No matter how long you have worked in dentistry, where you studied, how you have developed your skills or what your future ambitions are, it is essential to ensure your own wellbeing throughout your career. Where you chose to live will have an impact on your happiness and quality of life. In particular, it is important for your home environment to meet your social, physical and mental needs, which in turn will influence your health and wellbeing at any stage of life.  For many people, living in Scotland affords all manner of benefits, making this a fantastic place for dental professionals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs and aspirations. If you’re looking for a change, or ready for the next phase of your career, Scotland could provide the answers you need. There’s also the benefit of excellent healthcare and education, as well as a potentially lower cost of living compared to other parts of the UK.  An unparalleled landscape When thoughts turn to Scotland, the immediate image is often one of rolling hills, luscious greenery, mountainous terrain and historic stone buildings. Indeed, the Highlands are a globally-renowned destination for hiking, mountain climbing and wildlife watching, with thousands of people flocking to these stunning open spaces every year to enjoy the great outdoors. Plus, with more than 550 golf courses to choose from, beautifully unspoiled beaches along the coastline and hundreds of islands to visit, the country offers a diverse and charming backdrop to daily life. Culture and history The vibrant culture is a major part of life for the Scottish people, who proudly celebrate their heritage through food and drink, festivals and music, and the traditional kilts in the tartan of their families, of course! Few will have visited the country without trying the famous haggis dish or a glass of whisky. As such, Scotland is widely regarded as a friendly and welcoming place to be. For those with an interest in history, the region boasts the remnants of fascinating tales from Roman soldiers, Vikings, noble clansmen, ruling monarchs and more. World heritage sites include the Antonine Wall, New Lanark cotton mill and the Fourth Forth Bridge, amongst many other landmarks that are well-worth a visit. Job Opportunities Despite the challenges experienced worldwide in recent years, the Scottish economy seems to be bouncing back strongly. GDP growth was 4.9% in 2022, higher than the UK average of 4.1%. Among the top industries demonstrating positive growth have been creative markets, energy (especially renewable), food and drink, life sciences, space, and technology and advanced engineering – ensuring diverse job opportunities for all the family to take advantage of! The dental profession has also been developed significantly, with a 39% increase in high-street dentists between 2007 and 2021. That said, there is still plenty of scope for expansion, which means several opportunities for dentists and dental professionals to make the most of everything that living and working in Scotland can offer.  Aside from the many advantages of Scottish life, Clyde Munro offers an array of benefits for all members of their practice teams across the country. These include dedicated career development pathways and educational schemes, competitive salaries, paid GDC fees, enhanced family-friendly policies, ‘you days’ (for moving house, getting married etc.), an extensive support network and help developing in your digital dental journey. Hiker on the summit of Ben A'an, Scottish Highlands at sunset Making the move The decision to relocate is never made lightly and there are various factors to consider very carefully before making the move. However, when the time is right, the change is made for all the right reasons and the necessary support is enlisted, a relocation can afford countless advantages. Scotland has much to offer individuals, couples and families – why not see what’s available to you? Want to find out more about the career opportunities and vacancies available with Clyde Munro? Get in touch today! joinus@clydemunrodental.com

How Clyde Munro is easing the transition from dental school to practice  Making the transition from dental school to practice can be challenging. As Stuart Collier, who qualified in 2022, points out: “At university, you’re not really used to seeing as many patients throughout the day and there are much longer appointment times. In NHS practices, things are done a lot quicker. In addition, there is extra pressure on you – I am now very aware patients are paying for my services so I really want to do a good job for them!” Stuart completed his Vocational Training (VT) year under the supervision of Alloway Place Dental Care in Ayr, part of leading Scottish dental group, Clyde Munro. He has utilised Clyde Munro’s Best Foot Forward programme as a way of accessing support specifically tailored to newly qualified dentists in their vocational training year. It consists of multiple educational sessions to support Clyde Munro VT dentists.  The support Stuart received was invaluable. Aside from the networking opportunities available with fellow VTs, it also enables individuals to meet with other, more experienced dentists. The first part of the programme explained how the NHS SDR payments system works in Scotland together with an introduction to implementing digital dentistry into their practice. Digital dentistry is an area that is ever growing throughout the profession, and something Clyde Munro are heavily investing in.   Stuart commented: “The programme bridges the gap between studying at university and working in practice. It offers training on topics that aren’t taught in the undergraduate curriculum, for example, I didn’t know how the payment system worked and I’d not used an intraoral scanner. The digital dentistry aspect was particularly interesting for me. Almost all Clyde Munro practices have digital 3D intraoral scanners and following the training I’ve received I now use it for various aspects of the day-to-day job. The training is very good in this respect.” Stuart is looking forward to future learning opportunities at surgical training days and further updates on the NHS payment system in light of the changes implemented in Scotland as of November 2023. His advice for recently qualified colleagues is to be bold. “Just get stuck in!” he says. “Don’t be afraid to try things. You have the safety net of a salary and a team around you to help. Don’t rush, build your skills. Make the most of the courses available and network – dentistry is a small world and the more people you know the better.” Having studied at University of Glasgow, Stuart returned to his hometown of Ayr to join Clyde Munro following a personal recommendation. He believes he’s made a good decision, adding: “The Best Foot Forward and Flying Start programmes [a career development programme for dentists who have qualified in the last five years] that are only offered for Clyde Munro dentists are great, and are only going to get better. Clyde Munro is very supportive of young, newly qualified dentists by offering the added training sessions which help grow and develop your skills.” For further information about Clyde Munro and the career opportunities available, contact joinus@clydemunrodental.com

Dental therapist turned dentist, Bronagh Wishart, is currently working at M&S Dental Care in Fort William, which is part of leading Scottish dental group, Clyde Munro. Bronagh is full of praise for the group’s Best Foot Forward programme following her change in role a year ago.  “I had to get used to a much wider scope of treatments after retraining as a dentist. I had also previously worked mostly in private dentistry, so I needed to learn how the NHS system operates as well” she says. “It was pretty challenging!” The Best Foot Forward programme consists of three educational sessions to support Clyde Munro Vocational Training Dentists (VTDs).  Bronagh has enjoyed the network opportunities it has presented so far, saying: “It was good to have a day in Stirling and connect with people in the exact same position as myself. To hear more about the company and the investments it makes in new graduates was great!” The lecture day proved extremely useful too, as Bronagh continues: “It offered a refresh on a lot of topics and it was great to hear from John Cameron who taught me at Aberdeen University. He was very informative and it was good to get his advice on what I have to do moving forward as an associate.”  For the future, Bronagh is looking forward to developing her skills and confidence in aesthetic dentistry, while also elevating her treatment planning capabilities.  For now, Bronagh cannot speak too highly of the programme and Clyde Munro: “It’s really supportive and the staff here are great. I knew going in that I would be supported, but it’s been better than I expected. I really feel like a valued member of the team. Clyde Munro’s investment in technology and equipment is just as evident in the practice. I’m glad to be part of such a progressive company.“I think working for an organisation like Clyde Munro is a huge advantage when starting out as a dentist. Having spoken to colleagues who work in smaller independent practices, I seem to have more of a cushion and a larger support structure available to me. There’s also less pressure on me from the business side to see a high number of patients every day or meet certain targets. I’m not thrown in at the deep-end from the get-go and I appreciate the introduction that this affords to dentistry.” To find out more about the Best Foot Forward and other programmes available at Clyde Munro for dentists in their early career years, contact the team today! For further information on the Best Foot Forward programme, reach out to joinus@clydemunrodental.com

There are many challenges for clinicians in their first few years post-qualification. Not only is it a busy time consolidating and developing clinical skills, but there is also much to learn about how a practice operates and how to manage patients. Though the VT training year introduces newly qualified dentists to the practice environment, the pressure can certainly increase once working more independently as an associate. In order to navigate these early years successfully and lay solid foundations for a long and prosperous career, it is important that newly qualified clinicians have access to support. This may take many different forms, but essentially there should be on-going training available, as well as people to turn to with questions or queries. The result is more capable and confident practitioners, who are able to deliver higher quality dentistry to their patients.  Clyde Munro – the leading dental group in Scotland – understands just how much difference the right support can make to dentists when they’re just starting out. That’s why we provide the Flying Start Programme; a year-long initiative that offers educational and networking benefits to dentists who have qualified in the past few years.  It includes carefully tailored training days that give clinicians an opportunity to advance their skills with leading names in the field, to ask questions and seek bespoke advice from experienced dentists. There is also an important social element to these events, as individuals are able to connect with others in a similar position to them, to share concerns and achievements, and learn from each other. As a clinician in the early years of his career, Dr James Campbell reflects on some of the aspects he found most difficult as he adjusted to life in the practice: “The biggest challenge has been maintaining and improving clinical skills against the backdrop of time pressures, various relationships to manage, and different financial systems to work with. It has been a process to adapt to the juggling act of primary care dentistry! Doing all this in the context of a pandemic and without the mentoring support that was available as a student and vocational trainee made it particularly tricky.”  James is currently participating in Clyde Munro’s Flying Start Programme as a way to seek a little extra support. So far, professionals have had access to a session with renowned ethical sales coach, Ashley Latter, as well as covering tooth wear with Dr Andrew Paterson, digital workflows with Dr Callum Graham and sustainability with the Haleon team. Other events explored smile design with Dr Josh Rowey and managing trauma in practice with Dr Beth Burns. Considering the advantages he has enjoyed to date, James says: “The Flying Start Programme has been integral to my personal and professional development during this difficult period. It means that there is a network of peers and more experienced colleagues to turn to for support whenever I need it.  “The practical advice, help and training received from experts on aesthetic treatment plans and patient communication has been most helpful for me. I also appreciate the very pragmatic approach and readily applicable content that has been shared.  “The Programme has been expertly conceived, organised and delivered. I am extremely grateful to be part of an organisation that is dedicated to supporting colleagues at all stages of their careers in this way.  “It is my hope that the Programme will help me to improve my confidence and capability in addressing patient needs and delivering the treatment they require. I couldn’t recommend this opportunity more highly to any colleagues out there who may be at a similar stage of their career.”  For any clinicians who are in their early years of dentistry and want to make sure they get the very best start, consider speaking to Clyde Munro. We appreciate the importance of supporting all of our colleagues with training and guidance, especially in those crucial first few years. We also endeavour to create the best working environments, with cutting-edge technologies, high-quality materials and the flexibility to achieve a good work/life balance. Find out more today! Find out more about the career opportunities and vacancies available with Clyde Munro today at careers.clydemunrodental.com.