Veterinary Surgeon
Are you a small animal and equine vet looking for a supportive, longstanding team? Award-winning Archway Vets could be the perfect practice for you.
About Us
Archway Vets is an independent small animal and equine practice in the beautiful countryside of South Cumbria. Jeremy and I (Mandy) took over sole ownership of Archway in 2016 and are determined to stay independent. That’s why we're proud members of the Vet Dynamics community and were delighted that our hard work was recognised when we won the 2023 Dynamic Achievement Award! We wanted our team to play a big role in shaping Archway’s future. So, we closed the practice for a day and held a team workshop, and together, we defined our mission, vision, values, and goals. We also built a 3-year plan, and now the whole team is working in focus groups to help us achieve it. We love that the team feels empowered to share their ideas and make decisions, and it’s been great seeing these ideas come to life, like the Community Nursing initiative, designed to help clients who struggle to visit the practice.
In 2019, we moved to stunning new premises in Lindale, which won us the runner-up award in the British Veterinary Hospital Association Design Awards 2019. From the light and airy waiting room and state-of-the-art operating theatres to the Adaptix 3D X-ray system, we have all the facilities to provide the highest standards of patient care and a comfortable work environment for our team. We have excellent equine equipment, including a DR x-ray, ultrasound for fertility and tendon work, and dental kit. We're an ISFM Gold Cat-Friendly practice. We also have an on-site Physiotherapy Centre, which offers comprehensive physio, rehabilitation, and hydrotherapy services and even features a soothing waterfall.
Our caseload is approximately 70% small animal and 30% equine, and we’re ideally looking for a vet with some experience who can work in both disciplines. However, if you have a strong equine bias, we can absolutely accommodate this and arrange for you to spend more time on equine work. Our equine workload varies from leisure horses to racing stables and everything in between, including providing vet support for the Cartmel Steeplechases. We’re passionate about personal development and actively encourage our team to enhance their skills and follow their interests, including supporting certificates or additional training.
Our team
Jeremy started here as a new graduate in 1992 and liked the area, people, and practice so much that he never left! He is particularly interested in orthopaedics and performs in-house TTAs (MMP), Ridgestop for patella luxation, and fracture repairs. Andrew joined us after graduating from Cambridge in 1998. He is an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine and enjoys all aspects of equine work. He can often be seen putting his running skills into practice when attending the local Cartmel Race meetings during the summer. Jo has completed a course in Veterinary acupuncture and now provides this service alongside pain management clinics. Anna originally locumed for us before joining us permanently in 2021 as a part-time consulting vet. Both Conor and Megan graduated from Glasgow in 2017 and spent time working at other practices in Cumbria. Conor joined us in 2022 and is interested in surgery, cardiology and ECC. Megan is our newest team member and enjoys internal medicine and ultrasound.
"The team is friendly and supportive, and our clients are very proactive about their pet's health. The job provides a good work-life balance, and there is plenty of allotted time in the day between consults to work on cases, do phone calls and drink tea!" Megan MRCVS
“As a family-run and independent practice, I’m really proud to work at Archway Veterinary Practice. The team feels like a supportive family, our bosses are approachable, and the increasing team involvement in decision-making and business development makes me feel truly valued and integral to the practice's growth.” Amy ACPAT Physiotherapist
“I have worked at Archway for the past 18 years. Every day is different and enjoyable. The practice is purpose-built, so it has everything needed to treat our patient's needs in-house, including out-of-hours. We have a very supportive team with various skills and lovely clients who regularly bring in cakes and biscuits!” Sarah RVN
"Being a member of the Client Care Team at Archway is amazing - we have such a variety of patients and lovely clients; no two days are the same. The whole team have been here for many years and works so well together. Everyone is so supportive." Ainsley, Client Care Team
We also benefit from the services of peripatetic surgeons, including Catherine Sturgeon, an RCVS and ECVS-recognised soft tissue surgery specialist who assists with complex soft tissue cases. We use VVS (Virtual Veterinary Specialists). This virtual referral service enables us to keep the majority of cases in-house and also provides fantastic CPD, particularly for developing ultrasound skills. For more complex procedures like spinal surgery, we can use Movement Referrals.
Our rehabilitation team comprises Amy-Louise, a Chartered Physiotherapist (ACPAT) specialising in Veterinary Physiotherapy, Hazel, our RVN and Hydrotherapist, and Jo. As an ACPAT, Amy-Louise can treat both our small and equine patients and provide rider analysis and physiotherapy assessments.
We have a fantastic nursing team of 8 SVNs and 2 SVNs, who are crucial in supporting our vets in providing the highest standards of patient care. Our nurses are encouraged to use their hard-earned RVN qualification to its full potential, including schedule 3 procedures. We also have a lovely client care team who have all been with us for between 8-30 years and keep everything running smoothly.
The rota
Our full-time vets work a 4.5-day week (9 am to 6 pm). We are happy to chat about other options, such as a 4-day week, if you have other commitments to work around. The duties are shared throughout the team, and you will generally have 1-2 days of equine work each week. If you have an equine bias, we could accommodate this in the rota with 3-4 days of equine work. Two vets are on equine duties daily, while the remaining vets handle the small animal caseload. This means there is plenty of time to hone your skills in all aspects of veterinary, and support is always available to discuss a tricky case or scrub in and assist. We run 20-minute consults, and there is scheduled time for admin and to make phone calls, with an hour blocked out in the morning and afternoon on consulting days, so we’re usually out the door on time. We also block off an hour in the middle of the day to ensure everyone gets a proper lunch break.
We provide our own out-of-hours service, which is generally quiet. A dedicated answering service means you’ll only be called when needed. There is also an RVN on call 24/7, and they stay on-site overnight to provide inpatient care. Our fixed 1:5 rolling OOHs rota means you can easily plan your life outside work. The 1:5 weekend is Saturday morning until 8.30 am Monday, then the Monday off. You will be on-call one weeknight each week, and every 5th week, this will be a Friday followed by Saturday morning consults (9-12).
Outside of work
The team is what really makes Archway Vets so special. We’re a close-knit bunch that supports each other and gets on well. This extends beyond the working day, and we love getting together outside of work. Whether we’re celebrating a birthday, heading to the lakes to paddleboard or organising a night out, there’s always lots going on. We also have our annual Christmas party and midsummer BBQ, where we all enjoy great food, a few too many drinks and a rounders match for some friendly competition. Jeremy is also well known for his famous Christmas light displays, which have now raised over £30,000 for the NSPCC and been featured on various TV shows.
In the south of Cumbria, Grange-over-Sands is surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery and has stunning views across Morecambe Bay. It’s an ideal location for anyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors, with the southern lakes of the Lake District National Park in easy reach. There’s lots to do here, from hiking, cycling, and nature walks to watersports, including paddleboarding and sailing. We also benefit from easy access to the M6 and the cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
The package
A salary package of £41,000-£70,000, including a vehicle for work and private use. Net salary of £34,000 - £58,000, plus bonuses
Five weeks holiday, plus bank holiday
CPD encouraged, with certificates supported and funded
Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS and BEVA
Generous staff discount
Company pension
How to Apply
If you are a motivated Veterinary Surgeon looking for a fulfilling career opportunity, we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV to mandyvoakes@btinternet.com
A salary package of £41,000-£70,000, including a vehicle for work and private use. Net salary of £34,000 - £58,000, plus bonuses.