I started working at Wilton House Vets at 16 in 1997 as a student veterinary nurse, starting college in the following year.  Wilton was a great practice to be a student at due to the large client base and very varied caseload.  Since I qualified our nurse clinics have developed a lot, we now run weight clinics, mobility clinics and diabetic clinics, and we’re always fully supported by the team. 

After qualifying I spent some time working at two different local practices, but I returned to Wilton and have been here ever since.  More recently, as we have developed a larger team of qualified nurses, we have been able to offer nurse consults every day of the week, enabling us to utilise their skills and free up more of our vet’s time to focus on their own areas, something I am really passionate about.  All our nurses have different areas of interest which works really with the specialist nurse clinics we can offer.  Our nurses are some of the best I’ve worked with and are really supportive of our vets and new team members.

I have recently taken on the role of Practice Manager as well as Head Nurse, and I am really enjoying it - the team has been really supportive towards me.  One thing I love about Wilton which has kept me here for so many years is our team, we all get on brilliantly and all support one another and everyone cares so deeply about our clients and the practice.

Can you tell us more about the practice and the team?

Wilton House is situated in the market town of Guisborough, initially, we were a mixed practice until more recent years. We are now a purely small animal practice.  We are a very busy practice, seeing a huge variety of caseloads – no day is the same and you will gain a wealth of experience working here.  We have a fantastic, hard-working and supportive team which I am hugely proud of with 5 RVNs to support our veterinary surgeons, as well as support staff also.

The clinic is well equipped with good facilities to provide gold-standard care and work up cases thoroughly with all the usual toys, digital x-ray, ultrasound, full in-house laboratory, multi parameter monitor, drip pumps, IM3 dentistry machines etc.

What are your favourite things about working at the practice?

One thing I love about Wilton House which has kept me here for so many years, is our team, we all get on brilliantly and all support one another and everyone cares so deeply about our clients and the practice.  I also really value our lovely clients and how loyal and kind they can be even in tough and challenging times.
I’ve found that IVC Evidensia is keen to develop people’s skills and is heavily invested in the graduate schemes and supporting employees wanting to study towards certificates, and the CPD allowance is generous.  I myself have gained a certificate in ECC, which I really enjoyed and was supported throughout.

Can you tell us more about the local area?

I live in Guisborough myself and I may be biased but I think we live in a beautiful part of the country, for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, walking, cycling etc we have it all, forestry on your doorstep. We’re a stone’s throw from the North Yorkshire Moors, and then a short drive from some fantastic beaches on our North East coastline with the Victorian town of Saltburn and also the fishing town of Whitby.  We are located directly on the Cleveland Way National Trail also.

For those who prefer more exciting nightlife, we are only an hour’s drive away from cities such as Newcastle, closer to Durham and we are an hour from York also for a shopping day or a day at the races!

What would you want someone considering applying to join Wilton Vets to know?

I would want someone applying to join Wilton to know that career progression is extremely important to us.  We know that as our team develops, it increases the service that we can give here to our clients, and we want to ensure everyone is supported to reach their full potential.