Veterinary and animal care
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in veterinary and animal care work, and includes information on working with Horses.
What is veterinary and animal care?
In veterinary and animal care you will provide a high standard of medical and nursing care for animals. There are around 16,137 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) qualified veterinary nurses in the UK. (RCVS).
In Britain and Ireland there are about 350 zoos, safari parks, bird gardens and aquariums open to the public which employ approximately 3,000 people in full-time positions. Entry for all roles is very competitive. (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums - BIAZA)
Industries in this sector forecast to demonstrate growth in the South East region are production horticulture, landscape, environmental conservation, animal care, trees and timber, fencing and equine. (Lantra). The majority of veterinary surgeons and nurses work for individually run veterinary practices. Jobs are also available in veterinary hospitals, animal welfare centres and colleges. There is often strong competition for training positions.
Prospects
Prospects is a Graduate Careers Website with profiles on a variety of jobs working with animals.
Animal and plant resources
In addition Prospects have produced a series of 'sector guides', which give insights into a number of industries, The 'Environment' includes job titles, how to get into it, the big companies and information sources. It is available online or in hard copy from the careers centre.
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/EnvironmentSB
Look for courses at the university
See the courses database for University of Brighton courses in this area http://courses.brighton.ac.uk/
Further information on the University of Brighton accredited courses and careers in Animal Care or the Equine industry: www.plumpton.ac.uk/
Working with Horses - what are my career options?
British Equine Veterinary Association
This site contains a useful guide to veterinary nursing. dental technicians and information on courses for 'continuing professional development'.
www.beva.org.uk
Equine Online
For those that are passionate about horses, includes a resources and jobs and careers section.
equine-online.net
How do I get into it?
Working with animals can be a very rewarding career and there are many different kinds of employment, work experience and voluntary placements available. However, competition for places is fierce and it is important to consider all the facts before applying for a position. (BIAZA)
Because there is such a wide variety of animal related fields available it is a good idea to decide which type of work is more suited to you and what areas you are most interested in. (BIAZA)
The following websites may have some useful information about getting into your area of interest.
Association of Pet Behaviour
Information on becoming a Pet Behaviour Counsellor, from the Association of Pet Behaviour.
www.apbc.org.uk
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy
This website contains a comprehensive career section on becoming a Chartered Physiotherapist
www.acpat.org
Association of British Wild Animal Keepers
Information website including 'So you want to be a Zoo Keeper?'
www.abwak.co.uk
British Horse Society
This UK's largest equestrian charity has sections on careers working with horses and working for the society itself.
British Horseracing Authority
Has a comprehensive careers guide, training information, current vacancies within the British racing industry and information on the British Horseracing Board Graduate Development Programme.
www.britishhorseracing.com/
British Veterinary Nursing Association
This website has a large careers section and includes a downloadable careers leaflet.
www.bvna.org.uk
British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)
This is the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland. You will find a jobs and careers section as well information about working in animal care and conservation.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
This website has an education and careers section which details how to get into the profession.
www.rcvs.org.uk/
Finding a job or employer in this sector
Journal of the British Veterinary Association
Laboratory News
Scientists Magazine with vacancies section.
www.labnews.co.uk
Nature Jobs
Nature Jobs website includes a searchable database of jobs from a wide range of nature backgrounds.
www.nature.com/naturejobs
New Scientist
Job section of the New Scientist - with worldwide recruitment information.
www.newscientistjobs.com
British Veterinary Nursing Association
This site has an employment section listing vacancies.
www.bvna.org.uk
The Association of British Wild Animal Keepers
Vacancy pages.
www.abwak.co.uk
The Institute for Animal Health
Includes postgraduate opportunities and vacancies.
www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk
The Royal Veterinary College
Jobs at the royal veterinary college.
www.rvc.ac.uk/Vacancies/Index.cfm
The Veterinary Record - Journal of the British Veterinary Association
News and vacancies.
http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com
Horses
British Horse Society
This UK's largest equestrian charity has sections on careers working with horses and working for the society itself.
Equiworld
Laboratory News
Journal of the British Veterinary Association
Further Information and Useful Links
A future in... Environmental and Land based careers
Here you will find information on 17 land based career sectors from Equine to Veterinary Nursing.
www.afuturein.com/
Association of British Wild Animal Keepers
British Horse Society
British Equine Veterinary Association
British Equestrian Trade Association
Codes of conduct, safety, equestrian survey and publications.
www.beta-uk.org
British Veterinary Association (BVA)
Canine and Feline Behaviour Association
Compassion in World Farming
Equine Veterinary Journal
Farriers Registration Council
The council regulates farriery in Great Britain. Provides details on becoming a farrier, a directory of farriers, as well as a farriery training service.
www.farrier-reg.gov.uk
Horse and Hound online
Horse and Hound magazine online. Magazine with news, careers, education and vacancies. Need to subscribe for vacancies.
www.horseandhound.co.uk
Jockey Club
Rules, safety and welfare, licensing procedures, point to point and racing links.
www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
Forge: British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association
Membership fees and benefits including pensions, healthcare, insurance and legal services.
www.nafbae.org
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
Recommends measures to maintain the national exploitation of fish stocks in Atlantic and Artic Oceans.
www.neafc.org
Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
Pony Club
Event listings, training, tests, competitive and non-competitive activities and mailing list.
www.pcuk.org
Riding for the Disabled Association
National news and general overview of the organisation.
www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
The college to which all practising Veterinary Surgeons belong.
www.rcvs.org.uk
Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
Preventing cruelty to animals, inspecting, preparing evidence for convictions. The website has vacancies and job profiles.
www.rspca.org.uk
Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons
The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy
The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors
National group for Animal Behavioural Experts
www.apbc.org.uk
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association
The links section of this site contains links to veterinary schools and welfare organisations
www.bsava.com
The British Trust for Ornithology
Independent, scientific research trust, investigating the populations, movements and ecology of wild birds in the British Isles
www.bto.org
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)
A scientific and technical animal welfare organisation, information on grants and awards for further study
www.ufaw.org.uk
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/vla
Weatherbys
World Animal Net
International directory of animal protection societies and links.
www.worldanimal.net
Race Courses in Sussex
- Arundel Fontwell Park Racecourse
- Brighton Brighton Racecourse Co Ltd
- Chichester Goodwood Estate Co. Ltd
- Plumpton Plumpton Racecourse
Animal charities and organisations in the South East
The following links give further details of animal charities and organisations you may want to approach for job and volunteering opportunities.