A GRADUATE Programme to develop the next generation of vets is set to more than double its intake of new recruits – just six months after it was launched.
VetPartners, which owns some of the most respected and trusted practices across the UK, set up its Graduate Programme with the aim of recruiting, developing and retaining young vets.
Now the successful expansion of VetPartners as a group has increased demand for career opportunities from young vets of tomorrow.
Some 20 first year vets are currently on the programme, but Programme Director Rob Williams is expecting at least 50 applications from final year university students for veterinary positions across practices in the VetPartners group.
Young vets are provided with a solid foundation on which to build a long-term veterinary career, with regular CPD, a chance to meet up with other new graduates, and an opportunity to be mentored at practice level, while developing both clinical and commercial skills.
Mr Williams said: “Our Graduate Programme has been a big success for students, practices and VetPartners.
“We now have final year university students approaching us for a place in the next intake, which is great because it shows that word is spreading about the success of the programme.
“To have more than doubled the number of young vets on the programme in the space of only six months is real testament to the work we have been doing.
“We expect around 50 new vets to be placed in our practices after university, and they will benefit from the best possible start to their working life by being part of our Graduate Programme.”
VetPartners, which was established in 2015, set up a Graduate Programme to nurture new recruits working across its 28 practices in England, Scotland and Wales.
The programme is run over two years, with graduates completing 10 CPD modules, including dentistry, emergency medicine, feline medicine and skin and ear disease, in the first year, while on day release from their practice. They then study four modules in their second year.
The VetPartners Graduate Programme also provides pastoral and mentoring support to young vets to help them cope with the demands of the profession and bridge the gap between university and life in practice.
Mr Williams said: “We established our own Graduate Programme so we could offer young vets the best possible start to their career, which will hopefully increase our chances of keeping them in the profession.
“We understand how daunting it can be to go straight from the safe and secure environment of vet school into busy veterinary practices. Our programme is designed to help develop medical and surgical skills, as well as other key challenges like communication and dealing with clients.
“Pastoral support and mentoring is a big part of the scheme, and we are one of the few companies to offer this as a key part of the programme.
“The gulf between being a student and working in a professional environment is enormous, so we provide them with a mentor at their practice to help them guide through every step of their professional development and just be there to listen. We encourage everyone in our practices to mentor our new young vets.”
Final year university students interested in joining the VetPartners Graduate Programme, should email rob.williams@vetpartners.co.uk
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Head of PR and Communications, on 0191 274 7910 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk