Practical, accredited training for veterinary teams. Delivered in person or online, in-house or as an open course.
Training
See our current list of veterinary-specific training programmes below.
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Who it is for: anyone in the veterinary team who wants to become a Mental Health First Aider.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: The veterinary profession faces higher levels of mental health and suicide risk than the general population. From April 2026, RCVS standards also require practices to have a practice-specific suicide prevention plan in place. Having trained Mental Health First Aiders helps practices recognise warning signs, respond confidently and create a culture where people feel able to seek support.
What’s covered:
What mental health is and why people develop mental health conditions
The role and responsibilities of a Mental Health First Aider
Risk factors, warning signs and how to recognise them
Providing advice and practical support to someone in distress
Recognising and responding to stress, in yourself and others
The impact of substance use on mental health
The mental health first aid action plan and how to put it into practice
Building a positive mental health culture at work
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Who it is for: anyone with line management or people-management responsibility.
Format: a full day of training, online
Why it is important: Managing people brings legal and procedural responsibilities as well as day-to-day leadership. Getting it wrong can create unnecessary risk for the practice and its people. This course gives managers the practical HR knowledge to handle common people issues confidently, fairly and consistently — and to know when to seek further support.
What’s covered:
HR basics and manager responsibilities
Flexible working
Attendance and absence management
Disciplinary, grievance and employee relations
Equality, diversity and reasonable adjustments
Formal performance and capability management
Training dates and tickets for open courses here: https://buytickets.at/abplus/2370766 - or contact sarah@ab-plus.co.uk
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Who it is for: new and developing managers with responsibility for leading a team.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: Stepping into management doesn’t automatically make someone feel like a leader. This session helps managers understand what good leadership looks like, build confidence in their own approach and become more aware of the impact their behaviour has on the people around them.
What’s covered:
The difference between managing and leading
Leadership styles and adapting your approach
Self-awareness and self-leadership
Building confidence and managing self-doubt
Role modelling, reputation and accountability
Understanding your role and expectations as a manager
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Who it is for: managers who need to communicate effectively and handle challenging conversations with confidence.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: How a manager communicates has a significant impact on relationships, performance and team culture. This practical session develops the everyday communication skills managers need, alongside the confidence and techniques to tackle difficult conversations rather than avoiding them.
What’s covered:
Understanding your own and others’ communication styles
Adapting your communication to different people and situations
Listening, questioning and non-verbal communication
Giving, asking for and receiving feedback
Approaching difficult conversations with the right mindset
Managing your own emotions under pressure
A practical framework for difficult conversations
Practising challenging real-life scenarios
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Who it is for: managers responsible for getting the best from individuals and teams.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: Moving into management means getting results through other people, rather than trying to do everything yourself. This session gives managers practical tools to delegate effectively, manage priorities, understand performance and help people take greater ownership of their work.
What’s covered:
Managing your own time and priorities
Delegating effectively and building ownership
Making the best use of team capacity
Understanding and measuring performance
Identifying whether performance issues are about clarity, competence or commitment
Coaching and developing team members
Managing performance conversations
Helping people take greater responsibility for results
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Who it is for: managers responsible for creating and sustaining a healthy, effective team.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: Good management isn’t just about individual performance — it shapes whether a team works well together, copes with pressure and wants to stay. This session helps managers build trust, create a positive team culture, recognise when people are struggling and look after their own sustainability as a leader too.
What’s covered:
Building trust, fairness and psychological safety
Managing relationships across the wider practice
Running effective team meetings
Managing workload and spotting overload
Supporting team wellbeing
Developing capability, succession and retention
Valuing different strengths and creating an enjoyable workplace
Building a personal action plan for continued development
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Who it is for: reception staff or others who might cover front of house.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: The emotional front line of the practice — the first and last point of contact for clients at some of the hardest moments they’ll face. The reception team face daily challenges in their roles. This course builds the communication and resilience skills the role requires.
What’s covered:
The role, reframed
Communication foundations under pressure
Triage under pressure
Difficult and emotional conversations
Complaints, conflict and vulnerable clients
Building resilience into the working day
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Who it is for: anyone involved in recruiting, interviewing or onboarding people into a veterinary practice.
Format: a full day of training, in-person or online
Why it is important: Recruiting good people is challenging across the veterinary sector, making every hiring decision important. A strong recruitment process helps practices identify the right person, compete for good candidates and avoid costly hiring mistakes. Recruitment doesn’t finish when someone accepts the job — a well-planned onboarding experience helps new starters settle in, become effective sooner and gives them a stronger reason to stay.
What’s covered:
Defining what you really need before you recruit
Attracting candidates and presenting your practice as a great place to work
Reviewing CVs and recognising transferable skills
Planning and structuring an effective interview process
Asking better questions and gathering evidence
Creating a positive and consistent candidate experience
Recognising bias and making fair, evidence-based hiring decisions
Making and communicating the hiring decision
Creating an effective onboarding experience from offer to first day and beyond
Building a practical 30, 60 and 90-day onboarding plan
“Don’t see what you need listed within our current training programmes?
We’re always happy to have a conversation about how we can develop a course to meet your needs or to address a specific issue.”
“I was requalifying for the third time. I was surprised by how much better this course was and how much more I learned - thank you.”
“I feel more prepared than ever before to tackle difficult conversations. Best training day ever.”
“Thank you for teaching us skills that will stay with us for life”
Why AB Plus
Veterinary Specific
We work exclusively with veterinary practices, so every course reflects the real pressures and situations your team faces — not generic training content.
Bespoke to Your Team
Courses can be adapted to your team and circumstances — not delivered off-the-shelf.
Accredited
Our First Aid for Mental Health training is OFQUAL accredited (FAA Level 2 RQF), giving your team a recognised, regulated qualification.
Expertly Led
Training is led personally by Sarah Knight, MBA and Chartered Manager (CMgr FCMI), bringing qualified strategic and people management expertise to every session.