ECC Veterinary Surgeon – Cutting Edge

About the Role

This is a structured entry into emergency and critical care (ECC) through Vets Now’s flagship Cutting Edge training programme. You’ll spend eight weeks combining intensive seminars, practical wet labs, and one-to-one mentorship from experienced ECC specialists, gaining 250 hours of recognised CPD in everything from shock management to point-of-care ultrasound and surgical emergencies.

The first eight weeks are a blend of learning at Vets Now’s Central Support hub in Scotland (with accommodation provided) and hands-on experience at your chosen clinic, building real clinical confidence in a supportive environment. After graduation, you’ll join an ECC clinic on a full-time basis with genuine flexibility—choosing a rota that works for your life, working 30–40 hours per week with no more than three consecutive nights and an average of three shifts weekly.

This role is based in Peterborough and offers the rare combination of structured training, competitive salary progression (£42,250 during training, rising to £65,000 post-programme), and a workplace culture that genuinely values work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete 8-week Cutting Edge training programme combining classroom-based learning and practical clinical experience
• Develop expertise in shock recognition and management, fluid therapy, and transfusion medicine
• Build competency in respiratory and cardiac emergency response, neurological emergencies, and trauma care
• Gain hands-on surgical emergency experience through wet lab sessions and supervised clinic work
• Learn point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and blood gas analysis techniques
• Build clinical reasoning and decision-making skills under mentorship from senior clinicians
• Develop professional networks with fellow Cutting Edge participants during training week
• Transition to full-time ECC work at your selected clinic post-training, managing emergency cases as part of a collaborative team

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a veterinary surgeon
• Minimum six months’ small animal clinical experience
• Confidence consulting and performing routine surgical procedures working alone
• Willingness and ability to undertake night shifts as part of ECC rotas
• Strong communication and clinical reasoning skills
• Commitment to professional development and learning in the ECC environment

Benefits

• Salary: £42,250 during 8-week training period; £65,000 from week 9 onwards
• CPD & Professional Development: 250 hours of structured ECC training delivered by recognised specialists; £1,500 CPD allowance plus 35 paid hours (received after 12 months)
• Leave & Time Off: Seven weeks’ pro rata annual leave; birthday as a paid day off
• Healthcare & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance; enhanced sick pay; enhanced maternity (six months full pay) and family-friendly policies; paid volunteering days
• Professional Support: RCVS fees covered; VECCS membership included; VDS cover provided
• Pension: UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee / 3% employer)
• Additional Perks: Death in service benefit (two times annual salary); employee discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers; accommodation provided during training week in Scotland; travel costs covered for training programme
• Flexibility: Choose your clinic post-training; adjust your rota to suit your lifestyle (30–40 hours per week options available)

About the Practice

Vets Now is the UK’s leading provider of emergency pet care, operating a nationwide network of out-of-hours clinics serving pets and families when they need help most. The Peterborough clinic is staffed by a highly skilled emergency team, part of a larger organisation committed to training, supporting, and developing veterinary professionals in the emergency and critical care space.

The Cutting Edge programme is Vets Now’s structured pathway into ECC, designed to give veterinary surgeons the knowledge, skills, confidence, and mentorship needed to thrive in emergency medicine. Candidates will work with experienced senior clinicians, access cutting-edge training facilities, and join a professional community of peers.

Start Date

Next intake: 17th August 2026

For further details, contact Reah Mitchell in the Talent team: [email protected]