Animal Care Courses
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If you are dedicated to helping animals, a Derby College animal care course is the ideal place to start.
We can set you on the path to exciting opportunities in the industry, from kennels and catteries to vet practices, zoos and wildlife parks to animal welfare charities.
Animal Care industry
In this nation of animal lovers, almost half of all households have a pet – in fact, there are 24 million pets in the UK.
More people are visiting zoos and wildlife parks as the trend for stay-at-home holidays continues. And animal charities continue to have a crucial job to do.
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So there is no shortage of demand for people who have the dedication and skills to join the animal care industry. Research suggests that, over the next decade, the industry will need 90,000 more people.
Today there are around 1,700 animal care and veterinary businesses in the East Midlands, employing almost 18,000 people in roles ranging from pet shop assistants to dog groomers, animal trainers to veterinary nurses, animal protection officers to zoologists.
Some 85 per cent of animal care businesses employ fewer than five people, so you will need to take on your full share of duties and responsibilities. It’s a major commitment: animals have to be looked after 365 days a year. But a career with animals brings a lot of job satisfaction.
Animal Care courses
Featuring everything from animal welfare and behaviour to farm livestock husbandry, wildlife habitat protection and exotic animal health, the animal care courses at Derby College provide an excellent grounding for anyone planning to enter the industry.
New this year are our animal care apprenticeships, an opportunity for you to gain hands-on experience in a real-life work situation – getting paid into the bargain. Like all our courses, they will equip you not only with technical knowhow about animal care but also with broader skills such as ICT, leadership and communication.
Other courses feature work placements too –which often turn out to be a stepping stone to a job. Many students go straight into employment with their placement companies such as pet shops, veterinary surgeries, kennels and catteries.
A Derby College qualification may also lead to university. We have progression accords with four local higher education institutions which means you are guaranteed an interview as long as you meet minimum entry requirements. There's extra support, too, in the shape of university trips, careers fairs and advice on the university application process.
Throughout, you will be taught by friendly and knowledgeable animal care professionals with vast experience in the industry. Our 20-strong team of staff includes experts who have worked as zoo keepers, animal technicians, vet nurses, animal behaviourists, farmers and dog wardens.
Animal Care at Derby College
Where better to put some animal magic into your learning than at Broomfield Hall?
With its large and well-equipped animal unit and its own working farm, Broomfield Hall provides opportunities to work with a wide range of animals, including exotic species and rare breeds.
Add to that the large learning resource centre and the latest IT technologies - and everything you need to prepare for a career in animal care is at your fingertips.
Derby College has its own popular and high-quality dog grooming salon, run by students under staff supervision. As well as grooming the dogs, Broomfield Hall students handle reception and administrative duties and hone their business skills.
The knowledge, confidence and life skills I acquired at Derby College gave me a huge advantage in my career which has led me all over the world and the highlights have ranged from breeding endangered species to helping sick and injured wildlife.
My time at College really ignited my passion for looking after animals and I am particularly interested in animal behaviour so am now planning to do an MSc part time in clinical animal behaviour counselling as well as running the business so that I can expand the service I offer to pet owners in the future.
