Vet graduates struggle for equine work
A survey by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has found that there are five times more veterinary graduates hoping to work in equine practice than there are jobs available.
Carried out this spring, the survey was conducted among the association's 2,500 members, comprising both equine vets and student vets who hope to work with horses.
The BEVA found what it describes as an "alarming mismatch" between the 819 new veterinary graduates in the UK last year, and the less than one per cent growth in full time equine vet vacancies.
Of the 800 plus graduates, the survey allowed the BEVA to estimate that between 10 and 15 per cent intend to work in equine practice.
The survey also found that, in order to improve their chances of securing a job in equine practice, veterinary graduates were taking on internships and unpaid externships during their unemployment.
Tim Mair, a partner at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent, said: "Several years ago we would expect 50 or so applications for an advertised intern post but now, without advertising at all, we are constantly receiving applications – not just from new graduates but also from those who have been qualified for a year or more."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
