Northwest Referrals, an RCVS accredited referral centre in Wigan, has joined AnimalKind.
The practice is home to 35 vets, nurses, and support staff, who've built a referral centre rated outstanding in diagnostic and client service with fixed pricing for its services. Referring vets and pet owners know what they're paying before they commit. No surprises.
Northwest Referrals has existed for over 46 years with an active roster of advanced practitioners, exceptional client testimonials and extremely high acceptance rate for referrals. James Weston, who leads the practice, is staying on as Managing Director. He's also joining AnimalKind as a Director.
Northwest Referrals will continue to operate under its own name, with its existing team, serving the communities and clients it knows.
Veterinary consolidation has earned a certain reputation over the years. Practices acquired, costs cut, identity lost. It's a pattern many in the sector have watched with some unease.
AnimalKind was set up to take a different approach. We partner with practices that share our values (company charter below) and support them to keep doing what they do well.
Our Company Charter:
Kindness: It's non-negotiable. Everything we do, from client conversations, to supplier relationships and working with our team, is grounded in kindness.
Reliability: We're effortlessly reliable. It creates trust, predictability, and allows us to do our best work together.
Solutions over problems: Anyone can spot problems. We focus our energy on finding solutions.
Small, consistent improvements: 1% better every day. Our journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Micro execution, macro thinking: We keep our eyes on the big picture but focus on executing what's in front of us at that moment.
1+1=3: We're an ecosystem. Everyone plays an equally important role in making the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Both Northwest Referrals and The Vetcare Centres (our existing practice in Guernsey) had conversations with other groups but the teams chose us. That gives us significant responsibility and pride to execute on our mission to build a veterinary group where kindness is the baseline, not the exception. Where steady, deliberate improvement drives better outcomes for animals and the people who care for them and technology serves the work, not the other way around.
"I've had plenty of conversations with practice owners that haven't gone anywhere. That's fine, the fit has to be right on both sides.
With James, it was different. We spent most of our first conversation talking about values, about the kind of environment that lets people do good work, about the long view. That told me a lot.
Northwest Referrals doesn't need fixing. Our role is to support what's already working and give James and his team the resources to keep building."
"I wasn't actively looking to make any changes. I was open to the right partnership, but only if it made sense for the practice and the team.
When we spoke about AnimalKind's values and mission, it stood out. They talk about kindness as non-negotiable, about taking the time to do things properly, about creating environments where people can thrive and bringing in technology and an innovative approach to problem solving. That's not the usual language you hear in these conversations. Over and above that, they had an incredibly personal touch with me and my team throughout the process.
For our referring vets and clients: nothing changes in how we operate. For my team: I'm still here, and we've got good support behind us now. Now my father, Richard Weston, can retire peacefully and leave the clinic in very capable and responsible hands."
James continues to lead Northwest Referrals. The team stays in place. Referring vets and clients can expect the same service and the same people.
Over time, there will be investment in the facility, the team, and the services on offer. But we're taking a measured approach. Small, consistent improvements rather than sweeping changes with a focus on growing the number of pets and clients we serve with the highest standard of care and providing support to our teams.
AnimalKind is a veterinary group focused on three things: bringing out the best in the practices we partner with, developing the people within them, and using technology that actually helps.
The company is led by Zain Khan (CEO), Yazan Mustafa (CFO), Tamer Bazzari (Director - Strategy) and James Weston (Director). AnimalKind is backed by Shawbrook Bank, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors, including Dubai-based Wamda. The legal advisors were HCR Law and financial advisors were Hazlewoods.
AnimalKind is the trading name for MAHG Ltd.
Northwest Referrals is a multi-discipline veterinary referral centre in Wigan, serving practices and pet owners across the North West and beyond. The team of 35 is known for its advanced practitioner-led care and a fixed-pricing approach that gives clients clarity from the outset.
For Media: hello@animalkind.co
