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A Practical Guide to Mentoring
By David Kay and Roger Hinds

As David Kay and Roger Hinds explain in their guide, “coaching and mentoring are invaluable tools in staff development”. Mentoring is increasingly used in a wide variety of organisations, and the benefits are clear. Staff who feel they are reaching their full potential will be more fulfilled and, therefore, more motivated.

Mentoring can assist staff
at all levels, such as new members of the team, those undergoing training and even senior members of staff. As Kay and Hinds assert, joining a new organisation or beginning a new role can be challenging, and mentoring “can be of invaluable help” in supporting staff during these times. New members of staff find their feet more quickly, trainees are supported, and senior members of staff can also benefit from mentoring during periods of change or development within the organisation. Kay and Hinds give a firm insight into how and why mentoring is being so widely used within businesses.

This guide is a must-have for anyone considering becoming a mentor, or even those contemplating using mentoring within their business. The book is full of practical, useful information on the realities, the benefits, the pitfalls and the requirements of mentoring. It provides a complete guide to each step of the process, from the qualities needed to be a good mentor, to preparing yourself for the role, planning the first meeting and establishing a relationship with the mentee. The book even covers the best way to end the mentoring relationship.

The information, acquired
through the authors’ vast practical experience and knowledge of mentoring, is usefully laid out in bite-sized sections, including helpful bulleted summaries at the end of each chapter. The simple and accessible layout makes this book an ideal reference guide that can be used during the entire mentoring process. The authors provide a taste of real-life mentoring with useful scenarios and possible ways to approach them. These cover a broad spectrum, including mentoring members of senior management, members of staff with little ambition, and newly-joined members of the team.

The book provides a flavour of each aspect of mentoring, teaching you how to understand people and the external factors that may affect them, and how to make them feel at ease. The authors discuss the responsibilities that come with the role, and the importance of offering support without simply imposing your own views. In this incredibly detailed book, a plethora of additional information is provided, such as the formal qualifications that can be achieved in mentoring, and an additional section on coaching and its distinctions.

As the authors say, mentoring is
suitable for all organisations. A variety of scenarios and types of mentees are covered within the book, from qualified to unqualified, low level to management level. The book explains that the benefits of mentoring are boundless. A team that feels fulfilled and supported will be happier and more committed to your business, improving staff retention and motivation. New members of staff will slot more easily into their roles, and staff potential can be unlocked, helping them to become vital members of the team.

While not aimed specifically at the
veterinary industry, the tips and advice within this book can be applied to all industries, making this an invaluable guide for anyone interested in mentoring.

Author: David Kay & Roger Hinds
Publisher: How To Books
Price: £8.99

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.