Andy Sloan (picture far left) explains how his beliefs lead him to becoming business development director at Portman Dental Care.
In 2011 I joined Dental Buying Group (DBG) as sales and marketing director. This provided me with a great introduction to dentistry. It allowed me to see all manner of dental practices including the good, the bad and the ugly. I decided during my tenure at DBG that I only wanted to work with the best companies in the dental space. Those companies that do things the right way for the right reasons.
After the sale of DBG, I joined Henry Schein; the global distribution company with a very strong ethical streak that focuses on oral health, which in turn links to overall health. I spent the first part of my role developing ancillary services and solutions. These consequently benefitted dental practice owners to improve their business through profit improvement and/or cost reduction. It was a really exciting and a new proposition to the company. As a result we helped over 2,500 practice owners with one or more of our solutions.
The ethical focus that Henry Schein adopts rings true throughout the organisation. It led Henry Schein to being awarded one of the world’s most ethical companies status over a number of years. An ethos pushed through the organisation of ‘doing well by doing good’ and ‘helping health happen’, which I admired as it was not just a CSR spin.
Portman Dental Care
When I first met Sam Waley-Cohen to talk about an opportunity at Portman Dental Care, it was immediately apparent that this is a company with a clearly different approach. A long-term view, ethically focused as well as being ambitious and holding the accolade of winning Outstanding Business of the Year three times. I wanted to work for a company focused on transforming dentistry. So, I joined the board as business development director.
The ethos of Portman Dental Care is ‘patients first’. The group is founded on the basis of treating everyone as we expect to be treated. And transforming dentistry by valuing everyone within the company and its patients. I have to say that it certainly rings true.
During my induction, I spent time with dentists that had sold their practice to Portman Dental Care recently, as well as a number that joined at the beginning of the journey. The main points that they mentioned to me were:
- It feels like you are joining a family rather than a corporate
- The ability to continue working with already established laboratories
- Clinical freedom that means just that, not just the freedom to buy from a predefined list
- Help is provided through a proactive central team to take away the burden of administration within the practice
- A well-structured clinical team is on hand to offer support and development
- Significant investment in the digitalisation of the restorative process
- The ability to be a part of the future of the group.
Exciting plans ahead
The group now has 123 practices within its portfolio and is the largest privately focused dental service organisation in the UK. Surveys show that Portman Dental Care is the number one choice for dentists wanting to work in corporate dentistry. With every acquisition we make, a full integration team is placed with the practice. This ensures they receive the necessary support and guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible for as long as is necessary.
And the story doesn’t end here! We actively speak to privately focused dental practice owners about joining the Portman Dental Care group. We also link them to peers that went through a similar process when joining Portman Dental Care to hear about their journeys first hand.
If you would like to talk about your future, look at your exit strategy options or get a feeling for what it would be like to join a multi award-winning dental group, please reach out as I would be more than happy to assist.
