December 2025 - Key Veterinary Sector & Recruitment Insights for Vets & RVNs

Here is our monthly newsletter to keep you up to date with insights into the veterinary recruitment market and veterinary industry news.

The Locum Market 

The locum market is experiencing some of the pre-festive season lull that usually picks back up again before Christmas. Roles with accommodation are particularly thin on the ground at the moment, so if you require accommodation, please discuss with us and potentially consider booking your own accommodation whilst negotiating a slightly higher rate.

Another corporate group has introduced an app based system for their locum requirements but we've heard from locums that they are experiencing a high volume of teething issues, especially with sole trader locums. If you want a no nonsense recruitment service where you can speak to a human being rather than negotiating through another app, get in touch. 

Roles continue to fill really quickly, especially the good ones. Please ensure we have your up-to-date CV, rates and availability to help us win the race ensuring we can get you the most suitable roles. If you're open to working and staying in accommodation, please do let us know and we'll ensure you're receiving roles UK-wide with accommodation on offer.

The Permanent Job Market 

The permanent market continues to be steady, but still more competitive than a few years ago and vets and nurses with good clinical skills are still in high demand. A structure change within one corporate group has lead to redundancies, with rumours of another set on the way within another. We're so sorry to hear of these and if you have been affected we will do our utmost to help. As always with permanent positions, don't go waiting for the perfect permanent role to be advertised, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

Industry News

Headlines from the past few weeks:-

• The RSPCA has announced it will scrap its system of initial emergency treatment payments to vets for the care of unowned animals at the end of this year.

• The RCVS exit survey has reported there is "no mass exodus" from the veterinary sector despite recruitment and retention worries. 54% of RVNs leaving the register said they were leaving for an altogether different field, with the RCVS saying the free text responses were dominated by RVNs commenting about financial stress.

• The fallout from the CMA reforms continues, with a survey by the Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices showing:- Only 6.15% of participants reported their practices supported the authority’s plan for a £16 prescription price cap, 65% believed their practices’ viability would be threatened by the prescription cap and 64% believing their practice's viability would be threatened by the requirement for vets to inform clients of alternative online pharmacies.

Weekly Locum Payments

A reminder that if you locum through an umbrella company, or limited company you will be paid by us weekly (excluding some corporates). Unlike other agencies, we actually help with chasing sole trader payments too. We can also offer direct payments to sole trader locums on occasion, for example if the practice has very long payment terms so do enquire if this would be useful to you.

TikTok

As an office full of 30 and 40 somethings, we've been dragged into the 21^st century by joining TikTok - follow us for industry insights, jobs and general fun:- @jurassic.recruitment 

Facebook Group

We have a Facebook Group to share our roles before anywhere else. Join it here & beat the rush.

Mental Health Support Details

VetLife - 0303 040 2551

Samaritans - 116 123

Mind - 0300 123 3393

If we can help you in finding any locum or permanent work, or if your practice has a vacancy or locum requirement, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.