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Former ‘kennel girl’ on achieving growth as boss of Angus vet group Thrums

Ashley Wilkie joined Thrums as a Saturday morning kennel assistant – she now leads the business which has 65 staff.

Ashley Wilkie is now associate managing director at Scotland's largest independent veterinary group, Thrums. Image: Thrums.
Ashley Wilkie is now associate managing director at Scotland's largest independent veterinary group, Thrums. Image: Thrums.

It has been 30 years since Ashley Wilkie did a week’s work experience at the Kirriemuir branch of Thrums Vets – now she’s managing director of the business.

Thrums Vet has been a fixture in Angus for almost 80 years. It employs 65 members of staff, including 28 vets, across its branches in Kirrie, Forfar, Blairgowrie and Scone.

Since Ashley was appointed associate managing director two years ago, she said steady growth has been achieved in terms of clients, revenue and staff numbers.

She was first employed as a Saturday morning kennel assistant while at Kirriemuir High School.

After gaining her registered veterinary nurse qualification in 2000, she has held a number of roles in the business and became a director last year.

Happy staff means better care

As someone who has worked at all levels in the business, she says the secret to Thrums’ success all comes down to the staff.

This has been one of her main areas of focus as the leader of the business.

She said: “We pride ourselves on looking after our staff and work hard on our culture.

The Thrums practice in Kirriemuir. Image: Google Maps.

“We make sure we have a really positive, supportive working environment. We want staff to come in and use their skills to the very best of their abilities.

“When you do that, you can see the benefits.

“If you have high levels of care going on, then more clients are bonded to your practice.”

Thrums was one of the first to be part of the British Veterinary Association’s great workplaces accreditation scheme.

Rolling subscription growth for Thrums Vet

Ashley said Thrums Vet has seen strong growth on all sides of the business.

More than 4,000 pets are signed up to a rolling monthly subscription ‘practice plan’ for dog and cat owners. This is priced between £16 and £32 a month.

“The popularity of this has really grown over the last year as people see they are good value,” Ashley said.

“One of the major benefits is that when clients notice something, they come in straight away rather than monitoring it.

“It means we pick up issues earlier, which allows better treatment.”

Ashley says Thrums has plans to grow the equine side of the business and wants to add more clients and staff across its branches.

She said she is proud of her career at Thrums.

“In the past the sector has not had a lot of veterinary nurses go on to management positions,” she said.

“I want to show nurses who are coming on below me that with hard work and dedication to the business, they can go up the ladder and into leadership roles.”

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