Vetting

How VPP checks its supplier partners

Choosing a supplier for your veterinary practice involves more than comparing prices. You also need to know who you’re dealing with, whether they can deliver what they promise and what support you can expect once you’ve signed an agreement.

At Veterinary Procurement Partners, we take that seriously. Before a supplier becomes a VPP preferred supplier or partner, they must pass our due diligence process.

It’s part of the work that happens behind the scenes, helping us make informed decisions about the businesses we introduce to practices.

Looking beyond the quote

A competitive quote can be a good starting point, but it won’t tell you everything about a supplier.

Depending on what you’re purchasing, you might be paying a deposit, committing to an ongoing service or investing in equipment you expect to use for many years. The supplier’s ability to fulfil that commitment matters just as much as the initial price.

For a busy practice team, finding time to investigate the business behind an offer can be difficult. That’s where a structured approach to due diligence helps.

What do we check?

Our supplier due diligence process covers several areas, including:

Financial stability and credit risk
We review available financial and credit information to understand whether there are signs of financial pressure that could affect the supplier’s ability to deliver or provide ongoing support.

County Court Judgments (CCJs)
We check for recorded CCJs, which may highlight issues around unpaid debts. Where a judgment is identified, we look at its context, including its age, value and whether it has been settled.

Company and director history
We look at the company’s background and its directors’ business history. This helps us understand who is behind the business and identify anything that needs further discussion.

Adverse media and reputational concerns
We look for credible reporting that could raise concerns about the company or the people running it. We consider the source, relevance and outcome of any reporting, rather than treating an allegation as an established fact.

Site visit
Where possible, we visit suppliers to see their operations first-hand and check that what we’ve reviewed on paper reflects how the business works in practice.

What happens if something raises a concern?

Due diligence needs judgment as well as information.

A new company may have limited financial history. A previous business closure may have a reasonable explanation. An old, settled CCJ may tell a different story from several recent, unpaid judgments.

If something raises a concern, we investigate further and ask questions before deciding whether to proceed. We consider the findings alongside the proposed service and the potential exposure for a practice.

The aim is to understand the risk and decide whether it is acceptable. Suppliers must meet VPP’s due diligence requirements before being accepted as a preferred supplier or partner.

What does this mean for your practice?

It means we’ve taken time to look beyond the sales pitch before putting our name behind a supplier.

These checks support our assessment of the products, service, commercial terms and suitability of an offer for your practice. They also help identify issues that may need clarification before you make a commitment.

Due diligence cannot guarantee a supplier’s future performance, and a business’s circumstances can change. But it provides a stronger starting point than relying on a good quote or a reassuring conversation alone.

Why it matters to VPP

When we introduce a supplier, our reputation is part of that introduction. More importantly, your practice may be trusting that business with its money, equipment or an essential service.

We want our supplier relationships to reflect the care we bring to our work with practices. That means asking questions, checking the available information and being prepared to pause when something needs a closer look.

Good procurement brings together price, quality, service and reliability. Understanding the supplier behind the offer is part of that.

If you’d like support reviewing your suppliers or making a purchasing decision, get in touch with VPP at hello@veterinaryprocurementpartners.co.uk.