Our administrative team support Matt in managing the practice. His vision and dream for continual practice development can only be achieved with the help of these unsung heroes. They are truly committed to their roles and are responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the practice
Sharon joined the team in 2023, with over 20 years leadership experience in the veterinary and client care sectors. Most recently, Sharon has led a large veterinary hospital and multiple practices along the South Coast of England. As is often the case when acquired by a large corporate group, the ways of working changed considerably. Being able to help steer the company in a way that fundamentally, clients and their pets are cared for as if they were our own friends and our own pets is something very close to Sharon’s heart, which is why she chose to be part the AVG family.
Outside of work, Sharon enjoys spending time on the seafront, exercising and doing adrenaline-filled activities! She’s also often busy playing godparent to a lot of friends’ fur babies!
Sarah is our HR manager and joined the team in 2022.
Sarah began her HR career journey back in 2004, after working for a few years the travel industry. Then, with a collaboration of talent recruitment and human recourses management initiatives, she progressed through to Senior HR Leadership of which she worked to develop and deliver HR strategies to meet the ever changing needs of the organisation.
Sarah has a degree in Human Resources Management and is still working on her final Masters level studies. She is an associate member of the CIPD HR accreditation.
Coming from a manufacturing corporate company, Sarah is passionate about the AVG glorious independent culture and its values. With a passion and love for animals, Sarah is keen to focus on continuously improving job satisfaction and engagement for all employees at AVG, making it the best possible place to work in the industry!
Outside of work Sarah is a busy single Mum to her two daughters Beth and Evelyn, and to her Shih-Tzu duo, Coco and Gary (named after Mr Barlow!) When she’s not running the girls around to their many clubs and activities, she can often be found out on walks with the dogs, socialising with friends or trying out a new bar or restaurant.
Rani Napper joined the team in 2022 and has since taken the lead on building projects, facilities management, health and safety, and IT. She plays a key role in keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, helping to create a safe and efficient environment for both the team and our clients. Outside of work, Rani is passionate about supporting others with mental health through volunteering and enjoys spending her free time baking or getting outdoors for a good hike.
Kirsty joined Arun Veterinary Group in 2024 as our Reception Manager, bringing with her four years of experience in veterinary reception leadership. With a passion for delivering exceptional client care, Kirsty currently supports a team of 20 receptionists across our practices, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and a welcoming experience for every client and patient.
Outside of work, Kirsty loves spending time in nature. Whether she’s paddleboarding, hiking, or exploring new trails, she enjoys any opportunity to be outdoors and active.
Holly joined the team in December 2021 and is based at our Chichester hospital as a Receptionist and became Reception Manager in June 2024.
After graduating in Animal Science, Holly has worked in a number of animal based roles including an interesting job as a Cattle Breeding technician!
Holly loves her role at AVG and especially enjoys the combination of customer facing and meeting all the patients.
Out of work Holly enjoys long country walks with her two dogs, Benson and Lola and she also spends time helping out on the farm where her husband works. The family also have 4 chickens including an ex battery hen called Nugget!
Sophie gained her degree in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Management in 2013. After gaining valuable experience working in both Scotland and Woking, she joined Arun Veterinary Group in October 2016.
Over the years, Sophie has taken on several leadership roles, starting as Lead Nurse and mentor at our Storrington hospital before being promoted to Nursing Manager in 2023. She has now stepped into an exciting new position as Hospital Manager at our busy Chichester hospital, where she oversees the smooth running of the practice and supports both the clinical and reception teams.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time with her handsome lurcher, Jake and her lovely Husband and step-children.
Gemma qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2008 and quickly moved from general practice into referral work, where she discovered her passion for Emergency and Critical Care (ECC). She went on to gain a certificate in this specialist field, deepening her expertise in caring for critical and high-dependency patients.
Gemma joined Arun Veterinary Group in 2019, initially working as an RVN and then moving to our sister night service, South Downs Emergency Vets, as SDEV Manager, overseeing the teams at both our Storrington and Chichester hospitals.
Gemma has recently taken on an exciting new challenge as Branch Manager, now responsible for supporting and managing three of our lovely branches.
Outside of work, Gemma is a busy mum to her two children and shares her home with two cats and two dogs. A keen runner, she enjoys unwinding on the South Downs with her dogs running alongside her.
Alison qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1997 and brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked in a variety of settings including charity hospitals, emergency clinics, and most recently as Head Nurse at a specialist referral centre in Surrey.
Since February 2022, Alison has taken on leadership roles, working as an Area Manager supporting multiple veterinary clinics. She joined Arun Veterinary Group earlier this year and now oversees our Storrington Hospital, supporting all departments including the out of hours service and advanced practitioner services.
Outside of work, Alison is a busy mum to two daughters. She enjoys cheering on her daughters’ football team, travelling whenever possible, and reading. She also has a houseful of rescue pets, that she fostered and who never left.
Carrie gained her degree in Veterinary Nursing in 2009. Upon completing her qualification, Carrie furthered her education by gaining a post graduate diploma from the Royal Veterinary College in London.
We were absolutely delighted to welcome Carrie to the practice in September 2020 and in August 2022, Carrie was promoted to Lead Nurse at our Pulborough clinic. In January 2024, Carrie decided to have a change and is now lead nurse at our Ashington site.
Carrie has had quite a varied career in the past 13 years, spending time initially training and and working in a first opinion practice in Reading. Carrie then moved on to a busy referral hospital where she extended her knowledge and skills in surgical and medical nursing.
Carrie is really looking forward to getting to know the clients and pets of Ashington and providing that friendly, familiar face that is all so important to AVG.
Out of work, Carrie is a doting wife and Mummy to her two sons. The family also enjoy sharing their lives with Nellie the rescue cat.
We have recently updated our policy on Brucella Canis – an infection of dogs that is receiving increased attention at the moment. If you have a dog that was originally imported or rescued from Europe, or you are considering rescuing a dog from Europe, this policy update affects you so please...
When it comes to veterinary practices across the UK there are generally two different types of models. The independent and the corporate. All vets have your pet’s best interest at heart, regardless of whether they work within an independently or corporate owned practice. However, the framework in which...
Due to the current lockdown rules and advise from our governing bodies, booster vaccinations are still going ahead for all pets who have not had a booster for 15 months or more. This means that if you pet has not had a booster since December 2019 or earlier then now is your time to come in to the practice....
