VETPARTNERS’ Farm Academy, which gives university students a taste of life as a farm vet, has yielded a rich crop of home-grown vets.
Three vets are enjoying a fulfilling start to their careers at VetPartners after gaining an insight into our group when they attended our annual summer Farm Academy which is run for fourth and final year university students who are interested in becoming farm vets.
The Farm Academy is organised by four of our practices – Calweton Vets, Penbode Vets, Rosevean Vets and Cornwall Dairy Vets – and provides aspiring farm vets from UK universities with an opportunity to experience real life farm scenarios and the chance to put theory into practice.
Farm vets from across the practices each led a variety of practical sessions and discussions on topics ranging from sheep management and flock health, surgical anatomy, clinical vaccination on a dairy farm and advice on how to thrive in the veterinary profession.
After attending the Farm Academy, Kai Sainsbury joined Penbode Vets, Seona Bailey joined Parklands Vets, and Ed Alston joined Rosevean Vets, following their graduation.
The trio are the first vets to go from our Farm Academy to our Farm New Graduate Programme.
Kai, pictured left, who graduated from Liverpool University last summer, said: “The Farm Academy gave us a great insight into what it is like as a practising vet. I had my university placements at Penbode and I am really enjoying life as a farm vet.
“The Farm Academy provided an opportunity to meet like-minded students and be able to chat about becoming a farm vet.
“I’m working in a very supportive environment at Penbode and the wider support from VetPartners with the New Graduate Programme has been really helpful.”
Seona, right, who was studying veterinary medicine at Liverpool University when she attended, said: “Attending the Farm Academy gave me a great insight into the role and an opportunity to get practical experience. I was leaning towards large animal work, but the academy gave me the opportunity to have such good hands-on experience that it convinced me to become a farm vet.
“When applying for a job, VetPartners was the only group I applied to because I liked how they worked and the support they give to young vets at the start of their career.”
The VetPartners Graduate Programme supports new vets to bridge the gap between university and life in practice. The Farm Graduate Programme includes a Boot Camp which provides new vets with practical CPD in a farm environment.
Seona added: “It was nerve-racking starting a career in practice, but the Boot Camp provided a crash-course in practice farm vetting right at the start, with everything from calf castration to doing a c-section on a pygmy goat.
“I am really enjoying my career. It is not without its challenges, but I work with the nicest, most supportive people. They let me do the job but are there to provide back-up when needed.”
After graduating from Košice University in Slovakia, Ed joined Rosevean Vets in August as a mixed vet, working mainly in the small animal practice but also playing a role in the farm side.
Ed said: “The Farm Academy gave me a great insight into the role and I wanted to work in a mixed practice close to my home in Cornwall so Rosvean ticked those boxes.
“The Farm Academy was excellent and well organised, with a good mix of theory and practical work during a packed schedule. We had a trip to see alpacas, a sheep farm and a slaughterhouse so we experienced practical and realistic scenarios.
“The vets running the Academy were very experienced and knowledgeable, so we received lots of tips and advice on different techniques and approaches. The Farm Academy encouraged my decision to join VetPartners as I knew I was joining a good group of practices.”
Ed added: “I am enjoying my career as a vet. As a mixed vet I am mainly involved in the small animal side with most of the large animal work on the emergency side, with c-sections, calving and downer cows.”
- Applications have opened for the next VetPartners Farm Academy which will be held in Cornwall in July.
- Places are limited and are open to fourth and final year veterinary students who are interested in a career as a farm vet.
- Please send a CV and covering letter to hayley.bateman@vetpartners.co.uk
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners PR and Communications Director, at amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk or 07970 198492
