Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Matt and I (Hannah) began our journey just over two years ago when a shared passion for veterinary medicine and providing exceptional care to both pets and their owners drove us to open Bramble and Bear. As vets who have managed several practices between us, we wanted to bring the best aspects of our experiences in practice together with all of the fantastic ideas we hadn’t been able to implement. Our goal was to create a forward-thinking practice and foster an environment where everyone can thrive and enjoy their work.

Since starting from the back of my car and bringing the clinic to clients at home, we’ve had a whirlwind time and loved every minute of it! After three months, we invested in a mobile surgical unit to provide surgical procedures out on the road. In September 2023, we opened our first hub in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved so far, and we’re now looking for a third vet to join us as the journey continues. We've got big plans on the horizon, with exciting things coming soon. Hopefully, year three will be the best yet!

We’re so proud of our hub facilities, including our Casco kennels with in-built heating and adjustable lighting, which have proved a hit with our feline patients. We have all the kit needed to work up and treat most cases in-house, including DR X-ray, Doppler ultrasound, endoscopy and ICU incubator. Being situated on a working farm provides a peaceful atmosphere, and it’s great to have the farm shop and café next door if we fancy a treat for lunch.

We aim to care for every pet and client with compassion and expertise at an affordable price. We believe in being transparent with our pricing, which is why we offer free consultations with fixed-price hospitalisation and surgery costs. This has helped us build strong, trusting relationships with our clients, who appreciate knowing exactly what to expect.

I enjoy all aspects of small animal work, but I am particularly interested in internal medicine, ECC, and cardiology, and I’m currently studying for my ECC certificate. Matt graduated from Liverpool in 2009. He enjoys surgery, performing soft tissue, including BOAS and hiatal hernias, and is pursuing an ECC certificate. Matt also loves mentoring new graduates and less experienced vets and took some time out from veterinary to complete his teaching degree. We also have regular visits from an orthopaedic surgeon to perform any fracture repairs or cruciate surgeries in-house.

We had previously worked with Anna, our Head Nurse, and were so pleased she shared our ethos and was willing to start this journey with us. Anna has many years of veterinary experience, beginning as a VCA in 2009. She completed her nurse training in 2017 and is studying for her feline nursing certificate. We are an accredited nurse training practice and have two SVNs. Olivia is nearing completion of the third year of her nursing degree, while Eleesha is in her first year of training.

“Here at Bramble and Bear, we see a large, varied caseload in an idyllic setting. We are well-equipped for a variety of emergency and critical care cases, and as a team, we strive to give the best possible patient and client care. We enrol new clients and patients daily, and no two days are ever the same.

The team enjoys a challenge but also a laugh along the way. I have been with Bramble and Bear since its establishment and can't see myself in any other workplace other than here. We are complimented on our professional and personal touches, and this is what makes us truly stand out as a lovely place to work.” Anneliese Head RVN

“I’m a student vet nurse at Bramble and Bear. I’ve only been here a short time, but I have loved every second. The varied caseload on a day-to-day basis enables me to expand my knowledge and it allows me to have a better understanding of the world of veterinary medicine and be the best that I can be. I feel at Bramble and Bear, I am supported and given the confidence to succeed. The future of this practice holds no boundaries and is a great place to have a front-row seat in helping the practice grow.” Olivia SVN

We are happy to support a new graduate to get the best start to their veterinary career and would love to share our enthusiasm for the profession with you. Matt is completing the VetGDP Advisor training, and we are both happy to chat through cases, share our knowledge and provide an extra pair of hands as you find your feet. Equally, if you’re an experienced vet looking to follow your interests or take on a certificate, we have the varied caseload needed to support this. Our days (8.30-6.30) are a mix of consults and operating, so there is plenty of time to hone your skills. We still provide a mobile service on Tuesdays and Fridays for clients and the local charities we work with, and you are welcome to get involved with this.

We’re looking for a full-time vet to work a 4-day week, with just 1:3 Saturday mornings (9-12). Our Saturdays are for non-routine/urgent appointments only, and our nurses take the phones during this time. This means if there are no inpatients to deal with, you can be on-call from home and only have to attend the practice if needed. We provide our own out-of-hours service, with a shared rota of 1:3 weekends and one weeknight on-call. The weekend includes your Saturday shift, and due to our free daytime consultations, the OOH tends to be very manageable, typically involving 1 or 2 advice calls a week. Matt or I will provide backup for new grads and less experienced vets as you build your confidence.

We're a friendly bunch who love getting together outside work to catch up and unwind. Whether it's enjoying a well-deserved drink at the local pub, exploring the great outdoors with our canine crew (feel free to borrow one of ours!), or celebrating the festive season with our annual Christmas party. As our team grows, we look forward to even more social events and creating lasting memories together.

The Staffordshire Moorlands are perfect for walking and cycling, and you can enjoy incredible views from the nearby craggy rocks of the Roaches, which overlook Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir, where you can go sailing or kayaking. Stoke-on-Trent is one of the greenest cities in the UK, with many green spaces and parks, including Westport Lake and Park Hall Country Park. There are excellent transport links, with Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham easily reached in an hour, and for thrill seekers, Alton Towers is just 20 minutes away.

We are offering:

• A salary of £40,000 for a new graduate up to £80,000, depending on experience
• 5.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
• Uncapped CPD budget, with certificates supported and funded
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS & BVA/BSAVA
• Bupa private healthcare

If you want to be part of our exciting adventure and build a rewarding career, we'd love to hear from you. Give us a call for an informal chat, or apply now.