Having good results in school is not the be-all and end-all, but it can help to open up doors for you later on in life. Not everyone will experience barriers in their life from not having an English qualification (such as an English GCSE or Functional Skills English qualification). But if you have, it’s never too late to give it another go.

Is it really worth it?

You might be thinking, I’ve come this far without an English qualification, do I really need one? It’s true, some people can progress well in their chosen career without any formal qualifications. However, achieving an English qualification can help with lots of things, such as paving the way to higher education, progressing further at work, or even just boosting your confidence with day-to-day tasks.

What are the benefits?

Aside from increased career possibilities, the benefits of gaining an English qualification include:

• Adds to your CV – having another qualification to add to your CV can help you to stand out against other candidates
• You’d be investing in yourself – you’re taking the course because you want to, not because you have to.
• Greater earning potential
• Pave the way to further study – Functional Skills form a vital part of all apprenticeship frameworks in England. In some cases, they can be used to progress onto higher level study.
• Improving your literacy may increase your confidence with tasks and situations you might have ordinarily relied upon others to handle. 

How can I do it?

There are several ways you can study an English qualification. Some English GCSE courses are available online and some have required college attendance. If you prefer a more practical way of learning, another option is to undertake a Level 2 Functional Skills in English qualification (GCSE equivalent).

Why study a Level 2 Functional Skills in English?

Level 2 Functional Skills in English is a more hands-on equivalent to an English GCSE, teaching you general English and communication skills which you can apply in your work and everyday life. Some of the benefits of course are:

• There are no academic entry requirements
• The course can be started at any point throughout the year
• You’ll be required to take practical assessments as well as online reading and writing exams – offering variety for those who don’t like all the focus to be on written examinations
• Only takes 6 months to complete, on average (an English GCSE course would take 12-18 months)
• It’s a distance learning course, so you won’t be required to attend college

Discover what you’d cover on the course by clicking here.

Regardless of what stage you’re at in your career, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) can always help you expand your knowledge that bit further. So, if you’re looking to develop your skill set, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can get 20% off all CPD courses booked between the 5^th and 11^th August 2019 using the code ‘SUMMER19’!

How to take advantage of the discount

Enter the discount code ‘SUMMER19’ at the checkout to apply your 20% discount.

Which courses does the discount apply to?

All CAW CPD courses are included in the offer – meaning if you book an early bird course and apply the summer discount code to it, you can save a massive £160 on full day courses.

Don’t miss out – visit https://cpd.caw.ac.uk between the 5 and 11 August 2019 and apply the code ‘SUMMER19’ at the checkout to receive 20% off all courses.

Terms and Conditions

• The code SUMMER19 will provide a 20% discount on CPD courses run by The College of Animal Welfare when booked online between Monday 5 August and Sunday 11 August 2019
• The discount can only be applied when booking online at https://cpd.caw.ac.uk
• The code can be applied against all CPD courses (including early bird courses)
• The code cannot be used against online learning courses
• Any courses booked using this promotion must be paid for in full at the time of booking
• There is no limit on how many times the discount can be used between 5 and 11 August 2019
• We reserve the right to end this discount at any point at our discretion
• Course requirements apply
• The discount will end at midnight on Sunday 11 August 2019
• All other standard The College of Animal Welfare Terms and Conditions

Dates have now been set for our 2020 Clinical Coach and Head Nurse Congresses. Held in March and May at the East of England Arena and Events Centre, the congresses provide the perfect opportunity for companies from across the veterinary industry to reach their target audience.

Throughout the two-day events, exhibitors get the chance to make meaningful business connections and there are plenty of allocated breaks, providing the opportunity to speak with attendees and showcase products and services.

Why exhibit with us?

Limited exhibitor numbers

Unlike at some larger congresses with hundreds of exhibitors competing for visitors, exhibition space for CAW’s events is strictly limited. This allows exhibitors more time to better engage with all of the delegates attending our congresses on a more personal level.

What’s more – our exhibitor space has grown massively since changing venues last year so you won’t feel closed in or like you haven’t had the chance to speak to everybody.

Make meaningful business connections

The congresses are attended by Head Nurses, Practice Managers and Clinical Coaches – allowing you to network with those who can influence decision making within their veterinary practices and make relevant industry contacts.

Cost effective

With exhibitor packages starting from just £250+VAT, our prices fall considerably below that of larger events within the industry – giving you great value for money.

And if you book a stand before 31 August 2019, you can get a 10% discount on your exhibitor fees.

To find out more about the events and the discounts available to exhibitors, download a booking form now, or call Tracey Croucher, Short Course and Events Manager, on 01480 422060.

An increasing number of us now use social media on a regular basis, be it for personal or business use. But could it be true that something designed to allow people to communicate better, has actually had an adverse effect?

Less filters

When communicating via social media, people don’t tend to filter their words as much as they might in real life. This could be because talking through a screen can make people less aware that they’re speaking to a real person.

The idea of being less aware that you’re speaking to a real person when communicating via social media is amplified if you haven’t actually met the person in real life. Meaning trolls will often leave nasty comments and send offensive messages without any concern for how it might affect the person.

Continue reading…

There are a variety of different job roles in the animal care industry and in every one of them you can be sure that no two days are ever the same. This is already a challenge in itself, but if you’re looking for a way to feel continuously challenged and motivated in your animal care role, take a look at the tips below…

Set yourself measurable goals

Having small, measurable goals to work towards on a regular basis can be helpful in keeping you motivated. When deciding on objectives for yourself, they should be challenging but realistic; setting yourself unattainable targets will only dishearten you.

Additionally, you’ll want to define deadlines for each of your goals. Knowing you only have so much time to reach a target gives you a sense of urgency is often motivating. As Parkinson’s Law states: “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion”.

Animal care roles vary massively, and within the workplace no two days are the same. With this in mind, your goals could be anything from dealing with an unexpected situation (such as a nervous or aggressive animal) without any help from your manager, to improving your communication skills and being able to answer any queries owners might have.

Continue reading…