Locum vets: Surviving the economic turndown
Do the maths: Can you afford not to be flexible?
Locums vets: Surviving the economic turndown


There`s an old axiom in the veterinary profession that the field essentially is recession-proof. In the past, it appears that pet owners have continued to purchase necessary veterinary care. With pets increasingly seen as members of the family, many industry leaders have the sense that spending on veterinary care will remain a priority for pet owners.
Now even billionaire Warren Buffet saying he`s feeling the pinch, is it possible for the veterinary profession to emerge unscathed?
Unfortunately not, the last six months have shown us that the veterinary profession been affected by the economic turndown as well. We have seen a significant drop in the number of advertised positions throughout the UK.
We expect that this situation should ease significantly over the summer and the upcoming holiday period. Meanwhile, we ask our locums to take the following tips into consideration:


Fee review:
We do not recommend to anyone to increase their professional fees within the next six months. The economic recession in not only in the employer’s wallet but also in the employers mind! This year’s advice is very simple: Stick to your last year’s professional fees or risk to be out priced in an uncertain market!

Be more flexible:
Flexibility is the key issue to ensure an uninterrupted employment schedule. Everyone prefers long term locums. However, short term positions are on the rise. We adjust accordingly to it – and so should you! Further, be also more flexible with your travel arrangements and preferred location. There are always positions out there, so broaden your spectrum!

Speak to the practice manager or principle when you leave:
We advise that you make an effort to call for a debriefing meeting after your locum period. His shows to the practice that you care about their clients and their business and that you are not only there for the money. This also can give you a valuable feedback of your perceived performance. Furthermore, it puts you on their top list for their further locum requirements!

Keep cool:
We see clear indications that the market is picking up again. Keep in mind, that most of the UK vets are employees rather than employers and are therefore entitled to annual leave. This predicts only a short term drop in the locum market before everyone realizes that they still want to go on holiday.

Keep your word:
Nothing is more annoying than a cancellation of an existing agreement. Please keep in mind that it severely damages your reputation as a locum as well as a professional if you pull out from a locum position at the last minute. Word goes around fast and people will not deal with you again.

Keep in contact:

Please ensure that you inform Alpha Impact Locums well informed about your locum requirements. We now have locum requests for more than three month ahead and we will book our locums in accordingly.

© Alpha Impact Locums: ALPHA IMPACT




View Archived News


Alpha Impact Ltd. - Terms of Use

To access our website go to www.alphaimpact.com further contact information can be found by on our website. By using our website you agree to be legally bound by these terms and conditions of use, as they apply to your use of/ or access to our website.

The contents of our website are protected by international copyright laws and other intellectual property rights. The owner of these rights is Alpha Impact (UK) Limited or other third party licensors. All product and company names and logos mentioned in our website are the trademarks, service marks or trading names of their respective owners, including us.

You may download material from our website for the sole purpose of placing an order with us or using our website as for a knowledge resource. However, you may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, attempt to upload, post, transmit or distribute, by any means or in any manner, any material or information on or downloaded from our website including but not limited to text, graphics, video, messages, code and/or software without our prior written consent, except where expressly invited to do so, for example in order to complete.

Unless specifically provided, we make no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through our website or which may link to our website. When you access any other websites you understand that it is independent from us and that we have no control over the content or availability of that website. In addition, a link to any other site does not mean that we endorse or accept any responsibility for the content, or the use of, such a website and shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any content, goods or services available on or through any other web or resource. Any concerns regarding any external link should be directed to our website administrator by emailing administrator@alphaimpact.com

Alpha Impact reserves the right to alter, suspend or discontinue any aspect of our website or the content or services available through it, including your access to it. Unless explicitly stated any new features including new content and/or the sale of new Products/ Services shall be subject to these terms and conditions.

We will try to make our website available but cannot guarantee that our website will operate continuously or without interruptions or be error free and can accept no liability for its unavailability. You must not attempt to interfere with the proper working of our website and in particular, you must not attempt to circumvent security, tamper with, hack into, or otherwise disrupt any computer system, server, website, router or any other internet connected device.

When registering or ordering from Alpha Impact Ltd you must ensure that the Personal Information you provide is accurate and complete and that all ordering or registration details (where applicable) contain your correct name, address and other requested details. You authorize us to use, store or otherwise process any personal information which relates to and identifies you, including but not limited to your name and address, to the extent reasonably necessary to provide the Services which are available through our website by us or our sub-contractors. If you obtain or choose to buy Services through our website then we may collect information about your buying behavior and if you send us personal correspondence such as e-mails or letters then we may collect this information into a file specific to you (together, the various purposes set out in this paragraph and in our privacy policy shall be known as 'the Purposes'). All such information collected by us shall be referred to in these terms and conditions as 'Personal Information. If you would like to update or modify any part of your Personal Information then you should email locums@alphaimpact.com

In addition, the following also applies to all messages, e-mails, ideas, suggestions, concepts or other material submitted by you to us ('Content'): you must own or have the right to submit the Content; you must ensure that all Content submitted to us does not infringe the copyright, design, privacy, publicity, data protection, trademark or any other rights of any third party, nor be obscene, abusive, threatening, libelous or defamatory of any person or be otherwise unlawful; and you have sole responsibility for the Content which you submit to us and you shall indemnify and shall keep us fully and effectively indemnified on demand from and against all losses and liabilities (including legal costs and expenses) suffered or incurred by us and arising directly or indirectly out of the publication of Content submitted by you to us which may form part of an application or registration of some sort.

In accordance with the Act when you register with us Alpha Impact may choose to write to you or send you a newsletter containing information which we feel may be of interest to you.

Alpha Impact is a registered Trade Mark of Alpha Impact Ltd. All rights reserved