Are you thinking of becoming a self-employed Veterinary Nurse?

As a locum you could move to different surgeries around the UK or the world. You chose when and where you work.

VN’s who try locum work find it rewarding and like the variety. The downside is cancellation of work at short notice that means you may have a week or two without pay. Other disadvantages are chasing the next job, making domestic appointments like a visit to the dentist, it can be lonely, and you may have to travel further.

But the advantages are that you can pick and choose when you work and can take longer holidays than most employed VN’s and the hourly rate of pay is often higher, and you can leave if you are not happy. Running your own business can be exciting and you are responsible for its success or failure. You can decide when and where you work.

It will be essential to have some skills and knowledge of the industry, understanding and knowing your customers and basic business management will be vital. You will need to advertise your services and promote yourself, contact businesses and have a good up to date C.V.

If you plan of making a career as a locum vet nurse, it is strongly advised to arrange your own Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy to ensure your risk is fully mitigated.

Veterinary Nurse employment companies advertise for locums in the same way as regular veterinary nurses are recruited.

If you are self-employed, you should:

• Set up a contract for your service

• Agree the hours you will work

• Be paid on completion of hours or a project

The ingredients of self-employment are:

• Right to substitute – you can ask another VN to cover for you

• There is minimal control over you

• There is no exclusivity of work – a Practice cannot demand you only work for them

• There is no mutual obligation of both parties – the practice you are contracted to is not obliged to provide work and you are not obliged to make yourself available to do it.

It is very important that the relationship and contract for service is clear so that both parties understand the points above.

If you are self-employed, you will not be entitled to:

• Sick pay; or

• Holiday pay

You will not have employment rights if you are genuinely self employed.

When you are self employed you will need to:

• Establish a limited company

• Pay your own tax and N.I. (This will involve putting about 30% of your earnings to one side to pay the bill)

• Provide your own Professional Indemnity Insurance

• Provide your own uniform

You will need to keep records, these will include

• All sales and income

• All business expenses

• VAT records if you are registered for VAT

• PAYE records if you employ anyone

• Records about your personal income

You will use these records to work out your profit or loss for your tax return and you may be asked to produce them by HM Revenue and Customs. You must submit Assessment by 31 January whether you are a sole trader, in a business partnership, or run a limited company. It’s slightly different for self-employed people who run a limited company or operate as a limited liability partnership, because your business is separate and taxed through a Company Tax Return. You must register for Self-Assessment by 5 October in your business’s second tax year.

You might decide to be a Sole Trader, a Partnership (with two or more people) or a limited company. A limited company’s details are in the public domain and have more reporting duties, but personal assets can be protected.

You must inform HMRC when you become self-employed, and you need to register for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover exceeds £85,000.   

Author

Nicky Ackerley BA(Hons)

Nicky is the owner of HR Support Consultancy. She has a BA(Hons) in Business Studies, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has been a practising HR manager for more than 20 years. HR Support Consultancy has provided the BVNA Members Advisory Service (formerly known as the Industrial Relations Service) since it began in 2002.

Email: nickyackerley@hrsupportconsultancy.co.uk

DOI: 10.1080/17415349.2021.1890414

Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 36 • April 2021