UK Enterprise 2020

178 | UK Enterprise Awards 2020 With over two decades of combined experience and success in the veterinary industry, Vet Seekers has established itself as a professional but friendly veterinary recruitment service, committed to forming strong long-term relationships with candidates so as to assist them in their pursuit of their career aspirations. Best Family-Run Veterinary Recruitment Agency 2020 Jul20467 Yorkshire-based veterinary recruitment agency, Vet Seekers, has established itself as a company dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal career, whilst providing a fresh, proactive and honest approach to recruitment. Specialising in all aspects of the veterinary industry, whether it be veterinary specialists, clinical directors, new graduates, groomers or anything else, Vet Seekers holds a genuine desire to give both candidates and clients a bespoke and transparent recruitment service. Run by David and Lucy Maclellan, Vet Seekers is on a mission to work in partnership with the veterinary industry to provide a recruitment service that exceeds expectations in innovation, enthusiasm and value. In order to fulfil their vision of becoming the UK’s leading veterinary recruitment partner of choice, the company works to provide a personal and bespoke service that also offers tailored ongoing reward schemes. Central to the success of Vet Seekers is the motivation of every member of the team to establish relationships with all their clients, so as to offer personalised solutions that are both time-efficient and cost-effective. By combining modern and traditional recruitment techniques with relationship building, Vet Seekers has been able to cultivate an exceptional reputation that guarantees trust. Hiring staff with limited recruitment experience to the Vet Seekers team has been an effective decision taken by David and Lucy, as it means they have been internally trained and developed to follow the company’s high customer service ethos. For example, all of the Vet Seekers consultants are currently enrolled on a full 12-month REC training course with additional internal and external training provided. Having homegrown talent within the Vet Seekers team also encourages internal promotions and excellent opportunities for progression, that only continues to grow the excellence of customer service at Vet Seekers. However, as the UK enters the new-normal following the outbreak of COVID-19, Vet Seekers are looking to organically grow their firm by taking on new consultants to keep up with the increased demand of clients. Whilst 90% of recruitment was put on hold throughout lockdown, Vet Seekers continued to support clients and candidates, doubling in turnover year on year, as well as using the time to improve their services by rebranding, complete with a new website, new CRM, updating databases and much more besides. There is no doubt that this has been a difficult time for all, and Vet Seekers has invested their support in providing mental health aid both within their own company as well as in their local community. David and Lucy have been on hand to offer support when members of their own team fell ill, ensuring that the sense of community was never lost, and the firm has been working closely with companies that have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic. However, the veterinary industry is now starting to return to some form of normality, with 75% of veterinary professionals now operating again. Vet Seekers is dynamic as ever, helping to facilitate this restart in the industry. Alongside working closely with those who were made redundant throughout lockdown, Vet Seekers has also been proactive in offering IR35 advice to both candidates and clients, even though it has been suspended until April 2021. They are also working to reverse the decrease in overseas veterinary professionals that was caused by travel restrictions and economic changes, by implementing new recruitment measures to attract these professionals from abroad. As the company looks to double in size over the next year, Vet Seekers has exciting plans ahead, including attending exhibitions and conferences in New York as they expand their services overseas. Despite these ambitious plans, Vet Seekers is remaining true to its roots, looking into how they are able to support local independent businesses, and offering ongoing support, including reduced rates, to their loyal client base as they attempt to get back on track following the pandemic. With other exciting plans for growth and development that includes rolling out a candidate discount scheme, investment in strengthening market reputation and greater sponsorship within the veterinary industry, there is no doubt that the future is bright for the Vet Seekers team. One only has to visit their website to see the admiration and respect they have earned from clients and candidates alike. Company: Vet Seekers Contact: David Maclellan Web Address: www.vetseekers.co.uk