New Graduate/Early Career Vet Surgeon - join our new graduate mentoring and support programme

Our small, independent, family run, mixed practice on the Norfolk Suffolk border, minutes away from the beautiful Suffolk Heritage coast is expanding, and we are looking for an additional vet to complement our amazing team!!! 

The position is open to recent graduates/early career professionals.  The full time position can be split into two part time flexible roles. The only thing we ask is you possess the right to work in the United Kingdom and have RCVS eligibility to practice in the UK.

We are a mixed practice predominantly equine and small animal, and this new position will the give the right individual both the opportunity and scope to excel in either clinical sphere (equine or small animal) or a combination of the two.  We are currently growing the equine side of the practice.  Purpose built clinic and equine rehabilitation centre on site.

Package includes a car; generous CPD budget   (study for certificates actively encouraged); RCVS fees & VDS cover; salary commensurate with experience.  Accommodation in a beautiful period feature cottage set in 20 acres of grassland is also available if required.  Shared out of hours rota.   

If you have an interest in equine and/or small animal then contact us, whilst experience is preferred it is not essential.  Our new graduate mentoring and support programme is second to none and we pride ourselves on giving the successful applicant  the tools, and support  to succeed (see below) .

Our Graduate Program

Our graduate mixed practice programme is second to none with one-to-one mentoring and support from our senior vets. Day or night, help is always on hand if you need it.  One of our former graduates has gone on to complete an internship at New Market Equine Hospital. 

How and what you will learn

Our graduate programme facilitates development of all core practical skills across the species giving a good foundation to continue your personal development either as a mixed practice practitioner or enable you to focus on a more species specific career.  You will be teamed up with one of our senior veterinary surgeons (also a trained GDP mentor) for the duration of your graduate programme, who will not only be there to support and mentor you with your veterinary training, helping you achieve you goals, and be the very best vet you can be, but who will also be there to support you emotionally and mentally 24/7.  Initially you will be shadowing your mentor helping make the transition from student to veterinary surgeon a smooth and natural process. 

Over time you will gradually build up your skills becoming proficient in mixed veterinary practice.  It is so important to have the right support in your early years as a veterinary surgeon, and no one understands this more that the team at Stoven Hall.

Nothing prides us more at Stoven Hall Vets than to help you grow and flourish in your veterinary career, fulfil your goals and ambitions and become the very best veterinary surgeon you can be. 

One of our senior vets holds an ESVPS postgraduate certificate (GPCert(EqP)) in equine practice, and the practice actively encourages studying for a certificate with funding available at the practice to help facilitate this.

What happens after you apply

Once we have received your application/CV we will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your application in more detail and give you the opportunity to ask all the questions you may have about the practice.  If all goes well we will then invite you to Stoven Hall Veterinary Clinic to come and spend some time with us, meet our fantastic team and get a real feel for the practice and what we are all about.  We have accommodation available in a beautiful period feature detached cottage if you would like to stay for a few days or prefer to split your journey over two days.  Following your visit we will then contact you again, normally within a few days of your interview/visit, to answer any further questions/queries you may have and and let you know the outcome of your application.

A bit about us

Stoven Hall Vets (formerly Stoven Hall Equine Clinic) was set up in 2011 as a purely equine practice with planning permission for a large equine rehabilitation centre on site to complement the veterinary services and treatment.  Since 2011 the practice has continued to grow and expand, and now also cares for companion animals.  Some of our horse clients also have small holdings/hobby farms, so we do see the occasional ruminant, alpaca or meerkat!!  We have also been on the BBC’s Countryfile. 

Located within 60 miles of Newmarket we have easy access to both Rossdales Equine Hospital and Newmarket Equine Hospital for referring cases and visiting equine dental specialist vets (Chris Pearce and colleagues) from the Equine Dental Clinic in Wimbourne. 

Set in 20 acres of farmland (pasture) with paddocks, an exercise track, 60x30m outdoor floodlit ménage, internal stables and a bespoke equine examination room including stocks, it is not only a beautiful place to work but perfect for treating horses and those requiring rest and rehabilitation.  The practice has the usual toys including respiratory scope, 3metre gastroscope, ultrasound including colour flow Doppler, ECG, digital x-ray machine, HDE dental power tool system etc.  We are in the process of purchasing in house blood machines and a new dental oroscope system. 

In addition to the large animal examination room we have a waiting room, consult room, hospitalisation facilities and an operating theatre (including a state of the art dental machine) for our small animal patients.  With 15 minute consultation appointments as a minimum, we can ensure our clients and patients receive our full attention and time that they need.

We are looking for a motivated, diligent, conscientious team player, with good communication skills and empathy for our patients and clients to help grow and expand the equine side of the practice with some small animal.  A good sense of humour is essential as is a liking of cake!!! 

They say good things come in small packages!! We are a small practice and team who are more like family than work colleagues, it is not uncommon for us to socialise outside of work.   Out with Covid times we have a Christmas party each year for our clients, hold charity fund raising events, the most recent being our “Paws on Parade” in aid of the Air Ambulance and client evenings.  Being small, we know all our clients and their animals individually, which not only creates a fantastic working atmosphere but a special rapport with our clients.  Many of you are probably too young to remember James Herriot but the best way I can describe us is we are the modern version of Skeldale. 

We are minutes away from the beach, 5 minutes from the prestigious Southwold pier and beach, close to the Norfolk Broads for those that like sailing and paddle boarding, and for those festival goers, Latitude festival is just up the road …. you can hear the bands from the clinic grounds!!  We are located within easy access to London by bus and train and a 45 minutes drive from Norwich Airport with good road links to other parts of the country.  Stoven with Brampton also has an amazing village primary school just up the road from the clinic.

We are an independent practice and will always remain so.  Looking to take the next step in your career? Aspirations to become a partner or own a practice?   This job opportunity has the potential to allow you to achieve your goals, with long term prospects for the right person.  We can also consider splitting the full time role into two part-time positions, which may suit individuals returning to work after maternity leave, families with children, or individuals wishing to work more flexible hours.

• Salary commensurate with experience:  £34,000-£60,000* (*New graduate  £34,000 year 1 increasing to £36,500 in year 2)
• VDS & RCVS fees paid
• 3 days paid CPD with an annual allowance of £1500
• Practice vehicle for business mileage
• 5 weeks holiday pro rata plus bank holidays
• Birthday off
• 4.5 day working week Monday to Friday
• Shared out of hours rota with dedicated back-up and nurse on call assistance.
• Pet friendly accommodation in beautiful period feature cottage available if required
• Equine livery on site available if required

For more information contact Sally on 01502575901 (daytime) or 07881104868. or via the APPLY button.