James Westgate

James WestgateJames Westgate graduated from Greenwich University in 1997 and, after testing the water in a number of different jobs, made his first tentative steps into journalism six years later.
After working as a reporter for the Coalville Times, Stamford Mercury and Peterborough Evening Telegraph James found his niche with Veterinary Business Development in 2012. Starting as a reporter on Veterinary Times, he is now the editor of Vet Times VBJ.
Tel: 01733 383547Ā Ā ā€¢Ā Ā email: [email protected]

October 2023

Although 1,350 individuals in UK have achieved the certificate, Reading branch is first to gain a practice-level accreditation outside the US following an assessment and inspection process.

8 mins

Most young people struggle to get on the housing ladder these days, let alone self-fund their own veterinary practice. But thatā€™s exactly what Alex Hirst did when he opened River Veterinary Care near Newcastle earlier this yearā€¦

35 mins

September 2023

Young vet of the year named at 10th annual awards celebrating the best of the British dairy industry.

6 mins

Bristol Veterinary Specialists is asking for support on the study, which aims to improve understanding into the causes of seizures in the breed.

7 mins

National Veterinary Services says the scale and complexity of its move to a new purpose-built warehousing and distribution facility has been a factor in disruption.

5 mins

A team from Stamford Veterinary Centre has raised more than Ā£1,000 after completing 10km Wolf Run.

3 mins

Pickles became the UKā€™s first members-only vet practice when the doors of its Fulham clinic opened late last year. At launch, founders talked of fixing ā€œa broken systemā€ and of creating a Ā£1 billion business - but is Pickles living up to the hype? VBJ headed to west London to find outā€¦

34 mins

August 2023

The British Veterinary Zoological Society will host its first in-person conference since COVID-19 at the Aston Conference Centre in Birmingham from 3 to 5 November.Ā 

3 mins

July 2023

Trading update also reveals CVS Group revenue grew by more than 7% during the past 12 months and that the company spent more than Ā£50 million on UK practice acquisitions.Ā 

6 mins

The TV presenter will support the charity in its mission to help keep pets healthy and together with their owners wherever possible.

5 mins

June 2023

The Paragon Veterinary Group has become the first practice to be rated outstanding under the RCVSā€™ new environmental sustainability award scheme.

8 mins

The VLA aims to be a vehicle by which landlords can exchange information regarding lease terms, buildings valuations, buildings insurance, buildings maintenance and any other relevant subjects.Ā 

6 mins

Weeley Veterinary Centre wins top gold award as more than 40 practices recognised at the event in London, which was held in-person for the first time this year.

6 mins

Vets for Pets holds open day to showcase its first rebranded practice ā€“ a newly refurbished 24-hour hospital in Birstall near Leeds.

7 mins

New WSAVA presidentĀ Ellen van Nierop also worried about critical disparity of access to medicines ā€“ with half of all vets working without the basic drugs they need to protect small animal welfare.

12 mins

Rabbit Awareness Week will take place from 26 to 30 June and the theme of this yearā€™s event will be ā€˜Neutering: Protect and Preventā€™.Ā Ā 

5 mins

WSAVA Congress will be held in China for the first time with theĀ Suzhou International Expo Center near Shanghai hosting the threeā€“day event from 3 to 5 September.

5 mins

Leading consultant in human aeromedical retrieval medicine confirmed as keynote speaker for the event, which will be held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds from 9 to 10 November.

5 mins

May 2023

Guidelines on professional wellness, reproduction and direct zoonoses, as well as an updated set of its vaccination guidelines, will be unveiled at WSAVA Congress in Lisbon from 27 to 29 September.

5 mins

The idea of mobile veterinary practices was still very much in its infancy when Rosie Smith set up Paws Indoors back in 2003. But despite the odd bump in the road over the past two decades, this peripatetic pioneer has made it work ā€“ as VBJ discovered when we caught up with Rosie last monthā€¦

27 mins

Vet and clinical animal behaviourist Kendal Shepherd and canine behaviourist Helen Howell publish open letter describing behaviour of officers in incident as evidence of ā€œa lack of appropriate trainingā€.

9 mins

Association announces winners and highly commended finalists in three categories.

7 mins

The eight winners have been revealed ahead of the awards ceremony in London on 7 July.

6 mins

April 2023

A team at Cornell Universityā€™s Animal Health Diagnostic Center has developed the test, which researchers claim is more sensitive and allows vets to more accurately measure treatment responses to the disease.

5 mins

George back up to speed following surgery to realign his spinal cord at Oakwood Veterinary Referrals.Ā 

7 mins

March 2023

Deadline extended to 30 September for fund launched following a Food Standards Agency investigation into an outbreak that killed more than 350 cats.

7 mins

ā€œThe Moores Orthopaedic Clinic fills a gap in the market to provide high-class specialist orthopaedic care at a reasonable priceā€ ā€“ Andy Moores.

5 mins

The proliferation of referral centres in recent years means pets being sent long distances for specialised treatment has become an increasingly rare occurrence. But in some remote regions, long trips over land and sea remain par for the course, as VBJ discovered when we spoke to Highland Vet Referrals in Invernessā€¦

27 mins

SPVS salary survey reveals veterinary surgeons working in the capital enjoyed 47% pay rises last year ā€“ compared with 9% for the rest of the country ā€“ and that men still earn 22% more than women.Ā Ā 

6 mins

Latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Subject Rankings have put the veterinary school top for the third consecutive year.

4 mins