Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

James Horner Vets; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

No OOHs

5 weeks holiday

Professional fees paid

CPD support

Health insurance

Job summary

James Horner Vets, an independent dog and cat-only practice in the West Midlands, is growing its team. The role offers a true 4-day week, Saturday shift on a 1:4 rota, and no out-of-hours work, with overtime paid or TOIL.

There is a share of profits and a clear path for CPD and certificate support. We offer a competitive salary band (£42,000–£55,000 FTE), a company profit share, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth while maintaining a healthy

Qualifications

• Vet with some postgraduate experience and VetGDP completed.

Responsibilities

• Join a 4-day week with a 1:4 Saturday morning rota.
• No OOHs, Sundays or bank holidays; overtime paid or TOIL.
• Opportunity for part-time with an equal share of Saturday work.
• Support for CPD, certificates and professional development.

Education

Vet GDP completed

Job description

Would you like to work in an independent, growing dog and cat-only practice? How about having two bonus pots available that could add up to £10k to your annual salary? Then read on!

Horner Vets has grown quickly over the last five years, and as one of our lovely vets embarks on an exciting new adventure of marriage and a change in practice, we are excited to welcome a sixth vet to join our amazing team. We were delighted to be voted Best Start-Up at the Best UK Vets Awards for two consecutive years, in the UK Top 25 practices in 2023, and shortlisted in 2024! We believe our success is down to the team, and central to this is that we all really enjoy working here and collaborating with our clients to deliver care we can be proud of.

My own work history is eclectic; it is one of horses, injuries and internships, smallies and corporates, poultry, advanced certificates and the pharmaceutical industry! From this, I have pulled the best of what I experienced and am trying to build a workplace that both honours our abilities, respects our workload and delivers a professional service to clients who value our advice.

Along with an excellent basic salary, two bonus pots are available to the Vet Team: a revenue-linked award (paid monthly) and a share of the profit the whole practice makes at the year's end. The latter bonus allows all employees to experience the benefits of business ownership without the cost or risk. To top it all, both bonus pots are uncapped based on how well we all do!Our quick growth as a practice has meant that the team's profit share has exceeded expectations.

Our practice mission is “To provide personalised care for cats and dogs by working closely with their owners to guide and reassure them every step of the way”, and our vision “is to create a welcoming practice where pets receive exceptional care, clients feel like family, and our team loves to belong.”

As a young and growing business, there are genuine opportunities for every member of our team to help shape how we develop. We want to bring together the very best aspects of our previous experiences, while building a practice that truly reflects our mission, vision and values.

We see positive change as an opportunity. We encourage new ideas, welcome different perspectives and are always open to trying new ways of doing things. If something works, fantastic, and if it doesn’t, we learn from it and use that experience to improve.

We also believe career progression should be clear and achievable. Our transparent salary banding provides a structured framework for development and progression, offering a genuine professional career pathway as both you and the practice continue to grow.

Our Team

Lead Vet Kat became an Advanced Practitioner in small animal medicine after completing her certificate in 2020 and is finalising her case log for her cardiology specific certificate as we speak. With this particular interest in cardiology, Kat has launched our certificate-led cardiology service, taking both internal referrals and referrals from local practices.

“Since joining the team over 3 years ago, I can say it is the first time in a long time that I really enjoy going to work and being a vet. James has created a practice with a lovely family feel where I feel like a valued and listened to member of the team.” Kat MRCVS

Emma joined us straight from university in 2025 as our first new grad:

“As a new graduate in my first job, I love being part of a tight-knit team who actively look out for each other. I have appreciated the team support and encouragement to help me grow and develop at a pace that is sufficiently challenging but not overwhelming. I enjoy the way the days are structured to build in rest time and catch-up time, thus making the job easier to complete. James is always looking to expand our equipment, our expertise and overall experience so we are comfortable taking on a wide variety of complex cases.” Emma MRCVS

We are passionate about developing the RVN role and supporting our nurses to work to their full potential. Schedule 3 is actively encouraged, with training and hands‑on experience in areas such as dental scale and polishes, suturing, radiography and anaesthetic management.

Our RVNs are trusted to take an active clinical role and work collaboratively with our vets to share the workload. Online booking and structured triage systems also help protect consultation time, reduce interruptions and keep the working day running smoothly.

“My experience at James Horner Vets can only be described as refreshing. Working for an employer that takes pride in both developing the skills of his team whilst also actively encouraging a good work‑life balance is a breath of fresh air. I believe that the modern approach of Horner Vets is the future of the veterinary industry, and I am proud to be a part of it.” Sophie D. RVN

“I really like the strong network in and outside the practice. Add in the good working hours, a small, close‑knit, friendly team, and support to always better yourself; I couldn’t be happier.” Sophie L. RVN

The Role

We are growing and want someone to grow with us.We were fortunate enough to secure the unit next door to expand the practice. This expansion was completed in early 2025 and includes additional theatre space, our new hydrotherapy unit and a full‑time physiotherapist.

We are looking for a vet with some postgraduate experience who has completed their VetGDP to join us. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional career and work towards further certification, we have a varied caseload to support your development and help build on your existing skillset.

Our full-time vets work a 4-day week and just 1:4 Saturday mornings (8.30 – 12.30). This is a true 40-hour week, including your Saturday morning shift. There are no OOHs, Sundays, or bank holidays, as Willows takes care of our out-of-hours calls and inpatients. As we know, with the realities of our profession, sometimes overtime does occur, but we record this and compensate with TOIL or pay as suits your choice. In addition to a full-time role, we would also be happy to discuss a part‑time position with an equal share of the Saturdays.

Our Culture and Approach

Culture is spoken about widely in all circles, and the truth is that culture is what the team makes of it. Enjoying clinical practice and working with our clients provides some level of satisfaction, but we have also set ourselves 3 core values: to be a collaborative practice to work in, to be compassionate, and to be committed. But how do we actually implement it?To ensure we are getting it right, we take time quarterly to sit down individually and discuss how things are going and agree on directions of effort. Building confidence and spotting areas needing more support early is essential to our success

In addition to individual development, we close the practice for the day every 3 months for a team lunch and training. Here, we reflect on our successes, focus on initiatives brought by the team, and discuss clinical interests amongst all levels of staff.The afternoon is set aside for an external speaker, generally focusing on soft skills and cover a wide range of topic, for example, how to have difficult conversations.

We focus exclusively on treating cats and dogs, prioritising confident care over attempting treatment outside our expertise. We understand that knowing our limitations enhances our ability to provide excellent service. Therefore, we refer exotic patients to specialised vets, ensuring they receive the best possible care. This honest approach, born from recognising our own boundaries, resonates positively with our clients.

We also encourage an uncommon way of reporting lab results: face-to-face!This means fewer late-night phone calls, fewer voicemails, and fewer distractions when talking on the phone.Reporting results is as important, if not more important, than the sampling process.All lab fees include a “reporting-results” consultation booked at an appropriate time to allow for results to be processed, considered, discussed with colleagues, and a plan to be made.

We have the usual equipment you would expect, allowing us to conduct good workups, and we can invest in many potential directions based on the interests of our vets and team. We are an RVN training practice and an RCVS-accredited practice.

We offer:

• Salary of £42,000 - £55,000 FTE
• Company profit share
• Any overtime paid or given as TOIL
• No OOHs
• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays
• Professional fees paid
• CPD and certificate support
• Internal training and CPD days
• Private Medical Insurance (Aviva)
• Health Shield health care cash-back plan
• Mintago financial advice and benefits
• Salary sacrifice schemes
• Team days out
• Team meals out

We’re a close-knit, friendly team that enjoys a good get-together and not just for our annual Christmas party. Once a quarter, we have a team meal out, where everyone’s welcome to come along for some great food and a relaxed evening full of laughs. Some of our team also frequently meet for dog walks or family days out.

Sheldon is in a fantastic position on the border of Warwickshire, offering the best of both worlds - the serene rural countryside and the city's lively culture.

Fantastic transport links with easy access to the motorway network, and Birmingham Airport is just 10 minutes away.