Learning

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we've developed a market-leading learning, education and development programme for all colleagues to help them progress their careers.

As a large group, CVS provides multiple sites and facilities to be able to train in on the job, whilst still working full time. Our large network of experienced colleagues can also help train and support less experienced colleagues.

• An in-house team of 35 people (including vets and nurses) develop our LED programme and courses. Over 60% of our courses are delivered internally.
• Clinical development is the core aspect of our training. We offer our clinicians industry-leading Continued Professional Development and provide a culture of recommending the best possible treatment. This includes sponsoring further qualifications for vets, such as certificates including the RCVS CertAVP and European diplomas.
• Our national network of regional clinical leads (experienced vets) support our first opinion practices by teaching advanced diagnostics and techniques and by mentoring vets developing interests in specific disciplines.
• We have launched a range of clinical improvement projects to achieve outstanding patient care in general practice. Including dermatology, hypertension and lameness, they offer a framework for improvement, including clinical learning and support materials.  
• Our Knowledge Hub educational platform offers over 700 courses covering a wide range of clinical and non-clinical education and training. Many of our e-learning sessions are run by our specialists.
• BSAVA's full library of veterinary resources is offered free to our colleagues. Home to all BSAVA publications, it covers the spectrum of small animal veterinary practice.
• Accredited leadership and management development programmes are offered to colleagues through all stages of their career.
• CVS’ new graduate programme is one of the longest running and is industry leading. It supports vets in the first 2 years in practice with a 4-week induction programme (residential and in-practice), followed by 15 clinical and professional courses with an opportunity for undertaking electives and career support. It is supported by in-practice trained Graduate Development Advisers for day-to-day support and a team of Pastoral Support Vets dedicated to graduate wellbeing.
• Our student nurse induction programme is industry leading. Colleagues are trained via our MiNurse Academy, our very own e-learning platform, exclusively for RVNs. This provides a year of CPD and development through online and distance learning. Nurses are also allocated a clinical supervisor to develop their clinical skills.
• CVS’ veterinary nurse further education college in Chester is in the top 6 of 96 nursing schools in England, has achieved above national first time pass rates for 7 out of 8 modules and has an OFSTED good rating. We have two additional nurse training centres in Diss and Harrogate providing a range of qualifications for CVS and third‑party owned practices.
• We partner with universities to support training the next generations of vets in our practices. We provide lectures and workshops, host students for extramural studies with associated support, host clinical intramural rotations for final year students, and collaborate in the postgraduate training of residents including associated research projects.
• We run an award winning apprenticeship programme. Since its introduction in 2017, we’ve spent millions of pounds on apprentice tuition fees. We have at least 450 active apprentices at any one time, enrolled onto carefully matched programmes - ranging from a level 2 to a level 7 degree.