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Vet students get heads for business
Students learn about commercial realities
Fifth year vet students at The University of Nottingham are getting a chance to learn all about the commercial realities of running a vet practice.

The new extra mural business placement is being pioneered by the School for Veterinary Medicine and Science. As part of their final year students are being offered two weeks of hands on experience in the commercial world of clinical practice.
 
The placement takes a student through the process of finding an appropriate site and property to set up a new practice, utilising demographic software to determine the target client profile, assessing the competition and understanding the commercial considerations of running a successful business. The students then get the chance to look at how to equip the practice, get it ready to trade and put together their very own five year business plan.
 
The students also learn about the staff recruitment and development process, marketing initiatives as well as interpreting operational information, and management key performance indicators. Finally they will learn how to improve the performance of the business and get it ready for sale.
 
Professor Gary England, Foundation Dean of the School for Veterinary Medicine and Science, said: “We hope that many students will see the advantages of gaining a commercial perspective alongside their academic studies. We want our course to prepare students for when they qualify, rather than purely teach the science, this initiative expands the opportunities for our students and we will continue to look at ways we can challenge and support our students in their studies and beyond.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.