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Animal Management

STUDYING ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AT WESTON COLLEGE 

You will get the chance to work with an exciting new range of animals thanks to our partnership with Puxton Park, including domestic, farm and exotic animals include tortoises, parrots, reindeer, owls, marmoset monkeys, meerkats, donkeys, goats, ponies, rare pigs, alpacas, cattle, emus, stick insects and more ...

You will be based both at Knightstone Campus and Puxton Park, where you will benefit from:

  • A bespoke animal management campus.
  • Weekly experience within an outstanding zoo farm.
  • The opportunity to study and work with a wide range of animal species from insects to primates.
  • Teaching from industry specialists.
  • Opportunities to undertake meaningful and substantial work experience.
  • Trips to animal establishments.
  • Guest lectures from a wide range of industry specialists

Use this page to discover your perfect course, and apply direct right here.

Careers in Animal Management

Here are just a few examples of job titles that have shown to be the most popular listings in the South West region within the last year.

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or select a section to jump to:

CEH animal management Logo

 

Animals are extremely important to our lives and there is a huge variety of careers in the animal care sector. The animal care industry is worth £1 billion to the UKs economy. It has 13,000 businesses, 78,000 employees and lots of volunteers.

We've bundled the best education in the area with career boosted benefits - and are leveraging our contacts as one of the largest Colleges in the country to give you the best possible chance of success.

Our qualifications have been developed in conjunction with local and national employers and have a proven record of helping students gain animal management related jobs and onto relevant degrees.

Our programmes are endorsed by:

Noahs Ark logo
Puxton park logo
harmonious dogs logo
wild warefare logo
cattery 21 logo
the pet studio logo

FIND OUT MORE

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  • In College
  • Apprenticeships
  • T-Levels
Level 1

Animal Care Land Based Studies, Certificate

1 Year
Sep 2024
PUXTON PARK
Click Here

The Animal Care Land Based Studies Certificate is an ideal starting point for animal lovers seeking a career in the animal care industry. The comprehensive course combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical work to equip you with the necessary skills and experience for working with animals. Throughout the course, one day per week wi...

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Level 2

Animal Care Technical Certificate

1 Year
Sep 2024
KNIGHTSTONE CAMPUS
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The Animal Care Technical Certificate is ideal if you have little experience of working with animals. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical activities and projects. The course emphasises hands-on training – you will develop practical animal handling skills and gain an understanding of the basic care of a wide range of animal speci...

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Level 3

Animal Care and Management, T Level

2 Years
Sep 2024
KNIGHTSTONE CAMPUS
Click Here

The Animal Care and Management T Level is a vocational qualification created to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the animal care industry. The course involves a significant amount of theory and science. Our experienced tutors are dedicated to teaching you the necessary theory to complement your practical...

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Level 3

Animal Management, BTEC Extended Diploma

18 - 24 Months
Sep 2024
PUXTON PARK
Click Here

The Animal Care BTEC Extended Diploma is an ideal choice for animal lovers who aspire to develop their animal care skills and work in the industry. While physically demanding, this course offers immense satisfaction as you will see the positive impact you can have on animals' lives. The course provides a balanced blend of theory and practica...

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ucw logo
You can progress onto degrees and higher apprenticeships with UCW...
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE

OUR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT VIDEOS

Courses after College

Your journey to University Centre Weston starts here...

Our link with Puxton Park

The College has joined forces with Puxton Park, which will enable you to develop industry-specific skills working within the park’s extensive farmland and facilities, with a wide range of farm and domestic animals, which will significantly enhance your employability skills for the future.

The link will also allow you to gain broader experience in your customer service skills, by engaging with tourists, families and school parties; all helping to prepare you for the world of work.

See more about the facilities here

Taken straight from our virtual open evenings, Charlotte (one of the lecturers) gives us a guided tour of our Animal Management facilities!

MEET THE TEAM

 

Charlotte Haines

Lecturer

"I spent 12 years working as a senior animal trainer of exotic species and presenter at Bristol Zoo Gardens"

Find out more 

 

 

Maxine Park

Subject Area Manager

"We have great students, a fantastic team and a beautiful Animal Management Centre, which I can't wait to show off to you all."

Find out more 

 

 

Laura Link

Curriculum Coordinator

"I was head veterinary nurse at a busy small animal hospital"

Find out more 

 

 

Gill Cook

Lecturer and Degree Animal Management Co-ordinator

"I am a qualified horse-riding instructor. I started work in the animal industry rescuing horses with the RSPCA…"

Find out more 

 

 

Tobias Capel

Associate Lecturer

"I have been involved in the conservation of sea-turtles where I was protecting green and loggerhead nests from people/predation as well as ensuring as many hatchlings made it to sea as possible…"

Find out more 

 

 

Sarah Leaney

Lecturer

"I was Displays Supervisor at Weymouth Sealife Park and Marine Sanctuary, where I was responsible for a team of aquarists looking after; seals, otters, penguins, sharks, jellyfish, seahorses…"

Find out more 

 

 

Julie Way

Lecturer

"I teach a range of subjects on the course but animal behaviour and welfare are my favourite topics..."

Find out more 

 

 

Mandy Patch

Lecturer

"I have been teaching since last year and love passing on my knowledge of the animal industry to others."

Find out more 

 

THE FACILITIES

You will get the chance to work with an exciting range of animals thanks to our partnership with Puxton Park, one of the region’s top visitor attractions.

Your classroom lectures will come to life as you carry out practical sessions at the park, enabling you to develop industry specific skills working with the park’s specialist facilities and animals.

Puxton’s range of domestic, farm and exotic animals include tortoises, parrots, reindeer, owls, marmoset monkeys, meerkats, donkeys, goats, ponies, rare pigs, alpacas, cattle, emus and stick insects.

The partnership will also allow you to gain broader customer service skills, by engaging with tourists, families and school parties - all helping you prepare for the world of work.

You will be based both at Knightstone Campus and Puxton Park, where you will benefit from:

  • A bespoke animal management campus.
  • Weekly experience within an outstanding zoo farm.
  • The opportunity to study and work with a wide range of animal species from insects to primates.
  • Teaching from industry specialists.
  • Opportunities to undertake meaningful and substantial work experience.
  • Trips to animal establishments.
  • Guest lectures from a wide range of industry specialists.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

Luke with award
Luke
Throughout the course Luke has been a conscientious, hardworking member of the group who never hesitated to offer help to both his peers and teachers. Luke won Animal Management Student of the Year at Celebration of Success 2023.
Studied:

Level 1 & 2 Animal Care

Taylor White
Taylor
The practical side of the course, and the fact that it is predominantly coursework based, is something that really appealed to me - nothing beats the day-to-day hands-on experience and interactions with animals.
Studied:

Animal Managment, Extended Diploma

LATEST NEWS

Sarah talking to a bear

<p>I was already a massive fan of the work that <a href="https://wildwelfare.org/">Wild Welfare</a> does years before I started working for them. I’d never come across another charity doing anything like what they were doing, and particularly in the way they were doing it. The problem of poor animal welfare within captive animal facilities such as zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries is widespread and incredibly challenging. Instead of condemnation, Wild Welfare collaborates, working together to drive forward welfare improvements for animals in facilities across the globe. Providing training to animal care staff ensures they have the tools they need to better understand animal welfare and positively impact it through their care practices. The training we provide has proven very effective at achieving this outcome over the 11 years we have been active and being a part of the journey has been phenomenal.</p>

<p>A typical day for me involves a lot of desk work which was a significant change from the years I spent working as a zookeeper, but the impact I know I can have, and the animal welfare issues I am hugely aware of are my driving force. Typical days in the field, however, look very different. We might have meetings with project partners in Vietnam, give presentations at a conference in Indonesia, or conduct welfare audits and make recommendations on where improvements might be made in a facility in Japan. Of course, taking a moment to say hello to the animals is an essential part of the process. The animals make everything worth it but, surprisingly for me, they didn’t turn out to be the best part of my role. Instead it’s the people, and the changes we create within them. Meeting people who are so passionate about the animals under their care, and giving them opportunities to learn more about how to improve animal welfare is intensely gratifying. You can make friends for life, despite the language barriers.</p>

<p>In this line of work it’s not all about the qualifications. Particular personality traits also hold significance. Patience and level-headedness are two critically important attributes because the changes we are creating take time and the sights we sometimes see aren’t pleasant. Reacting in anger or impatience is a sure-fire way to destroy a collaborative relationship which might have taken years to build.</p>

<p>I recently journeyed to Weston College to give a lecture to the students about the differences between animal care and animal welfare, something I had struggled to comprehend myself when I was a keeper. It was fantastic to connect with the students and I hope what we discussed will help with their animal management practices in the future. It was also very encouraging to witness the fundraising efforts which Weston College had initiated. We are a charity after all and cannot create positive changes for animals without financial support so we were hugely grateful to everyone who chooses to get involved with our work via donations to its continuation.</p>

<p><em>Sarah Bonser-Blake, Animal Welfare Field Manager, Wild Welfare</em></p>

<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… you would like to follow Sarah's footsteps, and work with animals, you can discover our animal management courses, by clicking here.&nbsp;</a></p>

Vet checking a small dogs pulse

<p>Working with animals can be a dream for many people, and one way in which you can achieve this, to become a vet.</p>

<p>In the UK there are over 29,000 veterinary positions, with vets earning an average salary of £47,000 a year!</p>

<p>You might now be wondering how you can become a vet… we’ll tell you how.</p>

<p>In order to become a vet, you will need to complete a veterinary degree approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).</p>

<p>Entry to these courses is highly competitive, so it is important that you stand out from the crowd, with great results and relevant work experience. Here are some of the options that you can take, to progress onto an approved degree.</p>

<p><strong>Animal Management</strong></p>

<p>Animal Management is perfect for animal lovers who want to develop their animal care skills to work in the industry.</p>

<p>Animal Management courses offer a balance of practical work and theory, that will provide you with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of animals. You will gain detailed academic knowledge and understanding of all aspects of animal science, management, behaviour and husbandry through theory-based and practical sessions.</p>

<p>You will also have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, working with a local organisation to build your knowledge and practical skills.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… here to view our Animal Management courses.</a></p>

<p><strong>A Levels</strong></p>

<p>A Levels are the most common route to university. They offer a more academic route, but thanks to our Career Excellence Hub, you will have unrivalled access to employers, where you can gain work experience, attend masterclasses and hear from industry insiders.</p>

<p>The subjects that universities will want you to study varies, but typically the science-related subjects are required.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… here to view our A Level courses.</a></p>

<p><strong>Access to Higher Education</strong></p>

<p>Access to Higher Education (HE) is a great way for people over the age of 19 to gain the qualifications needed to progress on to a degree.</p>

<p>At Weston College, we offer an Access to HE Diploma in Animal Science, which is taught flexibly over 10 hours, per week.</p>

<p>The course is a great way to gain the qualifications needed for university and covers a wide range of topics, such as: zoo enclosure management, behaviour, exotic animal husbandry, vet nursing, welfare, conservation, behaviour, biology, chemistry.</p>

<p>All learners receive tutorial sessions and also complete independent study units in study skills sessions.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/access-higher-… here to view the course details.</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you'd like to find out more about a career in animal management,<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news-and-events/events?utm_source=main-menu&am…; come along to one of our open evenings and chat to the team</a>, they will be more than happy to help!</p>

Group of learners holding alligator

<p>At Weston College, we understand and emphasise the importance of planning your dream career, and helping you take all the steps needed to reach that goal.</p>

<p>Making connections with employers is a great way of securing plans for your future, so creating opportunities for learners to meet guest speakers from the industry is a highly valuable part of the courses, particularly the programmes endorsed by the Career Excellence Hub (CEH). When a course is endorsed by the CEH, it means the qualifications have been developed in conjunction with local and national employers, and they have a proven record of helping students gain relevant jobs.</p>

<p>Our Animal Management learners had a great introduction to employers from the industry, through an Animal Careers Fest, held at the Puxton Park campus. Throughout the day, multiple animal-related professionals met the learners to explain their journey to where they are now, answering questions and giving the inside scoop of how to succeed in the animal industry. Pete, from the Reptile Zone in Bristol, was one of the visitors, who bought along Ali G the alligator, and Frank the chameleon. Staff (and guinea pigs!) from Barnaby’s Bunny Barn also gave talks on their experience, as well as the RSPCA.</p>

<p>The learners fully utilised their time with each professional, asking in depth and detailed questions about how to follow in their footsteps. The professionals all explained their advice, following along the similar mantra of “know your stuff!”</p>

<p>Each learner even had the opportunity to hold and interact with Ali G the alligator, as featured in the photographs, which, though daunting, was the highlight of the day!</p>

<p>Click here if you’re interested in looking into animal management, and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… here to find out more about the Career Excellence Hub.</a></p>

MEET THE TEAM

Mandy with a parrot
Mandy
I have been teaching since last year and love passing on my knowledge of the animal industry to others.
Lecturer in Animal Management
Laura
Laura
Before coming to the college I was head veterinary nurse at a busy small animal hospital. I then started teaching student vet nurses and really enjoyed this aspect, which began my teaching career.
Curriculum Co-ordinator
Charlotte holding a parrot
Charlotte
I spent 12 years working as a senior animal trainer of exotic species and presenter at Bristol Zoo Gardens
‪Lecturer in Animal Management

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