Animal Care
GREEN CAREERS
No Two Days the Same scotland.lantra.co.uk
Why work in Animal Care? If you like animals, but don’t mind working hard, then a career in this industry might be just what you’re looking for.
You could be a veterinary nurse or surgeon caring for sick animals in practices, or working in a kennel or cattery looking after people’s pets or grooming animals to ensure their coats are well maintained and healthy. You might work for animal charities such as the SSPCA, investigating animal welfare issues and ensuring their protection or do vital work caring for endangered species in conservation.
How do I get started?
Be part of the solution! If you like the idea of working with animals, and educating people to ensure that their animals are treated properly, then a job in Animal Care could be for you. There are lots of opportunities to work with different species of animals for hard working and passionate people.
Previous experience of working with animals or face-to-face contact with the public is always useful. Further education courses provide an opportunity to gain practical skills and work experience, whilst apprenticeships offer the opportunity to earn while you learn. If you want to work in Veterinary Medicine then you will need a degree to meet professional requirements. There are a huge variety of roles in the Animal Care sector. See some examples on the next page.
Whether you decide to do a degree at university or an apprenticeship, experience of working with animals and a qualification in animal care will help improve your career prospects across Scotland and the rest of the world. It offers something for everyone across all ages.
£
6000 jobs
1 billion
The animal care industry is worth £1 billion to the UK’s economy
The Scottish SPCA provides an emergency service for animals in Scotland
Over 6,000 people in Scotland work in animal care
Animal Care Career Options
Here are some of the jobs you could be doing in our industry.
// SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
// CONSERVATION
Nutritionist Animal Technician Animal Behaviourist
Zoo Keeper Zoologist
// VETERINARY
Animal Care Assistant Kennel Worker Pet Shop Assistant
// ANIMAL CARE
Veterinary Surgeon Veterinary Nurse Veterinary Care Assistant
// ANIMAL RESCUE Animal Rescue Officer Inspector
Routes into a Career in Animal Care
Depending on your current skills and experience, you could enter at different levels.
JOB LEVEL
SENIOR ROLES
SUPERVISORY ROLES
SUPERVISED ROLES
SCQF LEVEL
TRAINING AND COURSES
12
Professional Doctorate | Graduate Apprenticeship
11
Postgraduate Degree | Graduate Apprenticeship
10
Graduate Apprenticeship | Honours Degree
9
Degree | Graduate Apprenticeship
8
HND Animal Care | Graduate Apprenticeship
7
HNC Animal Nursing | HNC Animal Care | HNC Bioscience
6
NQ Animal Biology and Conservation | PDA Animal Science and Communication Scottish Vocational Qualification | Land-based Workplace Skills Award NPA Zoo Animal Behaviour and Welfare
5
NC Animal Care | Scottish Vocational Qualification Land-based Workplace Skills Award
4
NC Animal Care: An Introduction | Pathways to Animal Biology and Science Land-based Workplace Skills Award
3
Access to Animal Care
Making a difference
Lauren Risk:
Susan Turner
No two days are ever the same in my job and I can combine my love of helping both animals and people with my interest in science and medicine.
I have always had an interest in small animals and especially enjoy learning about their care, their environment and what makes an animal the way it is. At the end of my course I would like to put my skills to use by teaching young people to respect and look after their pets, and to give them the courage to pursue a career in animal care.
Registered Veterinary Nurse and Lecturer
One moment you can be monitoring an anaesthetic in theatre, the next helping a client with their overweight pet. We have lots of different roles in practice, but very occasionally we get time for a puppy cuddle too! “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else” Veterinary nurses are the behind-the-scenes carers for your pets. We’re the ones making sure they are comfortable, fed, walked and that all of their needs are met. The best thing about my job is seeing a patient that you’ve nursed go home to their family. That wagging tail is everything. Becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse is a challenging career but one that is exceptionally satisfying. It can also lead to many other opportunities. such as working abroad, teaching, employment with a drug or pet food company or moving into practice management.
Animal Care Student
I did work placements at the Borders Donkey Sanctuary and Borders Pet Rescue, where I dealt with a variety of animals from cats to hedgehogs, and they were both really enjoyable. “Every day is a learning day” There were challenges for me as I was older than the other students, but with the help of tutors and my classmates I gained confidence and pushed myself to do things I would have given up on before. Reptiles were something I had never really come across before and now I have fed a snake, held a gecko and stroked a bearded dragon, and am confident around a variety of animals. It’s no exaggeration to say that by returning to education I feel I’m really achieving something. You are never too young or too old to learn.
Find out more For information on training and qualifications available, email scotland@lantra.co.uk or call 01738 310 164. www.scotland.lantra.co.uk www.myworldofwork.co.uk @lantrascotland @lantrascotland @lantra.scotland
GREEN CAREERS
Lantra in Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government Updated October 2022