Here at mydentist, we love showcasing what helps our teams thrive outside their 9-5. As the UK’s leading provider of dentistry, we ensure our Support Centre, Academy, in-practice colleagues and the self-employed clinicians who choose to work with us across our 530+ modern practices have the support they need to thrive – both inside and outside of work. It's always great fun to see what life at mydentist looks like to them – and to see our new people values, launched earlier this year, live in action.
We caught up with Andrea Grocott: by day, dedicated practice manager at mydentist Liverpool Road and mydentist Cherry Orchard in Newcastle Under Lyme. By night, devoted shepherdess to her beloved flock of lambs!
Meet Andrea, practice manager and part-time shepherdess
Andrea’s journey with mydentist began as a dental receptionist at mydentist Meir and has since progressed through various management roles. Reflecting on her career, Andrea says, “I feel there are good line management relationships and support when needed, with great development if you want to progress.”
Through her dual roles, Andrea has developed a grounded balance, showing just how much passion and dedication go into making a difference—for her team, her patients, and her beloved flock.
Life at mydentist as a practice manager
Andrea shares, “my husband and I have always taken care of some kind of animal. It takes up a lot of his time to do that, so I decided to get some sheep, as we have the land, and try my hand at rearing them.” Initially, the sheep were there for land maintenance, but they quickly found a special place in Andrea’s heart and daily routine.
A typical day for Andrea starts at 6 a.m., when she heads down to feed the sheep and lambs, then takes her dogs for a walk. Once the animals are sorted, I get my two grandchildren sorted for school as they live with us. It’s then onto the road at about 8:15am to sit in traffic on the way to work,” she explains. Juggling her responsibilities as a Practice Manager and caretaker of animals is no small task, but for Andrea, it’s worth every early start. “Even though it’s hard work, caring for the sheep and lambs, together with helping my husband at times with the falcons, it calms me down and gives me a good work/life balance... Although, I can’t eat lamb now!”
Managing a flock of lambs comes with challenges, particularly around health and finding suitable homes for them as they grow. “The first challenge is making sure all the lambs are delivered healthy and that they are not rejected by their mothers,” Andrea shares. “They’re just like humans really; they need vaccinations and health checks. When they get to a certain age, we then try to place them into petting farms.”
Andrea’s colleagues at mydentist are fascinated by her commitment to her animals, especially the quaint human names she gives them: Boris, Guinness, Daisy, Dylan, Midnight, Fernando, Annie, and One Eye Jo. “I think they’re amazed at the amount of work that goes into it,” she says, laughing, “and they love the names.” Just like Andrea's colleagues, we can’t wait to see more of her fluffy flock in the future!
We’re in awe of people like Andrea, who masterfully balances her busy career with her passion for animal care. From early morning feeds to ensuring each lamb grows up healthy and happy, to supporting her practice team and doing her part to deliver outstanding patient cate, we’re proud to offer the flexibility Andrea needs to continue doing what she loves—both at work and at home.
Joining the UK's leading provider of dentistry
At mydentist, we're committed to providing outstanding care to all our patients. We work hard to ensure that practice teams have the flexibility and support they need to achieve that goal. Andrea is one example of how mydentist ensures that the practice teams working across our 530+ modern practices have the support they need to thrive – both inside and outside of work.
Want to learn more about working at mydentist? Here, you’ll be trusted to do your best work, taking decisions with your patients at heart, with our full backing. We’re ambitiously transforming how we deliver dentistry, making investments in our practices and people. Everyone is free to be themselves, respect is a given and we’re always there to support one another. Learn more about life at mydentist or joining us as a practice manager on our website.