An award-winning communications agency is celebrating 20 years working at the heart of the UK’s veterinary sector.
Birmingham-based R&Co Communications began working with its first veterinary practice in 2005.
It has since gone on to become one of the UK’s leading veterinary marketing and PR agencies, working with Linnaeus and its 70-plus primary care practices and referral hospitals across the UK and Ireland, along with global veterinary imaging giant Hallmarq and pioneering innovators such as SaaS platform Ronda Vet.
The agency’s campaigns have received huge volumes of positive trade, national, broadcast and international coverage, with the likes of the BBC, Fox News, CNN, the New York Times and even The Late Show in America featuring its clients.
R&Co’s work has also been recognised with multiple prestigious PR and veterinary industry awards.
Managing director Peter Robinson said: “Over the past 20 years, we have cemented ourselves as the go-to agency for all things veterinary.
“We’ve secured some amazing results for our clients, with hundreds of pieces of positive coverage generated each month. As well as valuable media relations, we also include social media and SEO services, so this has seen us expand our experienced team.
“We are proud to have had our hard work and impact recognised with some top industry awards, from best campaign to best medium consultancy.”
R&Co Communications – formerly Newsline PR – has gone from a team of four to now having 11 full-time employees, consisting of former news editors, journalists, SEO and social media specialists.
One of the team’s favourite veterinary stories to publicise was of a St Bernard dog, who went viral across the globe after a suspected cancerous growth on a scan turned out to be four whole teddy bears which the giant pooch had snaffled. They have also helped secure a BBC series, launched multi-million-pound new veterinary hospitals, and overseen publicity around complete rebrands.
R&Co’s ongoing work raising awareness of Alabama Rot for Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists and Linnaeus was recognised at the 2024 Veterinary Marketing Association Awards with the prestigious PR Campaign award.
The company’s first foray into veterinary PR 20 years ago was working with Avonvale Veterinary Centres, which now has seven practices across Warwickshire. The first press release covered Avonvale’s new hydrotherapy suite and seasonal campaigns followed.
It was then that Linnaeus-owned referral hospital Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service began using R&Co’s services and news of the agency’s great results for the renowned Solihull animal hospital spread.
Peter added: “We have been here for the huge boom in the veterinary industry and seen first-hand the transformation and development of this ever-growing field over the past 20 years. We are lucky enough to cover some incredible stories about inspiring pets and vets, along with groundbreaking and lifesaving new treatments and services.
“From working with huge brands such Linnaeus and Hallmarq, through to being asked to represent new businesses looking to innovate in the sector, the veterinary industry is such a rewarding area to work in. We’re incredibly excited to see what the next 20 years holds.”
R&Co was established in 1979 as Newsline PR. It is a full-service communications agency with PR, social media and SEO clients in a range of B2B and B2C sectors including veterinary, property and logistics.
