Would you like to work in a dynamic, growing dog and cat-only practice? How does never having to treat a hamster again sound to you? Interested now? Read on!
James Horner Vets has grown quickly over the last four years, and as one of our lovely vets embarks on an exciting new adventure in Switzerland, we are excited to welcome a fifth vet to join our amazing team. We were delighted to be voted Best Start-Up at the Best UK Vets Awards for two consecutive years, in the UK Top 25 practices in 2023, and shortlisted in 2024! We believe our success is down to the team, and central to this is that we all really enjoy working here and collaborating with our clients to deliver care we can be proud of. We are still a young practice, and this is great! Every team member has a say and can influence and guide our growth.
Along with an excellent basic salary, two bonus pots are available to the Vet Team: a revenue-linked award (paid monthly) and a share of the profit the whole practice makes at the year's end. The latter bonus allows all employees to experience the benefits of business ownership without the cost or risk. To top it all, both bonus pots are uncapped based on how well we all do! Our quick growth as a practice has meant that the team's profit share has exceeded expectations.
A young business has so many opportunities to influence how we develop and to bring the great elements from our previous work whilst sculpting the business to avoid pitfalls noted elsewhere. Change is good when we are making the changes ourselves. Trying ideas is key; if they work, they are perfect. If not, we can learn from everything! We also use a clear and transparent salary banding for career development and progression, offering a genuine professional career pathway for the future.
The Role
We are growing and want someone to grow with us. We are lucky enough to have secured the unit next door, meaning we are expanding the practice to include additional theatre space and our hydrotherapy unit, which will be in full use by the end of April 2025.
We are looking for a vet with some experience to join us. If you are ready to take the next step in your professional career and head towards further certification, we have a varied caseload to support you and your skillset.
Our full-time vets work a 4-day week and just 1:4 Saturday mornings for consults only (8.30 – 12.30). This is a true 40-hour week, including your Saturday morning shift. There are no OOHs, Sundays, or bank holidays, as Willows takes care of our out-of-hours calls and inpatients. As we know, with the realities of our profession, sometimes overtime does occur, but we record this and compensate with TOIL or pay as suits your choice. In addition to a full-time role, we would also be happy to discuss a part-time position with an equal share of the Saturdays.
Our Culture and Approach
Culture is spoken about widely in all circles, and the truth is that culture is what the team make of it. Enjoying clinical practice and working with our clients provides some level of satisfaction, but we have also set ourselves 5 aims: to be a rewarding practice to work in, to be team led, to be focused on continuous improvement that is goal driven and success orientated. But how do we actually implement it? To ensure we are getting it right, we take time every 3 months to sit down individually and discuss how things are going. Building confidence and spotting areas needing more support early is essential to our success.
We focus exclusively on treating cats and dogs, prioritising confident care over attempting treatment outside our expertise. We understand that knowing our limitations enhances our ability to provide excellent service. Therefore, we refer exotic patients to specialised vets, ensuring they receive the best possible care. This honest approach, born from recognising our own boundaries, resonates positively with our clients.
Salary of £42,000 - £50,000, dependent on experience, with the bonuses discussed above on top
CPD actively encouraged and supported, including certificates.
Professional fees paid
5 weeks holiday, plus bank holidays
If this sounds interesting, call us for an informal chat or apply now.
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