Aidan Borrill of Ferndown Family Vets: "It’s been a whirlwind, a truly crazy year." Picture: Dorset Biz News.
Published: February 25, 2022 | Updated: 26th February 2022
Twelve months ago vets Aidan and Natalie Borrill launched their new independent veterinary practice on the outskirts of Ferndown.
It was a lifetime’s dream and the result of years of planning.
But, like any new business, it was also a huge gamble.
The couple, who met while doing their six-year veterinary training at the University of Cambridge, had invested £750,000 in the purchase, renovation and extension of Forge Cottage.
Ferndown Family Vets officially opened for business on Monday February 22, 2021.
One year on, the practice has:
Above all, Aidan says they’ve achieved their primary goal of creating a Fear Free vet’s practice based on an ethos of keeping their patients, clients and staff happy.
Our February 2021 story about the opening.
He said: “It’s been a whirlwind, a truly crazy year.
“From the first day, when our internet was lost and we dealt with 90 phone calls.
“We also had to lift all the specialist dog flooring in the consulting rooms and waiting area as it had been laid incorrectly and started lifting up.
“But our clients were so understanding and patient.
“In fact, the reaction has been quite overwhelming.
“We’ve been taken aback by the support.
“We started from scratch but, right from the beginning, we had a clear vision of what we wanted.
“But while you have all these ideas you never know for sure how it’s going to turn out in reality.
“We feel very proud at what we’ve achieved.”
Aidan and Natalie, pictured, first put an offer in for Old Forge Cottage, which dates back to 1902, in 2019.
Planning permission for the building, and accompanying extension and car park in Wimborne Road West, was granted eight months later and the couple acquired the property.
Ferndown Family Vets caters for cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small family pets.
The facilities include:
Ferndown Family Vets is Fear Free certified.
Founded by Dr Marty Becker – also known as ‘America’s Veterinarian’ – Fear Free means everything possible has been done to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.
In the case of Ferndown Family Vets, the colour palette chosen for wall coverings and paints is an animal friendly green, grey and blue.
Other measures selected to reduce pet anxiety include Floors For Paws, described as the world’s best flooring for dogs.
There are also separate reception areas for dogs and cats.
Aidan, 36, said: “Everything is designed to be stress-free for our patients and very welcoming.
“We’re especially proud of our team, who have all received Fear Free training.
“We’ve thrown everything at the clinical side.
“We took on another nurse, Nikki, within a week of opening and added more to our team every month from June to September.
“Our clients are predominately in the Ferndown area but also come from as far afield as Basingstoke and Winchester.
“We expected 600-700 clients by the end of the first year and certainly not 1,500.
“It’s getting to the stage where we will reach our limit. It’s all been by word of mouth as we’ve only booked one advert.
“I do four days a week on the clinical side and my share of weekends.
“My sister-in-law, Cheryl Wesley, has been absolutely brilliant in looking after the bookkeeping, PAYE and VAT.
“It means I can do what I love most and that’s being a vet.
“Our family, including my parents Rob and Linda, have helped out in so many ways.
“We couldn’t be more grateful.
“I have extremes of exhaustion and happiness but I often finish at the end of the day, look around and think this is all ours.
“It’s a fantastic feeling.”
