Who Owns Your Vet?

Goddard Veterinary Group

Headquarters: London, UK

private equity backed

Goddard Veterinary Group is a brand operated by VetPartners .

86
In our directory
~47
Group-reported practices
1
Countries

The group-reported figure is the group's own count of its UK practices. Our directory lists RCVS-registered premises, counting main and branch surgeries separately, so the two figures can differ.

Ownership structure

Ultimate owner

Parent group

  • VetPartners Limited

    Vet group · UK

    Holds more than three quarters of the shares, directly or through its companies

    Companies House register as of

Goddard Veterinary Group 86 practices in our register

Share of practices by region

Percentage of all practices in each region owned by Goddard Veterinary Group .

Private equity firms typically aim to generate returns within 5-7 years, which may influence business decisions including pricing and cost management.

Reputation & regulatory matters

cma investigation

The CMA cleared VetPartners' 2021 takeover of Goddard only after VetPartners agreed to sell 8 sites, finding competition concerns in 11 local areas of Greater London.

September 2022

View source
cma investigation

As a VetPartners brand, Goddard is also within scope of the CMA's wider veterinary services market investigation (final report 24 March 2026).

March 2026

View source

Who owns Goddard Veterinary Group?

Goddard is owned by VetPartners, one of the UK’s largest veterinary groups, which a BC Partners private equity fund controls. VetPartners bought Goddard on 26 October 2021.

What the records show:

  • Companies House: since 27 October 2021, VetPartners Ltd has held more than 75% of Goddard Holdco Ltd, which owns Goddard Veterinary Group Ltd (register).
  • The CMA: says the deal completed on 26 October 2021 and was made public the next day (CMA decision).
  • Above VetPartners: filed accounts name a BC Partners fund, BC European Capital X, as the ultimate controlling party (accounts).

Founded in 1952 by vet Arthur Goddard, Goddard is a Greater London first-opinion group. At acquisition it ran around 47 sites (including three RCVS hospitals), and the CMA required eight to be sold. In October 2026 its website listed 44 practices and three emergency hospitals across London. VetPartners itself is headquartered in York.

The CMA intervention

The Competition and Markets Authority found competition concerns in 11 local areas of Greater London. VetPartners offered to sell 8 sites, and the CMA accepted that offer on 2 September 2022. The sale completed on 30 September 2022. It’s an example of regulators acting on vet-market consolidation, the same concern behind the CMA’s later market-wide investigation.

What pet owners should know

  • Despite the long-standing local “Goddard” name, the group is now part of a large, private-equity-backed corporate (VetPartners), and the brand name doesn’t reveal that ownership.
  • Private equity owners expect a financial return within a typical investment horizon, which can influence pricing, staffing and which services are offered.
  • Under the CMA’s new transparency rules (final report March 2026), practices must disclose their corporate ownership more clearly.

Sources

Site counts are Goddard’s own: around 47 at acquisition, and 44 practices plus three hospitals on its website in October 2026. Our directory lists each RCVS-registered premises carrying the Goddard name, so its count can differ.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Goddard Veterinary Group?

Goddard Veterinary Group is a veterinary brand operated by VetPartners. Practices trading under the Goddard Veterinary Group name are ultimately owned by VetPartners.

How many vet practices does Goddard Veterinary Group have in the UK?

Goddard Veterinary Group has around 47 veterinary practices in the UK, by the group's own count. Our directory lists 86 RCVS-registered premises linked to Goddard Veterinary Group, counting main and branch surgeries separately, so the two figures can differ.