A Perthshire-based dental firm founded by a Scottish Young Dentist of the Year has invested £600 000 to add 2 new practices to its expanding portfolio.
Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic, founded in Pitlochry in 2007 by Chris Barrowman, has taken over practices in Auchtermuchty in Fife and Galashiels in the Borders in the last few months.
The acquisitions grow the group to 11 practices in total nationwide, with Infinityblu also now considering developing a foothold in urban Scotland for the first time.
In total, over £10m has been invested in the last 16 years into the business which follows a model of organic growth, reinvestment of profits and financial lending, rather than corporate expansion via venture capital.
The £400 000 take-over of the former MyDental practice in Albert Place, Galashiels, cements the award-winning group’s presence south of Edinburgh, with existing Borders practices already operational in Duns and Peebles.
Infinityblu has introduced orthodontics, dental implants and digital dentistry into the area, with plans for specialist oral surgery and IV sedation services, presently lacking in the Borders.
The move to Auchtermuchty represents the group’s first practice in Fife and comes as a result of an approach by the local health board, with the doors of the existing practice having been shut for some time.
Previously owned by an English-based corporate, which had struggled to recruit, the practice is now running with a full team of dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and managerial staff.
Around £200 000 has been invested, including purchase, to make the practice operational again, with residents in the town no longer having to drive considerable distances for care or be serviced from a base at the health board.
The acquisition of the two new practices adds around 10 000 patients to the Infinityblu roster, with over 55 000 patients now registered across the group’s 11 sites.
“The purchase of Galashiels allows us to grow our brand in the area. With practices already in Peebles and Duns, Galashiels is a fantastic addition,” said owner, Chris Barrowman.
“It means less patient travel and more in-house services on peoples’ doorsteps.
“Our Galashiels practice is going to be a dental hub for Infinityblu, with the intention to grow our dental implant, oral surgeries and orthodontic services and introduce IV sedation services for nervous patients.
“The Auchtermuchty acquisition has allowed us to open our doors and offer essential services to patients who have been without a dentist for a long time.
“There is a big demand for NHS dentistry in the Fife area. The region is always somewhere I felt was a good location for an Infinityblu practice and to have a foothold opens up many more opportunities.”
Infinityblu now has practices in Duns, Peebles, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Crieff, Alyth, Auchterarder, Callander, Killin, Auchtermuchty and Galashiels.
However, the intention is to continue to develop the business, with one site currently being assessed in Perth.
“Our model is about reinvestment of the profits, supporting and investing in our patients, our people, the community and living by our vision and values. There are no investors making decisions because we are not a corporate relying on asset and venture capital. The decisions are made by Infinityblu,” added Mr Barrowman.
