Bath College Principal Laurel Penrose shadows veterinary nursing apprentice

Apprentice Liz Doughty showed Bath College’s Principal what it’s like to work as a trainee veterinary nurse for National Apprenticeship Week.  

Principal Laurel Penrose shadowed Liz, who is studying and working as a Level 3 veterinary nursing apprentice with the Bath Vet Group.  

She was given a tour of the kennels and cattery at the practice in Odd Down, and was shown how to change a saline drip.  

Liz, from Melksham, was working as a kennel assistant at the Bath Vet Group and was offered an apprenticeship after applying for a trainee position to study veterinary nursing.  

She said: “Doing an apprenticeship is a fun way to study. I like working at the same time as studying, it helps you apply what you’ve learnt.  

“Obviously some days are upsetting because you have a lot of poorly animals, but when you see them go home you know you’ve made a difference.  

“I just love the care side of it. I like being able to give them some TLC, and their owners appreciate it if you’re taking care of their animal and you’re talking to them about their pet.  

“It’s a very intense course, but our tutor at Bath College has been amazing. I have had a lot of support and I enjoy working with the other students.  

“It’s given me a route into the career I wanted. I didn’t think it was possible before, but now I know what I want to do for the rest of my working life.”  

Bath College is the largest training provider in Bath and North East Somerset, with almost 530 apprentices in training with over 260 businesses.  

The college was chosen as the 2016 Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year for Bath and Bristol at the Bristol Post and Bath Chronicle Apprenticeship Awards.  

Principal Laurel Penrose said: “It’s great value for the employer and a brilliant learning experience for the students. The progression routes are excellent – you can start at GCSE level and go right through to degree level.  

“It’s the start of a fantastic career, and I think Liz really epitomises that. She had an interest in animal care, but her interest has become fully fledged through an apprenticeship and it’s affordable (which is the point she made). Without an apprenticeship she wouldn’t have had the opportunity.  

“In Liz’s case, she wants to go on to do emergency care. It’s not just an apprenticeship, it’s a doorway to other qualifications. It’s a case of how far an individual wants to take it.”