Jen Hewitt is the Business Operations Lead at Paragon Veterinary Group, a mixed practice with bases at Dalston, Newbiggin and Shap.
When asked to describe her role, Jen said:
I work predominantly indoors in a desk-based role, across three different bases. I work with colleagues from all of the sectors across the whole practice, Small Animal; Large Animal; Equine; Advanced Breeding and Business Support. My role is very varied and interesting, no two days are the same which is what I like!
I am part of the Business Support Leadership Team, along with my two colleagues we make up the role of a Practice Manager, another colleague being the Finance Lead and another being the Client Care and Personnel Lead.
My role includes fleet vehicle management, mobile phone and telephone management, reviewing of processes to see if we can make things more efficient from a time and money perspective, working with colleagues in other leadership teams to support with their operational challenges as well as arranging careers events and helping to arrange open evenings.
Jen found her role via word of mouth and recommendation via a former manager; she was invited to apply and then attend for interview.
At school, Jen did an Advanced GNVQ in Business in 6th Form and then went onto secure a Business Administration Apprenticeship in a local factory through which she gained her NVQ Levels 2 and 3 following which, in another higher-level role later on, Jen was able to successfully complete my NVQ Level 4.
There are so many career options within the veterinary sector - you could go down the clinical route and become a Vet via University, or for alternative routes a Vet Nurse or Vet Technician via an apprenticeship at College, from the support perspective you could go down the Receptionist, Coordinator, Administrator route.
Working in a county as beautiful as Cumbria is fantastic, there are so many opportunities for employment both indoors and outdoors!
