Animal Plant and Health Agency, UK

Organisational Background: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), providing services to the Scottish and Welsh Governments, other government departments, and a range of other customers.

APHA is part of the Food, Farming, and Biosecurity (FFaB) system. APHA maintains essential disease investigation and response capability, as well as supporting the trade in plants, animals and associated products through effective certification, audit and inspection. The Agency protects our borders through effective import controls on animals, plants, seeds and products of animal origin.

Our headquarters is located in Weybridge, Surrey. We employ around 2,000+ staff, based at various sites across the UK.

Organisational Aims & Mission: We have one mission, which is to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of everyone in society, the environment and the economy – and every one of our employees is passionate about achieving this mission.

We’re responsible for:

• Identifying and controlling endemic and exotic diseases and pests in animals, plants and bees, and surveillance of new and emerging pests and diseases.
• Scientific research in areas such as bacterial, viral, prion and parasitic diseases and vaccines, and food safety.
• And act as an international reference laboratory for many farm animal diseases.
• Facilitating international trade in animals, products of animal origin, and plants.
• Protecting endangered wildlife through licensing and registration.
• Managing a programme of apiary (bee) inspections, diagnostics, research and development, and training and advice.
• Regulating the safe disposal of animal by-products to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous substances entering the food chain.

APHA is committed to being an organisation in which fairness and inclusion are central to all our working relationships.

At APHA we want you to have a respectful, welcoming, and engaging working environment. At APHA we want you to feel you belong here.

We recognise that everyone will come to us from different backgrounds and with a range of different experiences.

Take a look below at some examples of Keyword spotting for previously advertised roles with the APHA!

Our People: There are around 2,000+ people working for the APHA, we are a diverse and multi-location team. It is an exciting time to be joining the APHA as we are a growing organisation and continue to strengthen partnerships in the UK and Internationally.

Rewards: We have a Staff Recognition Scheme, and our special thanks and reward scheme provides instant recognition to staff, and our in-year and annual awards ceremony reward exemplary work.

Pension: The Civil Service Pension scheme is valuable in your total reward package. Most of the pension value is paid by APHA. You will be given the chance to join one of two schemes.

Holidays: Attractive annual holiday entitlement starting at 25 days rising over 5 days to 30 days plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata for flexible workers, i.e. part-time, job share employees). We also offer 1 privilege day and up to 3 volunteer days.

Work/life Balance: Flexible working patterns including job share. A range of travel and transport benefits. Access to the cycle-to-work salary sacrifice or bike loan scheme. A variety of employee discount schemes, including SmartSpending, SmartTechat, and MyGymDiscounts.

Watch back our session on Career Transitions - working with the APHA in field veterinary and veterinary investigation officer roles!