Companion Care Vets’ Graduate Programme Doubles Intake In Second Year

Left to right, some of the new graduates: Federica Tarantino, Francesca Braid, Helen Lambert, Rachel Kenvyn, Jess McCarthy, Claire Vinten, Emma Mitchell Companion Care Vets launched its Graduate Programme in 2011 and five graduates are now into their second year placement. Such was the success of the programme that the 2012 intake has doubled and 12 graduates have just begun their two-year placements at surgeries across the UK. The partners of the surgeries who have employed a graduate made a business decision based on the need for resource and the skill set available in surgery that would enable a graduate to gain the very most from their placement. The success of the first intake of graduates speaks for itself. Between the 1st September 2011 and 31st May 2012 the gross income generated by the five graduates was just over £650,000. Over eighty people expressed an interest in the 2012 programme, which was advertised nationwide. Thirty-five people were put through an assessment centre which involved a group exercise, speed interviewing and a scenario based exercise before the final twelve were selected. Vet and partner at the Derby surgery Jason Davidson speaks of his experience of employing a graduate. “I have been very lucky with my graduate in that Natalie is very hard working and conscientious. She is very keen to learn and work up her cases correctly and thoroughly. She is also not afraid to try new techniques and learn from other team members.” “She was employed at a time when we were making the transition from a two vet practice to three vets and as her experience and confidence has grown so has her workload to the point where the work and income she is generating is more than covering the cost of employing her.” “The benefit to the surgery is that we now have a fully competent vet on our team and this has enabled the rota to be adjusted so that we all get an extra half day off every week and a better weekend work rota.” Derby’s graduate Natalie offers her take on her first year in practice, “When I started back in 2011 my day to day work was straight away routine vaccines and puppy and kitten consults. I started other consults slowly; vomiting, diarrhea etc etc until I was seeing the same cases as the other vets. It was a good way to learn so I got used to the surgery, the price list, computers and drugs. I also got to perform lots of surgery and achieved my goal last year of performing a gastrotomy – a definite highlight!” The UK-wide group operates over 100 surgeries and is one of the largest veterinary employers in the UK. From the south coast through to the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland the network of surgeries is set to continue the rapid growth it has seen in the past three years and is on track to have over 200 surgeries nationwide by 2015. For graduates this means ever-growing opportunities for jobs and the expansion of Companion Care Vets Graduate Programme in 2012 highlights the company’s commitment to the next generation.

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