BVA Urges Members to Make the Most of Their Membership
18 December 2007
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has today (Tuesday) released a summary of the key findings of its 2007 online member and non-member research surveys, along with a brief explanation as to how it proposes to action the findings.
Conducted during June/July 2007, the surveys were designed to measure and evaluate satisfaction with a range of BVA activities and services to enable BVA to better serve members’ expectations and needs. “This was a first for us” said BVA President Nick Blayney. “We are keen to listen to our members and respond to their needs and were absolutely delighted at the positive response and very valuable feedback. We thank everyone who took part and certainly intend repeating the exercise at regular intervals.”
While the fact that 85% of responding members said they would recommend BVA membership to a friend or colleague Mr Blayney was keen to emphasise that “we still have some way to go in meeting the objectives set out in our Strategic Plan. We want our members to get the most of their membership and this research represents the first step in listening to our members’ concerns and comments, identifying their needs and deciding how we can best meet those needs.”
Given that 65% of respondents cited the work/life balance as being a key issue with 45% citing career management and 31% business management, the BVA was pleased to be able to point to the number of services and resources already in place to support members in these areas, including the recently launched Young Vet Network and graduate support scheme, as well as its legal and financial advice services, its guides such as the recently published Good Practice Guide on Veterinary Medicines, practice standards documentation on the BVA website and its monthly practice management articles in In Practice. “But,” said Mr Blayney, “we do recognise that more can and should be done. During 2008 we will be introducing a number of new services including Vets’ TV, an online CPD resource, EMS guidance for students and practices and an improved online Veterinary Record jobs website, which will include a locum recruitment service. We also intend looking into providing guidance notes and support information for practice owners and managers, such as marketing advice.”
The membership’s concern over the need to help those affected by depression and alcohol and drug dependency “justified” said Mr Blayney “the BVA’s key contribution to the launch of the new Vetlife website, delivered by the Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF)” and he confirmed that the BVA would continue, as indeed it did at its recent Congress, to support VBF in the promotion of the website and support services. The BVA’s Young Vet Network and graduate support scheme meetings were also going some way to directing support at new graduates and encouraging more open discussion on these issues and BVA intended, over the coming years, to form a comprehensive support package for final year students and new graduates.
“In view of the BVA’s key representative role and the recognition of this by the vast majority of respondents, there was little doubt” said Mr Blayney that “we need to do more to get members involved in the BVA. The survey response rate indicates a strong willingness to contribute and we need to build on that. We hope that through improved electronic communications, not least the imminent launch of our new website in early 2008, coupled with our new database, that we will be better able to keep members informed of items of interest and make the consultation process easier and communications routes clearer. We also aim to encourage greater use of the regional structures, better highlighting how members can feed directly into their local divisions.
“A key objective in undertaking the research was” said Mr Blayney “to examine current communication with members and gain a better understanding of where changes are needed. During 2008 we will be relaunching The Veterinary Record as well as focusing on segmenting members based on their working categories, membership categories and preferences and targeting them with information that they have specified they want to receive. We will determine the most effective means of communicating key messages and then deliver through that medium, although it is clear that there needs to be an increase in e-communication, with a focus on e-mails directing members to the relevant part of the BVA website.”
Mr Blayney explained however that “it is vital that BVA members keep us informed of changes of address and provide us with up to date e-mail addresses as well as getting in touch with suggestions, comments or complaints as and when necessary. A key feature of the new website will be its integration with the member database and, following the launch, members will be able to update their details online, renew their membership, buy publications and resources and set preferences for the type of news they would like to receive from us. Clearly while effective communication is essential, this must be two-way” he stressed.
Notes for Editors
1. Click here for the summary of findings and actions for both the members and non-members surveys.
2. For further information please contact the BVA Press Office on 0207 908 6340 or media@bva.co.uk.
3. The surveys were conducted by research agency Allman Horrocks Consulting (AHC) www.ahc.co.uk during June and July 2007.
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