Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Fancy working 3 days a week as full-time with 20-minute consults as standard?

Our team definitely do, which is just one of the reasons why we are fortunate to have an experienced and settled vet team. We have been hit by the travel bug though, and Claire, who joined us two years ago as a new grad, is heading off on an Australian adventure. She promises to rejoin the team once she’s finished her travels, but in the meantime, we are looking for an equally lovely small animal vet to join our supportive and experienced 4-vet team at Biggleswade Vets in beautiful Bedfordshire.

About the Team

Sarah, RVN and practice owner gained experience helping to start up a clinic in Luton before deciding she was up for the challenge of doing it herself and set up Biggleswade Vets in 2015 with long-term colleague and vet PJ. Since starting as the only vet and nurse, the team have grown, and we now have an amazing, experienced team of 4 vets, 6 RVNs, 1 SVN, 4 receptionists, and our Practice Manager, Tracey. Sadly for us, PJ also heard Australia's siren song, emigrating there last year. We miss him, but he continues to be Sarah's biggest cheerleader from Down Under:

“I have known and worked with Sarah for over ten years. She has supported me as a vet, from a fresh graduate to a senior partner, shaping my veterinary career in the most positive of ways. Sarah consistently demonstrates strong leadership skills, fosters a positive work environment, and values open communication. Her support and encouragement contribute to a motivated team, making the workplace a productive and enjoyable place to be. I highly commend Sarah as an employer for her exceptional work ethic and dedication. Her insightful contributions have consistently elevated our team's performance, making her an invaluable employer.”

Emma worked with Sarah for 10 years and started here as a locum but liked it so much she stayed.  She loves soft tissue surgery, has a certificate in Ophthalmology and has recently completed an acupuncture course, so we can now offer acupuncture as an additional service.

Sarah A. qualified in 2008 and completed internships in small animal medicine and surgery before settling into general practice. Her interests include radiography and medicine.

Sarah P. is a great GP vet, and surgeon. She has a keen interest in exotics, especially rabbits.

Karen graduated from Cambridge in 2010 and enjoys all aspects of veterinary work, from meeting pets and their owners to working behind the scenes with our excellent team.

We also benefit from the services of peripatetic vets Martin Simonovski DVM MSc VetMed Pg Cert(VPS) CertAVP, who visits to perform our orthopaedic procedures and the imaging expertise of Sarah Kier, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine, and Charlotte Whatmough, EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging, who assist with our cardiac and complex imaging cases.

We all get on well and love to laugh together, both in and out of work. Whether we’re having a go at a Tik-Tok challenge, preparing for our annual Pumpkin carving competition or catching up over lunch as we keep the local Just Eat® drivers in business! We have regular vets' and nurses' meetings to review cases and discuss clinical standards, and we’re always open to new ideas.

The practice is also a lovely working environment. We’re lucky it was purpose-built, so the workflow is ideal, and it is also airconditioned. We are RCVS-accredited, have great kit and are ISFM silver cat-and RWAF silver rabbit-friendly.  We could function as a 4 vet practice, but we made the decision to always have a bigger team so that nobody feels overstretched and under pressure. 

Here’s what our team says about Biggleswade Vets

“I felt incredibly encouraged and supported throughout my time at Biggleswade Vets, with an active learning environment present. The team consists of experienced vets who work together on cases when needed and skilled nurses who are highly valued. It is a busy practice, but the team still manage to have fun and I really enjoyed working with these lovely people! The practice is forward-thinking, always trying to improve and grow, and suggestions for improvement are always encouraged and actively sought by management. I found the clients generally very lovely and felt privileged to have gotten to know some of them. Overall I had a very positive experience working at this practice and would still be there if I wasn’t on the other side of the world!” Claire Hogg MRCVS

“Having worked here for over 5 years, I like the supportive team of vets, nurses and receptionists. The practice has a well-stocked dispensary, and Sarah is always open to suggestions to change & improve. Alongside digital radiography, ultrasonography and Idexx laboratory, we also have tonimetry and Vetscan Imagyst to aid in-house work up of cases. The practice is RCVS Accredited, is a Silver ISFM Cat-Friendly Clinic and is a Silver RWAF Rabbit-Friendly Clinic, so our work standards and animal management standards are very high. And to top this all off, we have the luxury of 20-minute consultations allowing for a thorough workup of cases.” Karen MRCVS

About the role

Whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced vet, we would love you to join our supportive team, where you will be encouraged to follow your interests and develop your skills, including supporting certificates.  Two of our vets are completing the VetGDP Advisor course, and all our team are happy to mentor new grads and less experienced vets.

Our full-time rota is just 3 days a week with a set day off. We would also consider a part-time role as long as you are able to work on a Monday.  Our opening hours are 8.30 am – 8 pm, with no consults after 7 pm, and our out-of-hours are outsourced to Vets Now who open at 7pm, meaning we all get out the door on time and never have to stay late.   Our consultations are 20 minutes, and we schedule our days so you have a mix of consults and procedures.  We routinely have three vets working each day where possible so that there is no sole charge, and someone is always available to chat through a case or offer an extra pair of hands. There is time built in for admin and phone calls, and to ensure you have a proper lunch break. Our weekend rota is 1:3 (Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 10-4), and there are always two vets working.  

Outside of work

We are a very social team, and there are no team divides; vets, nurses and receptionists all get along equally well, whether enjoying a prosecco brunch, getting away for a mini-break, or just heading off for a dog walk. We also have our annual Christmas do, which recently saw us heading to Milton Keynes for a dinner and dancing party night. Some of us even hit the clubs afterwards!

Biggleswade is a pretty market town that sits on the banks of the River Ivel, with scenic walks, boat trips, and kayaking. It’s the perfect base for exploring the surrounding pretty villages and Bedfordshire countryside. Plus, there is easy access to the A1 and great transport links with Cambridge and London Luton Airport, just 40 minutes away. There is also a direct train to central London in just 45 minutes.  

We are offering:

• A salary of up to £65,000 DOE
• Holiday increases with length of service
• CPD actively encouraged with certificates supported and funded
• Professional fees paid
• On-site parking
• Employee Assistance Program
• Exclusive reward scheme

If you want to know more about our fantastic team, call us for an informal chat, or if this sounds like the practice for you, apply now.