Receptionist – Part Time

About the Role

You’ll be joining Vets Now Edinburgh, part of the UK’s largest emergency pet care network, as a part-time receptionist. This role sits at the heart of the clinic – you’re the first point of contact when worried pet owners call or arrive with their emergencies, whether that’s at 9pm on a Thursday or 2am on a Sunday. It’s frontline work that genuinely matters.

The working pattern is flexible and rotating across a four-week cycle: some weeks you’ll work Thursday and Friday evenings (17:30–01:00), other weeks you’ll cover Monday–Wednesday evenings plus weekend day shifts (Saturday and Sunday, 17:00–01:00). Bank holidays are shared fairly across the team. This is genuine shift work that suits people who thrive on variety and don’t need a predictable 9-to-5.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the initial point of contact for clients – greeting in person, answering emergency calls, and booking appointments during busy periods
• Handle financial transactions accurately and keep the clinic running smoothly during your shifts
• Communicate with the veterinary team about incoming patients and clients who need support
• Provide a friendly, reassuring presence when people are stressed about their pets’ health
• Act as the bridge between anxious clients and the clinical team

Requirements

• Comfortable working shift patterns including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays
• Strong communication skills – both over the phone and in person
• Ability to stay calm and empathetic during emergency situations
• Reliable and flexible approach to work
• Experience in a similar role is helpful but not essential

Benefits

• Hourly rate: £13.45 per hour
• 7 weeks annual leave (pro rata)
• Birthday as a paid day off
• Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Vets Now For You – rewards gateway offering discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• £780 CPD allowance (pro rata)
• 10 hours paid CPD time annually (pro rata)
• Family-friendly policies including sick pay, maternity, paternity, and adoption pay schemes
• Pension contributions – 5% employee, 3% employer (UK Standard)
• Up to 50% discount on staff pet care
• Paid volunteering days
• Death in service benefit – two times annual salary

About the Practice

Vets Now is the UK’s leading emergency pet care provider, operating over 60 out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals across the country. The Edinburgh clinic is part of this network, serving over 1,700 veterinary practices with compassionate emergency care. The team is highly skilled in ECC (emergency and critical care) and operates around the clock to be there when pets need them most.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Vets Now welcomes applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities and health conditions, and is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.