Corporate vs independent vets across the UK

Name: UK veterinary practice ownership — aggregate statistics
Creator: VetGuard

Aggregate figures across the 4,810 veterinary practices on our records. 91% have a website on record. These are counts only — no practice is singled out here.

Compiled by VetGuard from public sources · Ownership is our research · Generated 4 Sept 2026

Ownership split

Ownership	Practices	Share
Large corporate groups ("Big 6")	1,889	39%
Smaller groups	473	10%
Charity-run	66	1%
Independent	2,382	50%

Ownership classification is VetGuard's own research, compiled from public sources.

Corporate vs independent, by region

Region	Practices	Corporate	Independent	Charity
South East	781	361	411	9
South West	597	244	342	11
North West	477	262	210	5
Eastern	475	245	223	7
Scotland	425	179	240	6
West Midlands	376	183	189	4
East Midlands	349	190	154	5
London	348	218	124	6
Yorkshire and The Humber	347	215	130	2
Wales	258	91	162	5
Northern Ireland	158	44	112	2
North East	148	92	55	1

The CMA's new rules — the timeline

24 Mar 2026 — the CMA published its final report on the veterinary market.
23 Sep 2026 — the CMA's legally binding Order is due to be made.
Late 2026 — duties begin phasing in for the large corporate groups.
2027 — most independent practices phase in through the year; some exemptions apply (including charities).

Once in force, the rules will require a published price list, written estimates for treatment expected to cost £500 or more, itemised bills, a formal complaints process (5-working-day acknowledgement) and clear ownership disclosure — with penalties of up to 5% of turnover.

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