Global talent is something we champion, celebrating the diversity across our business and the experience that our colleagues bring to the veterinary industry. In the UK, global talent is crucial, with a countrywide shortage of qualified vets meaning that global recruitment is critical to fill essential public health roles.
As the largest provider of public health veterinary services, we provide vets across a range of settings to carry out a variety of services. Our work ensures UK food production remains safe, and protects the welfare of 1.2 billion animals per year.
Our UK wide team of over 900 professionals work with government to deliver official controls and certify that all animal products are safe to enter the food chain. As well as this, we are the sole supplier to the FSA (Food Standards Agency), covering roles nationwide to ensure food production follows regulations. Without this work, consumer health would be put at significant risk, and cases of foodborne illness would increase substantially.
To work as an Official Veterinarian, you are required to be a fully qualified veterinarian with a qualification from an RCVS-accredited university. Within the UK, there are only ten universities who offer these courses, and a shortage of students choosing to enter the profession. The majority of UK veterinary students start their courses with a view to work in a pet clinic setting – a profession which also experiences shortages. The result is this: hundreds of vacant non-clinic roles, which are essential for safeguarding UK health.
Facing this challenge is difficult, and a huge culture change is required to overhaul UK views on the Official Veterinarian role. With the situation as it stands, global recruitment is vital, in order to ensure these positions are filled so that food production can continue safely. A high percentage of our colleagues are international employees, coming from over 50 different countries to work across a variety of establishments and food sectors, conducting crucial inspections that protect the public. Some international veterinary degrees have a bigger focus on OV work as well, dedicating a lengthier part of the course to working within abattoirs, meaning that more graduates choose to specialise in this area.
If we didn’t champion global talent, UK food production would be significantly impacted and regulations checks could not continue as they are today. We are incredibly proud that we have knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated vets from all over the world working with us, and we will always do our best to promote and support global talent.
Here’s a quote from one of our amazing colleagues about the benefit of this diversity:
“People get the chance to know from a native about other countries or even get to know countries they’d never heard of such as mine. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about different cultures and respect our differences.” – Diandra Nascimento, Meat Hygiene Inspector, São Tomé and Príncipe
For more about our careers, head to our Join the Team page.