room left is our X-ray room, which was built with breeze blocks in case the old machinery exploded, so it was perfect for somewhere that needed thicker walls. Everything else - floors, ceilings, and internal walls - was stripped out and rebuilt according to the architect's plans.
It was a big learning curve, but we had a brilliant builder, a good friend who really knew what he was doing. We had a great relationship with him, which meant we could get on with the work without overthinking every decision or digging out the calculator every time he asked for something else. We didn’t have a formal, line-by-line budget - just a ballpark figure, and we stuck to it pretty well, spending a bit more in areas where we thought it was worthwhile.One big challenge however, was managing the differing opinions. The architect had one idea, the builder another, and building control something else entirely. It wasn’t like following clinical guidelines –- building regs felt like a murky grey area full of “it depends.” It pulled us out of our comfort zone, especially with the added pressure of being responsible for people’s safety just to open the doors each day.
We’ve lived and worked at different practices in this area for over a decade, so you get to know the local veterinary population. We’d both worked with all three of our nurses before, and they’d worked with each other too - so although it’s a new team on paper, there’s already a huge amount of trust and familiarity between us. It’s made a massive difference. We weren’t starting from scratch - we knew exactly what each person brought to the table and how we could shape the practice around their strengths and interests.
As for recruitment, we’re not in a rush to grow for the sake of it. We want to add people slowly and intentionally, making sure they feel supported, trained, and genuinely enjoy being part of the team. A lot of our team building so far has happened through casual conversations - sometimes quite literally over a pint! But that informal, personal approach works for us. We’d love to continue building the team through people we know and trust, or through recommendations from others in the local vet community. That said, we know we’ll need to bring in some new grads at some point, as Dave especially loves teaching and mentoring - he’s got a real knack for it!
The beauty of being independent is that we get to choose partners based on trust, shared values, and real relationships, not just numbers on a spreadsheet or contracts. That freedom has allowed us to build a support network that genuinely feels like part of our team.
Our relationship with NVS began with a conversation with Wendy, and from the outset, it just felt right. There was no hard sell - just an open, honest introduction to how they could support us and what a working relationship would look like. While many wholesalers offer similar product ranges and pricing, for us, it came down to people. Wendy has been a consistent and invaluable source of support, not only with day-to-day logistics but as a sounding board during the planning stage.
We approached our choice of practice management system in the same way. From the beginning, we knew we wanted to create a fully digital practice - something that reflected the seamless, user-friendly experiences people now expect in other industries. If you can order a pizza in seconds from your phone, why shouldn't booking a vet appointment be just as easy?
We explored Vets Digital as our client comms platform and chose a PMS that integrated well with it. What stood out was the personal service, fast responses, and constant support. The fact that the provider is independent and focused solely on the vet sector gave us even more confidence. Now, the system runs smoothly in the background – clients register and book appointments overnight without us lifting a finger.
From the moment we first viewed the building in January 2024 to finally opening the doors in April 2025, the whole process took around 15 months. We underestimated just how long it would take – in our heads, we thought we’d be welcoming clients by October! But delays with planning permission, lease negotiations, and the sheer volume of decisions involved meant that the timeline quickly shifted. Thankfully, our landlord was incredibly supportive, even helping with the change-of-use application.
When it came to launching the practice and spreading the word, we knew marketing wasn’t something to take lightly. Although Cat has a background in social media through her work as Cat the Vet, we decided early on to bring in professionals to handle the branding, website and digital advertising. We worked closely with a digital marketing agency to bring our vision to life – from colours and messaging to the layout of the website – and they took that brief and ran with it. They also handled the initial SEO and paid social campaigns, helping us build awareness from day one.
Now that the practice is up and running, we’ve begun taking more of that work in-house. It’s something Cat enjoys and understands, and it helps manage costs. It’s always been about balancing professional input with our own involvement, staying true to who we are while bringing in support where needed.
Interestingly, we haven’t leaned into Cat’s online persona at all. Despite her strong digital following, it didn’t make sense to promote the practice using an identity separate from our real-world clinical work – especially when clients need to live locally. For now, we’re happy keeping that world distinct and letting The Vets @ Dronfield stand on its own.
Let’s be honest. It’s been incredibly stressful – financially, emotionally, mentally. The sleepless nights were (and sometimes still are) relentless. There’s a strange silence around the hard parts – everyone talks about how amazing it is, how they were turning clients away on day one, how everything just fell into place.
That wasn’t our experience. We opened the doors and… waited. It’s growing, but it takes time. You can build a beautiful practice, hire amazing nurses, and still feel powerless. You can advertise until you’re blue in the face, but you can’t make people walk through the door. And that’s terrifying.
But it’s starting to shift. The reviews we’re getting reflect exactly what we wanted to build - a place that listens, that partners with pet owners, that offers genuine care.
Right now, we’re focused on survival - getting the business to a point where it supports itself, pays the bills, and has the cashflow to grow. That’s the reality of any new practice in its early days. We're still finding our rhythm, navigating the ups and downs, and figuring out what “normal” even looks like. But beyond that, we have big ambitions.
We’d love to be a five-vet practice within five years. That’s the number Dave has in his head – a steady, sustainable trajectory that reflects a practice running the way we always hoped it could. A busy building, laughter in the staffroom, two consult rooms buzzing, ops underway, nurses managing clinics, pets being cared for, and clients coming and going.
We’re not there yet. But we’re on our way. And even now, in these early stages, we’ve built something we believe in, and that definitely feels like a win.
Opening a practice is not for the faint-hearted, but it is doable. If you’re thinking about it, here’s what we’d say:
There’s no single way to do this - so gather as many perspectives as you can. Other people’s hindsight is free, and often priceless.
Opening a practice is a rollercoaster - emotionally and financially. The pressure can feel overwhelming, and there’s a lot you can’t control. Expect stress, make peace with it, and know that it will ease, eventually.
This is more than just clinical freedom, it’s VAT returns, staff contracts, building regs, and spreadsheets. If you’re not naturally drawn to those things, make sure someone on your team is. It's really going to matter.
We’re married, which helps. You need someone you can argue with at 11pm and still work with at 8am. If you’re going solo, surround yourself with people who can take on the tough stuff alongside you.
Don’t try to figure everything out alone. Ask questions, be honest about what you don’t know, and lean on people who’ve been there. Having someone to talk to when it all gets too much can make all the difference.
Seriously, relationships matter. We chose suppliers because we liked them, we hired people we trust. It’s not always a numbers game - it’s a people game.
At some point, you have to stop planning and take the leap. There will be a hundred threads to pull together, and it won’t be perfect, especially at the start, but it will be yours and you'll have plenty of time to change and adapt things as you go.
