Her Biz October 2020 Winner

Veterinary Physiotherapist strengthens start-up business with Her Biz cash prize

Stevie Tucker wins Her Biz with Tails and Trails Veterinary Physiotherapy as the virtual start-up programme finishes another successful round of workshops for aspiring female entrepreneurs in Kent and East Sussex. Delivered by Let’s Do Business Group and sponsored by NatWest, applications are now open for the next Her Biz workshops to start in January 2021.

“I was completely over the moon when I found out that I had won. I was so proud of myself and it gave me a real boost in morale following a difficult lockdown. It wasn’t until doing this course that I began to feel like a business owner. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and have made some great new contacts and friends with our own Facebook group. I highly recommend not only doing the course but becoming part of the Her Biz community.”

The online programme equips participants with the tools, knowledge and confidence to launch a successful business. What’s more, the candidate with the winning business plan receives £500. Due to her inspiring business plan, Stevie was awarded the cash prize which went towards her marketing budget, helping to raise her business profile by distributing leaflets to local vets for referrals.

Passionate about helping animals, Stevie pursued her career as a veterinary physiotherapist (also a fully qualified hydro-therapist) and now runs her Kent-based business filling a gap in the market for qualified practitioners. 

Beginning her journey at University, now Masters-qualified Stevie developed hands-on skills working alongside physiotherapists and vet nurses in a Canine and Equine Physiotherapy Clinic as well as police dogs and ex racehorses. 

We asked Stevie what her standout moment was during her career. She said, “the drive home after meeting my first client. It hadn’t felt real up until this point and still felt like a dream. I couldn’t stop grinning the whole drive home. It was finally real and all of the hard work was finally paying off.”

Stevie explained to us about how physiotherapy can benefit animals as an alternative therapy:

“Physiotherapy improves the speed and efficiency of healing following surgery or injury. But it is also often used in the rehabilitation stages to perhaps manage a pathology conservatively rather than through surgery. One of the leading reasons for seeking physiotherapy is arthritis. It’s incredible to watch your patients progress and seeing the difference in behaviour as they improve.”

Keen to help to inspire others thinking about starting a business, Stevie said her main advice would be to stress how important having a business plan is: “I had kept putting it off but the process of writing a plan gives you time to reflect on your goals” 

The future for Tails and Trails Veterinary Physiotherapy

The industry is rapidly growing. From 1991 where 63% of vets were unaware of the service to 2016 where 61% of vets are reported to have already referred a patient for physiotherapy. 

Stevie’s long term goal is to build up a solid relationship with the vets she works with so the business will be at the top of list for referrals. As well as this, Stevie has strong aspirations to become a well established physiotherapist with an underwater treadmill to run combined physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions. 

We’re pleased to have been able to support Stevie to achieve her goals and the other inspiring female entrepreneurs we’ve met along the way with expert business advice and a cash prize to support start-up costs.

Looking to start a business but unsure where to begin?

We’re now taking applications for our March online start-up workshops. Get your year off to a good start and register your interest now.