Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon in Birmingham

We’re an independent, single-site small animal practice that has grown organically since opening in 2007 by carefully building a team and culture we’re truly proud of. As our team and services continue to grow, we’re looking for an experienced and motivated veterinary surgeon to join us and help shape the next chapter of 387 Veterinary Centre and The West Midlands Cat Clinic.

Our culture: people-first, always

We’ve spent years intentionally building and protecting a culture where people enjoy coming to work. We’ve been part of the Investors in People framework since 2013 and have held Platinum accreditation across our last three assessments, the highest level possible. In 2016, we became the first veterinary practice in the UK to achieve this top standard. We’ve also been shortlisted twice for Investors in People UK Employer of the Year, won the inaugural SPVS Wellbeing Award, and, in 2025, won the BVA Wellbeing Award for large practices for our communication, culture, and continuous-improvement approach. Our directors, Hamish and Rachel, received the Vet Dynamics Team Dynamics Award in 2025 for leading on leadership.

For us, these aren’t just badges, but they reflect how we work together every day. At the heart of our practice is a simple belief: when people feel supported and valued, they do their best work and genuinely enjoy doing it.

Here’s what our team said to the Investors in People Assessor in 2024:

• “This is the most friendly, welcoming and inviting team … You can feel it when you come in … the relationships are so strong.. and the level of knowledge is so high. We’ve all got a passion for the work we are doing.”
• “I’ve never worked anywhere where people have set the values to this extent.. we had the choice, we had the say, and we were listened to as ever.”
• “To run with something you’re passionate about and make a difference feels amazing.”
• “We all want the practice to be the best it can be, and everyone pulls together to achieve that.”
• “This is my forever place!”

Growth, interests & individuality

Over the last few years, we’ve invested heavily in our people and facilities — not for growth’s sake, but to create an environment where our team can continue developing in the areas they love. That approach has led to some exciting changes. In 2021, we opened The West Midlands Cat Clinic, a purpose-built, feline-only space connected to the main practice. It grew from a mix of practical need (more consulting capacity), team enthusiasm for feline medicine and the expertise already within the practice, including vets and nurses with additional feline qualifications. The result is a calm, dog-free environment that improves patient experience and has become something the team is incredibly proud of, reflected in our ISFM Gold Cat Friendly Clinic status.

We’re equally proud of what we offer our canine patients. We introduced laparoscopic surgery in 2023, and now carry out around 80% of our routine spays this way. In 2024, we also became an accredited Dog-Friendly Clinic, recognising the practical steps we’ve taken to reduce stress, improve handling, and create a calmer experience for dogs during their visits and hospital stays. 2025 was another big step forward for the practice, with a further expansion that included an additional sterile theatre and a new dental suite with dental X-ray. This has allowed us to grow our dentistry offering, support RVN-led scale and polishes, and back the development of one of our vets, whose postgraduate dentistry certificate we fully funded and continue to support as she builds her skills in more advanced cases.

Alongside the clinical spaces, we invested in our people spaces too by creating larger staff areas, better meeting rooms and a roof terrace for proper downtime when the sun is out. They might sound like small touches, but they make a real difference to how the working day feels.

We love new ideas to help drive positive change. We actively encourage people to bring forward interests and ambitions, and we’ll do everything we can to support them - whether that’s funding a certificate, arranging external training, adapting equipment or shaping services around a particular clinical focus. There’s no rigid CPD allowance, and we focus on meaningful development and invest accordingly. Over half of our team attended external congresses or training last year, and we bring in tailored CPD for individuals and groups so people can keep growing in ways that matter to them.

Open communication & shared ownership

We run regular team meetings and continuous improvement sessions where ideas are encouraged and acted upon. Some are team-led without management present, creating space for honest discussion and change driven from within. We also celebrate each other. Our values and gratitude board is filled with messages of thanks and acknowledgements, and we make a conscious effort to recognise the everyday moments that matter.

Time together (that works for everyone)

We know not everyone wants big nights out, so we offer a variety of ways to connect:

• Monthly coffee-and-catch-up breaks – rostered so everyone can attend, giving the team a relaxed space to chat
• Occasional home‑cooked team lunches – a chance to share food, stories, and laughs
• Charity and community events – from Active October for VetLife and our practice Swap Shop, to being part of a local health and wellbeing event, where we share our best pet advice with the community, complete with cocktails and ice cream
• Optional social evenings – trips to the panto, meals out, or other fun activities tailored to the team’s interests
• Informal celebrations for milestones and life events

There’s no pressure — just lots of opportunities to enjoy each other’s company and feel part of a supportive team.

Sustainability & community

We’re passionate about making a positive impact beyond the practice. Our team‑led sustainability group drives initiatives to reduce waste and our environmental impact. We’re also developing a staff garden and bee‑friendly planting area on the roof terrace to complement the lavender beds already around our practice site.

Your team & environment

You’ll be joining a stable, collaborative team of 30, including 7 vets with certificate holders in surgery, dentistry, and feline practice, and an Advanced Practitioner in small animal medicine. They are supported by a driven nursing team of 12 RVNs, including certificate holders in ECC, feline nursing (ISFM Cert & Diploma), nutrition, and behaviour. Our practice is RCVS‑accredited with Outstanding awards in Client Service and Team & Professional Responsibility.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced small animal vet who has completed their VetGDP and enjoys working as part of a supportive, collaborative team. You’ll value a positive workplace culture, take pride in high clinical standards, and be keen to continue developing professionally. Our varied caseload offers scope for in‑depth work‑ups and the chance to explore clinical interests, and we trust our vets to take ownership of cases while knowing support is always available when needed.

The rota

Ideally 3 days per week (8:30–7) — we can also consider 2 or 4‑day weeks for the right person
1 in 7 Saturdays (8:30–2:30)
No Sundays, no out‑of‑hours or on‑call
Structured consult blocks with 15‑minute appointments
A mix of operating and consulting days, giving you a balanced schedule and protected time for surgeries

What we offer

Salary £48,000–£65,000 FTE (pro rata, depending on experience)
5 weeks holiday +