A strong professional community makes life in practice easier — and more enjoyable. Veterinary networking isn’t about working the room; it’s about building genuine, two-way relationships that help you solve cases faster, spot opportunities sooner, and feel more supported day to day.
What is veterinary networking?
Networking is the deliberate habit of keeping in touch with people who share your professional world — vets, nurses, practice managers, educators, industry and community partners — so you can swap knowledge, open doors for each other and ultimately improve patient care.
Why build a network?
From first role to potential partnership, most career turning points involve other people. A healthy network gives you warm introductions to roles you might never see advertised, a sounding board for tricky cases and decisions, early sight of collaboration opportunities, and the reassurance that you’re not doing it all alone. You might get opportunities to shadow more experienced vets, mentor your next new hire, or pick up side-hustle jobs – the sky is the limit! We’re in a tiny profession where most people know most people – getting stuck in and learning people’s name is half the fun!
How to start networking
Begin by sketching your current veterinary network. Think about your clinic team and visiting specialists or locums, your university peers and supervisors, people you’ve met through CPD, local referral centres and charities you work with, plus the online groups you actually use – whether that’s Veterinary Voices, Vet Mums, or a Reddit thread.
Jot down people in that network, how you met, what matters to them, and a small way you could help — perhaps sharing a protocol, introducing two contacts, or sending over an interesting paper. Each week, send one thoughtful message, share one useful resource, and check in with one person you haven’t spoken to in a while. Keep brief notes so you remember context for next time – it sounds daft, but a spreadsheet can help you track who you spoke to, when, and what about.
Where to meet people
Once you’ve looked after your current network, it’s time to expand it. But how can you meet people?
Veterinary networking in person
Large gatherings make it simple to reconnect and expand your circle in a single day. London Vet Show runs each November at ExCeL London — two days of CPD, exhibitors and conversations, and a perfect excuse to line up coffee chats in advance. BVA Live takes place at the NEC Birmingham in June, bringing practical sessions and plenty of time to talk between them — a friendly setting to meet peers and speakers you’ve followed online. If you’re shy, buddy up with a colleague — you don’t have to go it alone!
Another great option is to attend an in-person CPD course like our practical CPD for vets or one of our short vet nurse CPD courses. You’ll often work in small groups, giving you plenty of time to chat and meet new people, and tea breaks and lunch are great networking opportunities outside your group. The focus on a shared task means this can feel a lot less like ‘awkward’ networking and more like making friends. Plus, you already have a shared interest!
Online veterinary networking
Refresh your LinkedIn so it reflects your current role and the networks you’re starting to grow, add a few key players, then show up helpfully: comment with a practical tip, summarise a paper you found useful, or share a client-friendly handout you’ve created. If you’re feeling brave, meeting online for short “coffee chats” work brilliantly — 15 minutes on Zoom or the phone with a clear purpose, followed by a quick thank-you and one takeaway. Over time, these tiny touches turn strangers into colleagues, and colleagues into collaborators.
Conversation openers that don’t feel salesy
Lead with curiosity and be specific. Emailing a speaker beforehand with a specific question can work well, or asking questions later – “I liked your point about postoperative analgesia — how did you implement it in first-opinion practice?” lands far better than “Can I pick your brain?”. Try “I’m collecting examples of nurse-led clinics for senior cats — would you add yours?” or “I’m meeting a colleague tackling a similar problem — shall I connect you both?”. Be interested before you try to be interesting.
Follow-up without the ick
Within 24–48 hours, send a short note that references something they said and offers something helpful — slides, a contact, an article. If it makes sense, check in again in a few weeks with a relevant update. Keep it light, useful and easy to reply to.
Professional boundaries and confidentiality
Networking isn’t a free-for-all. Protect client confidentiality when discussing cases in person or online, anonymise thoroughly, and record consent if details could identify a client or patient. The RCVS supporting guidance on confidentiality — and its advice around online and social media use — can help to guide you on what’s appropriate.
Quick answers to common questions
Is networking worth it for locums?
Yes. Your network becomes your pipeline for bookings, your reference base, and your rapid clinical back-up when you’re working solo.
How do I network as a new grad vet?
Start small: thank CPD speakers, ask one thoughtful question on LinkedIn, and lean on Vet GDP support within your practice or local community. You might also want to check out the BVA Young Vet network, or join our New Graduate Mailing List.
Where should my network be?
Think global, and both on and offline, when it comes to building your network. It doesn’t matter where you are or how you met, as long as you can create a genuine connection and help one another.
Where to next?
Pick one contact to message today, one resource to share, and one person you could introduce. Book your next in-person touchpoint — London Vet Show in November, or BVA Live in June — and make two short meetings part of your plan for the day.
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