At GVNC, we are proud to be celebrating 20 years of training the veterinary professionals of tomorrow. As we look back on two decades of growth and achievement, we also look forward — with leaders like Emma Eve-Raw guiding our students toward exciting and rewarding careers.
Emma, our Head of Centre at East London and Essex, brings nearly 30 years of experience as a veterinary nurse. Her passion, expertise, and commitment to education have transformed the College, with student numbers growing from 28 to over 120 across our Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Care Support Certificate courses. This remarkable growth reflects her belief — and ours — that with the right support and opportunities, every student can achieve their goals.
Emma and her team have designed flexible, hybrid teaching programmes and robust student support services, ensuring every learner has the best chance to succeed. As Emma explains:
“We accept students who have come from other careers or who couldn’t previously work in the veterinary industry because they didn’t have the right qualifications. It enables us to recognise other transferrable skills people have and bring them on as true apprentices.”
Her ethos is also reflected in our decision to welcome students from practices outside the Goddard group, something Emma felt was important:
“Bringing people together from different working environments creates a more rounded cohort and gives students a more balanced education.”
Emma’s own career story is a powerful example of resilience and adaptability. Although her original dream was to become a vet, a serious injury changed her path. Instead, she qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 1999 — training on crutches — and went on to enjoy a career that has included roles as head nurse, practice manager, educator, and now Head of Centre at our College.
She reflects:
“I couldn’t be a vet but as a nurse I was still able to care for animals, and I could still push myself to achieve career goals. I’ve taken every opportunity I’ve been given, which has led to new and exciting challenges.”
Emma’s philosophy now underpins everything we do at the College: support, flexibility, and inspiration. This applies not only to students but also to our teaching team, who benefit from hybrid working, professional development opportunities, and the chance to stay closely connected with clinical practice.
Alongside her leadership at the College, Emma has continued her own professional development, recently completing a Master’s Degree in Public Health with an additional year of studies focusing on education in antibiotic stewardship and antimicrobial resistance across One Health. This advanced training reflects her dedication to ensuring our curriculum remains informed by the latest research and best practice, while preparing students to tackle global veterinary and public health challenges.
Emma is also committed to creating a culture where educators thrive alongside students:
“I want my team to love their jobs and feel as passionate about what they do as I do. Like students, tutors have the opportunity to enjoy hybrid and flexible working because I want them to have a positive work life balance.”
At GVNC, our 20-year milestone is a reminder of how far we’ve come — and a celebration of the people who make our College what it is. With Emma’s leadership, our supportive team, and our talented students, we continue to inspire ambition, nurture talent, and open doors for future veterinary nurses and animal care assistants.
Emma sums up our shared vision perfectly:
“My aim is that we give our students the best training possible so they can offer an exceptional standard of patient care when they are working in practice. But we also want to give them the best chance of reaching their full potential and feeling that they can aim high and achieve their goals, because veterinary nursing is such a rewarding career and it can open doors if you want it to.”
📸 Follow more of our journey on Instagram: @gvnclondon