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To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, throughout February we are featuring Q&As with some key role models.听Client Care Manager听Fiona Bennett听shares听her advice听for those听working in the veterinary profession.听

What inspired your path into the veterinary profession?听

I fell into the veterinary world by chance.听My Mum brought one of our cats into the practice for an annual vaccination听and听there was an ad up for a receptionist.听I applied听and听jumped at accepting the offer when it came my way. I am passionate about helping people听and听trying to provide the best customer service,听especially with the pets our clients are so passionate about.听It鈥檚听a stark contrast to the envelope printing industry听I鈥檇听been a part of for 8 years previously, people听aren鈥檛听as passionate about a lovely C4 envelope.听听

What has been the most challenging part of your career?听

Every day brings a fresh challenge in the vet world, doesn鈥檛 it?听I鈥檝e听been a client care advisor for twelve years and the biggest challenge now is the volume and the number of forms of communication -听it鈥檚听increased so drastically.听It鈥檚听like a听never-ending听staircase.听听

What has been the best part of your career so far?听

The best part of my career and听what鈥檚听keeping me in it - the people! My colleagues are听truly amazing听folk who care about their calling. The bond created by getting through days when every case has been an emergency is special. The light relief when a day goes slightly more to plan is also appreciated.听听

I also like the clients - I love going to Tesco or the theatre听and听bumping听in to听Bella鈥檚 mum or Milo鈥檚 dad (people really appreciate it when you remember their pet鈥檚 name even if you听can鈥檛听remember theirs!).听I feel听very lucky听to call many of my colleagues, and our clients, friends.听听

What advice would you offer to someone听experiencing difficulty听with their sexuality or gender identity?听

Find your people - you will find strength and support in them. I struggled听and听felt isolated as a youngster in Dorset but connected with people from the gay community online, made friends, met with them at London Pride. I then made the move to London where I made more friends - my people. I had the time of my life in the big听smoke听and my sexuality听didn鈥檛听feel like a struggle thereafter. My London friends are mostly in听different places听around the country听now听but we听keep in touch听and听see each other when we can.听I听can鈥檛听imagine being the person I am today if it听hadn鈥檛听been for them.听