Given the current economic climate and the general feeling that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, many people will be looking at re-training and how to go about it.

I thought it would be a good idea to look into areas where employment is still available and how you go about re-training.

One area, where in recent years, the demand has outstripped the supply of good quality, qualified employees in Veterinary Nursing.  For people who have a keen interest in animals, have good communication skills and are not squeamish, this may be the job for you but how to go about getting the training.

Firstly, you do need to train and gain the appropriate qualifications.  If you are hoping to get by with existing degrees or NVQ’s in other, or even similar areas you need to check with BVNA to see if they suitable.

The lower age limit for student veterinary nurses – previously set at 17 – has been removed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in order to comply with age discrimination legislation.

The entry requirements remain unchanged: five GSCEs at grade C or higher, or five Scottish Standards at grades one to three (including English Language, Maths and a Science subject).

Candidates must also have a place with an RCVS-approved Training Practice or on a recognised veterinary nursing degree course.

Follow this link for full information on the training and how to go about it from The British Veterinary Nursing Association Ltd who are a great source of information.

http://www.bvna.org.uk/smartweb/become-a-vn-and-svns/overview

You can study for a Veterinary Nursing Degree and this will lead to part qualification towards a Veterinary Surgeon qualification for those who what to go further.

Other useful websites:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk
http://www.warkscol.ac.uk
http://www.myerscough.ac.uk
http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk
http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk
http://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk
http://www.cant-col.ac.uk
http://www.hadlow.ac.uk
http://www.hartpury.ac.uk
http://www.medev.ac.uk
http://www.moulton.ac.uk

Fifteen days ago we had to change our site to follow the ‘temporary’ change of VAT for the UK, which has now been set at 15%.

Making important changes to a website is always a bit of a worry, and none more so when it concerns taking payments. I’m very pleased to say that our man got the job done in under 15 minutes from the word go, he bing bonged me back on MSN to confirm the change and made sure I had his mobile in case of any problems (there were none).

This was impressive, especially as he had caught the dreaded cold/flu virus that was doing the rounds at the time. The poor soul probably spent the next 15 hours in bed recovering.

I don’t know if the 15% VAT will stimulate our economics, but I do appreciate the effort put in to make the change from our Web Team. Well done Steffan and the DataDial team!

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As any of you know, when you have animals and livestock to look after Christmas can be very much like any other day of the year, except you have to try and cook, eat and enjoy a hugh meal as well.  How do you brighten up you Christmas Day whilst looking after your livestock?   Send me you pics and I will upload on the Land-force blog.