If hiring a vet feels brutal right now, it isn't you — it's the maths. EU registrations to the RCVS are down by more than two-thirds since Brexit, demand never dropped, and around half of UK vets report burnout. This is a candidate's market. Here's how to fill a veterinary role in 2026 without handing 15–25% of the salary to an agency.
Why it's so hard right now
- EU registrant numbers are down ~68% since Brexit, shrinking the pool.
- Demand has grown — more pets, more complex care, more out-of-hours.
- Burnout (~52% of vets) drives turnover, so you're often replacing as fast as you hire.
- Corporate groups compete hard on salary, so independents have to win on everything else.
What it costs to hire
An agency typically charges 15–25% of first-year salary. On a £60,000 vet that's £9,000–£15,000 for one introduction. A flat-fee verified board reaches the same RCVS-registered candidates for a fraction of that — and one avoided agency fee covers years of listings.
Where to find RCVS-registered vets
The candidates exist; reaching them directly is the game. A private-practice-only board cuts out the Indeed flood of unregistered or irrelevant applicants and puts you in front of people whose RCVS registration is already verified. Post the role, and treat speed as a feature — in a shortage market, the slow practice loses the good ones.
Write the ad for what vets actually want
- Lead with the package, not just salary: RCVS + VDS fees paid, £1,000–£1,500 CPD, realistic rota.
- Be specific about out-of-hours and sole-charge expectations — vagueness here kills applications.
- Name the culture: clinical support, mentorship, a no-blame approach to mistakes.
- Offer flexibility (3–4 day weeks, part-time) — the most under-advertised advantage you have.
Verify before you interview
Confirm RCVS registration at findavet.rcvs.org.uk. On The Practice Standard, every candidate's registration is checked before they reach you — so your shortlist is people who can legally do the job.
The fast, cheap way to hire
Post a verified role, lead with the package, reply within the hour to anyone interested, and move to interview quickly. That sequence beats a £12,000 agency fee on speed and cost — and you keep the relationship.
Hire a verified vet
Sources: British Veterinary Association (EU registrant data); 2024–25 UK veterinary burnout study; RCVS workforce reporting.