CVS New Graduate Vet Programme 2026 - Small Animal

Overview

CVS Group 2026 New Graduate Vet Programme – Small Animal

Are you looking for a complete graduate programme, designed by experienced vets, which will fully support you in your first years in practice?

The CVS New Graduate Programme is tailor-made, offering you the right support network in practice by ensuring you have an experienced VetGDP Adviser working alongside you. In addition, you will attend dedicated Continued Professional Development (CPD) days, supporting the development of both your clinical and non-clinical skills, including self-leadership, teamwork, wellbeing, resilience and business, whilst also providing the opportunity for you to share experiences with fellow graduates.

CVS is also committed to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of all our employees. We aim to create a culture where employees can talk openly and honestly about their wellbeing and mental health and to report difficulties without fear of discrimination or reprisal. CVS is the only veterinary corporate that employs New Graduate Pastoral Support Vets (PSVs). They are available to you for direct pastoral support outside of your practice, and they also work closely with practice leaders and VetGDP Advisers, to help ensure that you receive the best possible experience within practice.

In addition, we have the following wellbeing initiatives:

• a network of Wellbeing Champions/First Aiders for Mental Health who can provide initial support and signposting within practice.
• an Employee Assistance Programme that is available 24/7 365 days a year. They have a confidential helpline staffed by trained counsellors to support not only you but also your immediate family when you need it the most.
• five Colleague EDI Groups with focuses on Ability & Neurodiversity, Ethnicity, Gender, LGBTQ+ and Social Mobility. Our focus is on making CVS a great place to work and to have a career for everyone, no matter who you are, your background, or how you identify.
• a Wellbeing Calendar for colleagues featuring topics such as resilience, exercise, sleep, stress

We are one of the leading integrated veterinary service providers. We have practices in the UK and Australia and we put our people first. Our purpose is to give the best possible care to animals and our vision is to be the veterinary company people most want to work for.

We have over 500 practice sites across the UK alone and have some fantastic openings for the 2026 Graduate Programme.

We are extremely proud of the CVS Graduate Programme and have supported over 1500 brilliant graduates since the programme began in 2012. We are always learning and working hard to constantly evolve the programme each year – in order to provide you with the best support and opportunity for your first years in practice. We are confident that 2026 will be even better.

Your employment will start with an Onboarding Phase that includes a brilliant Residential week as well as online learning and an Orientation and Training Week at practice level. We want to help make your transition to work as smooth and exciting as possible, meeting new friends and gaining new skills along the way.

These are just some of the benefits of the programme

• Paid Onboarding Phase which includes a Residential Week. All UK based travel, accommodation and subsistence costs associated with the residential week will be covered by CVS.
• Competitive starting salary which increases at the end of year 1 and at the end of year 2
• No financial tie-in beyond completion of the programme.
• Professional memberships (RCVS & VDS).
• Up to 9 weeks annual leave plus Bank Holidays (or equivalent) with our Buy/Sell holiday scheme – allowing you to purchase an additional two weeks of annual leave
• Receive an extra days leave each year in your first 5 years at CVS
• 10 CPD days a year covering both clinical and non-clinical skills and tailored to your clinical role.
• A committed and trained VetGDP Adviser working alongside you in practice, with regular meetings to support your transition from student to qualified vet.
• Workplace pension scheme.
• Discounted pet treatments.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 365 days a year helpline to support you and your immediate family when you need it the most.
• Discounted UK gym membership with Gym Flex.
• Sharesave scheme
• Discounted cash healthcare plan and private health insurance scheme
• EV Car Benefit Scheme
• Internal transfers – with a network of over 500 practices we can support you should you need to relocate

This is what to do now

To take your first steps onto the CVS Graduate Programme, please select ‘apply now\’ and let us know where in the UK and at which of our practices you would like to work. Please also let us know when you wish to commence employment.

A member of the Recruitment Team will then contact you to arrange an interview.

routecandidate:rebecca.goldsmith@cvsvets.com

• 2026 New Graduate Vet Programme Brochure.pdf