Investors In People
Since ownership in February 2022, Mike and Lara have been able to offer out six new positions at Dartmoor Dental and have pipeline plans for further growth recruitment. There is currently a massive shortage of dental staff across the UK but given their strong connections in the Southwest and independent nature they have been able to recruit several new talented clinicians.
All the staff new and established are undergoing an extensive training programme. From Front Of House training to advanced dental courses, you will start to see a greater involvement of the whole team in your dental care, utilising the General Dental Council’s full scope of practice. This means Dartmoor Dental can be more efficient in seeing patients, work towards five-star treatment and reduce waiting lists. Learn more about our working culture here.
Mike and Lara aim to offer the best dental care for as many patients as possible in Tavistock and the surrounding areas and have created a Valued Members Membership plan to look after its community. They are working super hard to continue with the NHS exempt contract currently in place, although it grossly underfunded as you may have seen reported in the media recently.
“We felt as new owners to the business, it was our duty to try maintain the NHS exempt contract for the community and provide a safety net to the people of Tavistock for their dental needs”.
Our NHS exempt contract allows patients in receipt of certain benefits and patient groups such as pregnant/new mothers and children to obtain this service.
New Room ‘air change’ systems are being installed to refresh and filter all the air into the surgeries over twelve times an hour & air conditioning installed for optimum patient & staff comfort.
There is a full redecoration program in progress including both interior and exterior building works.
The Southwest has strong roots for Michael, after qualifying from Leeds Dental School, he joined the royal Navy and went onto work with the Roya Marines in Somerset. Michael then went onto do a stint in Afghanistan, followed by a Maxillofacial training year in Portsmouth, an MBA in Business at Exeter University and a professional Coaching qualification from Henley Business School. After twenty years of dental experience and business ownership,
Michael is now considered an expert in his field and is regularly booked for entrepreneurial key speaking roles and business healthcare consultancy.
Lara, his wife and business partner can often be found beavering away behind the scenes. Her background is West End talent management and is the creative brains behind the scenes. She thrives on raising the bar and organising the operations of both Dartmoor Dental and their consultancy business.
When Mike & Lara are not working together, they can both can be found finishing their very own Grand Designs self build in Exeter. They started this major project after returning from a family gap year and trip around The World with their young family pre pandemic!
Lara and Mike have a very clear philosophy, where high standards and the latest technology are paramount to patient care and leading dental treatment.
“We are excited to restore this Grade 2 Listed former manor house and make it a beautiful place for personal modern dentistry in the heart of Tavistock, with leading clinicians in the South West”
— Mike & Lara