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DCG Success Stories

Cole Fisher

Former Derby College student Cole in his veterinary PPE holding a dog.

Study Type: School Leaver Vocational
Study Location: Broomfield Hall
Subject Studied: Animal Care

Trainee vet nurse Cole loves his job at small animal hospital

Trainee veterinary nurse Cole Fisher never wants to stop learning.

He chose to study Animal Care at Derby College Group because he wanted to ‘wake up every day knowing he had a job he enjoyed doing’ – and he could not be happier in his work.

Cole, now 20, did well at school, gaining As and Bs at GCSE but preferred to follow a practical path rather than an academic one.

He therefore enrolled on the level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management (Zoology pathway) at Broomfield Hall – completing the course with two distinctions and a merit.

Cole now works at Scarsdale Veterinary Practice’s small animal hospital in Pride Park and will qualify as a veterinary nurse in 2023.

The hospital is a referral centre and treats a lot of complex orthopaedic cases, including some like those featured on TV veterinary programmes.

He said: “At school I just put my head down and got on with it but college was different. I felt that quieter people like me were noticed and I’ve made lasting friendships.

“I really liked the tutors too. One of my tutors, Karen, used to work as a vet nurse and she gave me good career advice. I’d never had 1-2-1s before. Karen helped me, 100%. She made me believe I could do it.”

Cole also liked the flexibility offered by his course.

He added:” We could choose different options and I chose zoology as it covered everything, broadening my chances of getting into the veterinary care side.

“I loved the hands-on aspects such as giving the animals a health check. It prepared me well for my job in veterinary nursing.”

One of my tutors, Karen, used to work as a vet nurse and she gave me good career advice. I’d never had 1-2-1s before. Karen helped me, 100%. She made me believe I could do it.