UK veterinary group, VetPartners, is celebrating a special milestone after recruiting its 100th new graduate.
Charlie Adams became the 100th young vet to join the VetPartners Graduate Development Programme when he started his working life at Abbey Veterinary Group in Paisley after completing his studies at Glasgow University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
Established in 2016, the aim of the two-year Graduate Development Programme is to provide new vets joining VetPartners practices with regular CPD opportunities, mentoring within practice and support during the development of their career.
During the first two years, 66 graduates have been part of the programme and 92% of them have remained working at practices within the group – a retention rate that bucks the national trend.
This year’s intake of 60 graduates to work at VetPartners practices across the UK was the highest yet and takes the number of vets recruited to the programme to 120, with Charlie being the 100th.
For the first time, the number also includes farm and equine vets following VetPartners’ expansion into the equine, mixed and production animal sectors.
Charlie, 22, who is originally from Ayr, said: “I’m really enjoying life as a vet and the VetPartners Graduate Development Programme is helping to bridge the gap between university and being a vet.
“I’m mainly working in small animal but I will start to do mixed work. Cases so far have been routine cat and dog consults, but I did have a pet African pygmy hedgehog brought in with itchy skin that I treated for mites.
“The challenge for new vets is that when we got experience of working in practices, you get used to having everything checked and approved, but now we have to stand on our own two feet.
“Having a mentor in practice in Colin Greer is a great support and we have regular meetings on my progress, as well as ongoing monthly CPD with the other VetPartners new grads.”
Graduates joining the VetPartners Graduate Development Programme have monthly CPD opportunities with 16 modules covering topics such as feline medicine, practical surgery and emergency medicine from visiting lecturers, who include leading referral vets from group practices.
VetPartners was established in 2015 and set up the Graduate Development Programme the following year, with 20 graduates.
Rob Williams, VetPartners Head of Organisational Development, said: “Supporting new graduates and mentoring them in practice sets us apart within the veterinary industry. We take an active interest in new graduates and that is one of the reasons for the retention success.
“University life is one thing, but working in practice is much more demanding and daunting and we aim to bridge that gap and support our graduates.
“This is the first year we have welcomes graduates working across all species groups, not just small animal, and it reflects the make-up of our practices.”
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Head of PR and Communications, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk