Veterinary graduates can sometimes find moving to a completely new area, without a network of friends or family close to hand, a little daunting. While getting stuck into a new role is a great chance to develop friendships, it doesn’t always provide the opportunity to mix with others in the same boat and the demands of a new job may leave little spare time for a social life beyond the practice.

The BEVA Grad scheme is initially targeted at those who have graduated in the past five years. It aims to bring together vets in each of the 12 regions around the UK via an online forum and through informal regional gatherings – most likely in a pub! The scheme should enable individuals to compare successes (and failures), good, bad, and mad clients, and the best and worst of partners’ foibles, all away from the eyes and ears of the practice and with a free drink in hand.

A Representative has been assigned to each region and BEVA and its commercial partners will put something towards refreshments at each get-together. Christopher Elliot, a recent graduate who works for Blackdown Equine Clinic, has been appointed ‘Rep’ for the south east. He said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for BEVA to develop an　invaluable　relationship with　new and recent graduates, helping them to establish themselves as they start their careers in equine practice. Building a good social network with other like-minded young equine vets and having the opportunity to discuss shared experiences should help them through what is often a very challenging period in　their career."　

BEVA Grads was launched at Congress this September, with the forum going live during the event. All BEVA members who have graduated in the past five years will automatically become part of the BEVA Grads network and the first rallying cry, in the form of an e-blast, went out at Congress with the first gathering hopefully taking place shortly.

BEVA Congress ran from 7th-10th September 2011 at the Liverpool Arena Convention Centre, Liverpool. This year’s programme covered a wide range of topics including Treating the Competition Horse, Emerging Diseases, The foot and The Back, Reproduction and Neonatology, Clinical Pathology, Dermatology, Internal Medicine and Standing Surgery. The world-renowned Professor Leo Jeffcott gave the plenary lecture on the Evolution of the horse and its skeletal adaptation from browser to grazer and finally to Elite athlete.

Visit www.beva.org.uk to find out more and to sign up.