After meeting at Edinburgh University where they both studied Veterinary medicine, the pair worked in Scotland and returned to Shetland eventually establishing their own family run practice in the summer of ‘85.

Trading as Westside Vets, the surgery worked from the Nicolsons’ family garage in Bixter, on the West side of Shetland eventually extending the building in 1992 into the current Bixter Surgery

By 2000 the surgery and staff were at capacity and the decision was made to extend the business with another surgery. As luck would have it, an unused Shetland Isles Council building was available in central Scalloway, which had easy access and parking available. With a little converting being done to the building, it soon opened as our new Scalloway Surgery

A 3rd practice in Shetland’s main town center Lerwick was opened ten years later in 2015 which is now our Lerwick Surgery.

In 2014 Shetland Vets owners Jim and Juliet made the decision to move the company into employee ownership. Their personal shares were transferred to the Shetland Vets employee trust, which now runs Shetland Vets.

Having Shetland Vets trading through the trust means employees have a significant and meaningful stake in the business and how it is run.

Founders Jim and Juliet are now enjoying their retirement and are highly respected throughout the community and the Shetland vets teams.