Finding consistent, well-paid locum shifts is the single biggest challenge facing veterinary locums in the UK. Whether you're a newly minted locum wondering where to start or an experienced hand looking to fill gaps in your diary, knowing where to look — and how to stand out — makes all the difference.
This guide walks through every method available for finding locum vet and veterinary nurse shifts in the UK, from the traditional approaches that have served the profession for decades to the modern platforms that are reshaping how locums and practices connect.
The Traditional Methods
Before the internet transformed recruitment, locum vets found work through a handful of well-established channels. Many of these still operate today.
Veterinary Locum Agencies
Agencies have been the backbone of veterinary locum recruitment for years. They act as intermediaries between practices and locums, matching available vets with shifts that need filling.
How it works: You register with the agency, provide your credentials, and they call or email you when a shift comes up that matches your profile. If you accept, the agency handles the booking and invoicing. The practice pays the agency, and the agency pays you — minus their commission.
Advantages:
- Someone else does the legwork of finding shifts
- Agencies often have established relationships with practices
- Can be useful for longer-term placements
Drawbacks:
- Agency commission typically ranges from 15% to 25% of the day rate, which means the practice pays more and you earn less than a direct arrangement
- You have limited visibility into what shifts are available
- Communication can be slow, with the agency acting as a middleman
- Some agencies prioritise their highest-margin placements over what's best for you
Agencies still have their place, particularly for locums who prefer a hands-off approach to finding work. But the commission model means significant sums leave the equation that could otherwise go to the locum or reduce costs for the practice.
Word of Mouth and Direct Relationships
Many experienced locums build their diaries primarily through direct relationships with practices. Once you've done good work at a practice, they'll often contact you directly when they next need cover.
Advantages:
- No agency fees — the full agreed rate goes to you
- Practices prefer working with locums they know and trust
- Repeat bookings create predictable income
Drawbacks:
- Takes time to build a network
- Difficult for new locums starting out
- Your reach is limited to practices you've already worked with
- Relies heavily on practices remembering to contact you
Building a strong network of direct relationships is arguably the most valuable long-term strategy for any locum. But it can't be your only strategy, especially in the early stages.
Facebook Groups and Social Media
Veterinary locum Facebook groups have become a significant marketplace for shift-finding. Groups like "Veterinary Locums UK" and regional equivalents have thousands of members, with practices posting shifts and locums advertising their availability.
Advantages:
- Free to use
- Large audience of both practices and locums
- Quick and informal communication
Drawbacks:
- No verification of credentials — anyone can claim to be a qualified vet
- Shifts can be buried in a fast-moving feed
- No structured search by location, date, species, or rate
- Difficult to manage bookings and track what you've applied for
- Payment and invoicing handled entirely outside the platform
- Quality of posts varies enormously
Facebook groups work well for informal networking, but they lack the structure and verification that professional shift-finding requires.
Job Boards and Classified Listings
General veterinary job boards (Vet Times Jobs, VetRecord Careers, etc.) occasionally list locum positions alongside permanent roles. These tend to be longer-term placements rather than individual shifts.
Advantages:
- Established platforms with large audiences
- Good for longer-term locum contracts
Drawbacks:
- Not designed for short-term shift work
- Limited search and filtering capabilities for locum-specific needs
- Often agency-posted, so commission applies
The Modern Approach: Purpose-Built Platforms
The limitations of traditional methods have driven the development of platforms designed specifically for connecting locum vets with practices. These platforms address the core problems: verification, search, booking management, and direct communication.
How Platforms Like Fetch Work
Fetch is built specifically for the UK veterinary locum market. Here's how the process typically works:
For locum vets and nurses:
- Create a profile — Upload your credentials (RCVS registration, PI insurance, right to work, CV), set your preferences for species, location, and availability.
- Browse and search shifts — Filter by location, date, species type, day rate, and urgency. See shifts on a map to understand the geography.
- Apply for shifts — Express interest in shifts that suit you. Your verified profile goes directly to the practice.
- Get booked — The practice reviews your profile and accepts your application. You communicate directly with the practice — no middleman.
- Work and get paid — Complete the shift, confirm hours, and invoice the practice directly. The full agreed rate is yours.
For practices:
- Post a shift — Specify the dates, times, species, rate, and any specific requirements.
- Review applications — See verified locum profiles, including RCVS status, experience, and reviews from other practices.
- Book directly — Accept the locum you want and communicate with them directly to finalise details.
- Confirm and pay — After the shift, confirm hours worked and pay the locum directly.
The key difference from agencies is that there's no commission on the locum's rate. Practices pay locums directly, and the platform facilitates the connection and verification rather than acting as a financial intermediary.
Why Purpose-Built Platforms Are Growing
Several factors are driving the shift towards dedicated platforms:
- Transparency — You can see all available shifts, rates, and practice details before applying. No more waiting for an agency to call you with limited information.
- Verification — Platforms that verify RCVS registration and credentials give practices confidence and give locums credibility.
- Speed — Urgent shifts that need filling within 48 hours benefit from instant visibility to nearby locums, rather than relying on an agency making phone calls.
- Direct relationships — Even through a platform, you're building direct connections with practices that can lead to repeat bookings.
- Lower cost — Without agency commission, the economics work better for everyone.
How to Search Effectively for Locum Shifts
Regardless of which methods you use, approaching your shift search strategically will yield better results.
Define Your Parameters
Before you start browsing, get clear on your preferences:
- Geography — How far are you willing to travel? Most locums set a radius from their home postcode. Be realistic about commute times and factor in fuel costs.
- Species — Small animal, equine, farm, mixed, or exotic? Most shifts are species-specific, and practices want locums who are confident in their area.
- Rates — Know your minimum acceptable day rate. This will vary by species and location. Our guide to locum vet pay rates has current benchmarks.
- Shift type — Day shifts, night shifts, weekends, bank holidays? Out-of-hours work pays more but isn't for everyone.
- Duration — Single days, week-long blocks, or longer placements? Your preference will determine which channels work best.
Use Multiple Channels
Don't rely on a single source for finding shifts. The most successful locums typically use a combination:
- A platform like Fetch for browsing and booking verified shifts
- Direct relationships with practices they've worked with before
- One or two Facebook groups for additional visibility
- Possibly an agency for longer-term placements
Set Up Alerts
Most platforms and job boards let you set up notifications for shifts that match your criteria. Use these. The best shifts — particularly urgent ones with premium rates — get snapped up quickly.
Keep Your Profile Current
Whether it's on a platform, an agency's books, or your own CV, make sure your details are up to date. An expired PI certificate or lapsed RCVS registration will delay bookings. Upload renewed documents as soon as you have them.
Tips for First-Time Locums
Starting out as a locum can feel daunting. Here are practical tips from experienced locums.
Prepare Your Documentation Early
Before you start looking for shifts, get everything in order:
- RCVS registration — Current and visible on the Register
- PI insurance — Active policy with adequate cover
- Right to work — Passport or visa documentation
- CV — Up to date, highlighting relevant clinical experience
- DBS check — Some practices request this, though it's not universally required
Having these ready means you can move quickly when the right shift appears.
Start Close to Home
For your first few locum shifts, choose practices within easy reach. Navigating an unfamiliar practice for the first time is easier when you haven't also spent two hours on the motorway.
Communicate Proactively
Reach out to the practice before your shift to confirm practical details: parking, start time, which entrance to use, what practice management system they run (most UK practices use one of a handful of systems). This reduces first-day friction.
Ask Questions on Arrival
Don't try to bluff your way through an unfamiliar setup. Ask the nursing team where things are, how the practice handles specific scenarios, and what the normal protocols are. Good nurses are your greatest asset as a locum.
Keep Excellent Clinical Notes
Your notes need to be good enough for someone else to pick up the case after you leave. This is arguably more important for locums than permanent staff, since you won't be there for the follow-up.
Invoice Promptly
Send your invoice as soon as the shift is confirmed. Clear, professional invoicing with the correct details (hours, rate, your business details, payment terms) sets the right tone and gets you paid faster.
Understanding Urgent Shifts
Urgent shifts — those that need filling within 48 hours — are a notable feature of the locum market. They arise when a vet calls in sick, a practice experiences an unexpected surge, or a previously booked locum cancels at short notice.
Why they matter for locums:
- Urgent shifts often command premium rates, sometimes 20-30% above standard day rates
- They can fill last-minute gaps in your diary
- Practices are especially grateful for locums who step in at short notice, which builds strong relationships
How to find them:
On platforms like Fetch, urgent shifts are flagged prominently and notifications are sent to nearby locums. This is one area where technology has a clear advantage over agencies — an automated alert to every qualified locum within a 10-mile radius is faster than a recruiter making phone calls.
If you're available at short notice, make sure your profile and settings reflect this. Being known as someone who can be relied upon for urgent cover is a powerful reputation to build.
Building Your Reputation
In the locum world, your reputation is your most valuable asset. Practices talk to each other, and a locum who is clinically competent, reliable, and easy to work with will never be short of bookings.
Be Reliable
This sounds obvious, but it's the number one thing practices value. Turn up on time. Don't cancel unless it's genuinely unavoidable. If you commit to a shift, honour that commitment.
Be Adaptable
Every practice does things slightly differently. The best locums adapt quickly to new environments without trying to impose their own way of doing things.
Be Thorough
Good clinical work speaks for itself. Take the time to do things properly — thorough examinations, clear communication with clients, complete clinical records.
Collect Reviews
If you're using a platform that supports reviews, encourage practices to leave feedback after your shifts. A strong review profile gives new practices confidence in booking you.
Maintain Communication
If something about the shift isn't working — the caseload is too heavy, the equipment isn't adequate, or there's a clinical concern — communicate this professionally to the practice. Practices respect locums who raise issues constructively.
Negotiating Rates
Many locums, particularly those starting out, accept the first rate offered. But rates are often negotiable, particularly in certain circumstances.
When You Have Leverage
- Urgent shifts — If a practice needs cover tomorrow, they're more likely to agree to a higher rate.
- Specialist skills — If you have specific expertise (orthopaedic surgery, equine dentistry, exotics), you can command a premium.
- Unsociable hours — Nights, weekends, and bank holidays should attract higher rates.
- Remote locations — Practices in areas where locums are scarce may need to pay more.
How to Approach It
Be professional and factual. If a rate is below market standard, say so respectfully: "My usual day rate for small animal work in this area is £X. Would that work for you?" Most practices understand that locum rates are a market and will either agree or explain their constraints.
For current benchmarks on what to charge, see our locum vet pay rates guide.
What Practices Look For in a Locum
Understanding the practice perspective helps you position yourself as the ideal candidate.
Clinical competence — Can you handle the caseload independently? Practices need locums who can manage a full surgery list and consult without constant support.
Reliability — Will you actually turn up? A locum who cancels at the last minute is worse than having no cover at all.
Adaptability — Can you work with their systems, their protocols, and their team without friction?
Communication — Both with the practice team and with clients. Good client communication is particularly important because you're representing their practice.
Verification — Current RCVS registration, valid PI insurance, and a clean professional record. Practices increasingly use platforms that verify these automatically, which speeds up the booking process.
Reviews and references — Evidence that other practices have had a positive experience with you.
Getting Started
The barrier to entry for locum work is lower than many vets think. If you're RCVS-registered, have PI insurance, and are clinically competent in your chosen species, you have everything you need.
The first step is making yourself visible to practices that need cover. Create a free profile on Fetch to browse shifts in your area, or read our companion guide on what it means to be a locum vet if you're still in the research phase.
The UK veterinary locum market is active, demand is strong, and the tools available to connect locums with practices are better than they've ever been. The shifts are out there — you just need to know where to look.