BVA Wellbeing Awards open for nominations

Sponsored by MSD Animal Health, BVA’s Wellbeing Awards recognise veterinary workplaces which have embraced the ethos of BVA’s Good Veterinary Workplaces initiative: inclusive workplaces with positive cultures where staff feel valued, empowered, rewarded, and where health and wellbeing are prioritised.

The awards will assess workplaces in the following categories:

• Small/Medium Practice (Up to 25 employees)
• Large Practice (Over 25 employees)
• Non-Clinical Workplace

Veterinary teams are invited to nominate their workplaces for the awards, detailing the ways in which the team’s wellbeing has been supported. Entrants must show evidence in their workplace of:

• A positive workplace culture where mental and physical wellbeing is prioritised, and workplace stress is proactively managed.
• Good communication between the team ensuring all staff members are heard and valued.
• Clear processes in place for making suggestions and enabling change.
• Flexible working is supported, and regular breaks encouraged.

It is strongly encouraged that nominations are a team effort, so everyone has the opportunity to share their views and experiences. Entrants will also be required to submit photos showcasing team culture, demonstrating initiatives to aid staff wellbeing or moments of positivity – creativity in submissions is encouraged.

BVA Junior Vice President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, and awards judge, said: “We spend so much of our lives at work, it’s therefore so important we feel happy and valued whilst we’re there. Prioritising wellbeing is not only good for individuals, it also makes good business sense. Happy, healthy workplaces retain their talent, which builds a resilient workforce, which in turn benefits the sustainability of the business. The BVA Wellbeing Awards shine a light on the workplaces getting the balance right, working hard to go the extra mile to maintain, protect and enhance their team’s wellbeing.”

Last year’s winners highlighted how their workplace had really made a difference to their employees. Winner of the Small/Medium Practice category, Blue Cross Merton Hospital, from South West London, impressed the judges with their positive attitude and how they appear to be genuinely accommodating for all team members, with true appreciation of clinical and non-clinical staff. The team’s wellbeing both in and outside work is considered, with effort made to celebrate achievements and talk about tough days, and they have several mental health first aiders, encourage social events, with judges adding that “warmth shone through” the team’s application.

The winner of the Large Practice category was Inglis Vets, from Dunfermline, which judges said felt “like a genuine place that prioritises wellbeing”, praising how the workplace “seems to care about healthy relationships in all aspects of life”. As well as having a separate team to handle complaints, the practice has developed a wellbeing committee with volunteers from all departments who do everything ensuring the tearoom is well stocked to organising social events and helping to implement changes which can positively impact staff.

The Non-clinical Workplace category was won by The Food Standards Agency, which was praised for how it took the time and effort to better understand individual experiences, which “is very empowering” and the team’s “reverse mentoring scheme”, which sees non-native English speakers serve as mentors for native English-speaking staff. The organisation has generous volunteering leave and a culture of valuing staff opinions and views, encouraging honest input from all on the team. The workplace is also proactive at looking at barriers within the workplace as well as external factors which could cause issues.

Victoria Miles, UK Companion Animal Business Unit Director at MSD Animal Health, added: “MSD Animal Health is proud to support the BVA Wellbeing Awards for the second year running. Vets are crucial to the health and welfare of the nation’s pets and livestock, which makes it so important to create happy work environments where practice teams can thrive. The steps so many veterinary workplaces are now making to support staff wellbeing are showing the way forward and we are excited to celebrate these achievements at this year’s awards.”

The BVA Wellbeing Awards are an evolution of the Vet Wellbeing Awards, which were originally founded by SPVS and run in partnership with RCVS Mind Matters Initiative. The BVA Wellbeing Awards will continue to recognise veterinary workplaces that go above and beyond to support staff wellbeing, based on BVA’s Good Veterinary Workplaces Voluntary Code.

The awards are open to the entire veterinary profession and there is no requirement to be a BVA member. Winners will be announced at the BVA Awards dinner on 14 November during the London Vet Show. Nominations close on Monday, 9 September 2024. To nominate a veterinary workplace, and for more details on the entry criteria, plus full terms and conditions, visit: www.bva.co.uk/wellbeing-awards