BVA Wellbeing Award winners for 2025 announced

Now in its second year, the BVA Awards celebrate the professionalism, dedication and achievements of vets and vet teams across the UK and was followed by a reception, sponsored by Lloyd & Whyte.

BVA Wellbeing Awards 2025 

The BVA Wellbeing Awards recognise veterinary workplaces that go above and beyond to support staff wellbeing, based on BVA’s Good Veterinary Workplaces Voluntary Code.  

This year’s BVA Wellbeing Award winners are:  

Small/Medium Practice (Up to 25 employees) winners - Pet People Vets, London

Pet People Vets impressed the judges with their whole team approach to wellbeing, from instigating regular meetings across the whole practice to encouraging social activities and team yoga. The reception team are able to shadow clinical staff, meaning they are integrated into clinical care, helping the whole team to work cohesively. The practice also holds monthly mortality/morbidity meetings to give team members the opportunity to share their experiences and encourage learning, not blame, out of difficult situations.  

Francesca Verney, Veterinary Director of Pet People Vets, said: “'This is a really meaningful award to win. When we setup the clinic in 2022, we were clear that team member happiness and enjoyment of their work was the cornerstone of our practice. Happiness is not a superficial term but a vital value that leads to better communication, improved patient outcomes, psychological safety, a culture of learning, and retention of our wonderful people. The suggestion to apply and the application itself came from one of our graduate vets who is in her third year with us – and hearing her advocate for the practice’s culture in this way was like winning the award in itself. We are immensely proud of the team at Pet People, and it remains fundamental that our people can thrive at work to provide the best patient care.”

Large Practice (Over 25 employees) winners – 387 Vets, Great Wyrley, Walsall

This year’s winners of the Large Practice category, 387 Vets, believe communication is key in their practice: team members have undergone profiling to help them understand how they can best communicate with each other, and they have an “accountability toolkit”, created by all team members. They share respectful strategies for overcoming communication barriers and monthly “continuous improvement meetings” are kept management free to encourage team members to share their views. The practice also has a wellbeing action plan in place. 

387 Vets Practice Manager and Non-Clinical Director Rachel Duncan said: “We are absolutely delighted that 387 Vets are winners of the BVA Wellbeing Awards this year. Creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture has been central to our business strategy for over a decade. We continually invest in leading, improving and supporting team to keep making work better, and recognise that nurturing a happy, motivated, engaged and stable team has a huge positive impact on patient and pet owner service. Wellbeing is a journey, not a destination, and it’s incredibly heartwarming to be recognised at this level in our industry for our commitment to the ride.”

Non-Clinical Workplace winners - Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, London 

Judges were pleased by how a wellbeing culture is clearly recognised and respected at Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys: a health coach is available, wellbeing activities are organised and encouraged in the office and regular staff consultations and a “pulse survey” are carried out to help raise and address concerns. Colleagues from less hands-on roles get invited to the countries where action happens so they get to see the impact of the team, helping to give a sense of purpose and show how they are collectively making a difference.  

Global Head of People & Culture at Brooke Lin McGarry said: “I am honoured and extremely proud on behalf of the People and Culture team at Brooke that our efforts to prioritise wellbeing across the organisation have been recognised with this award from the BVA. Our hybrid working policy, flexible working initiatives and our approach to supporting mental health are just some of our key areas of focus. By enabling our people to work in a healthy environment, both mentally and physically, we are all better able to carry out our mission to ensure that working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living. Brooke works hard to build a psychologically safe and inclusive culture, where everyone feels able to be themselves and contribute. We encourage opportunities to continue learning, celebrate each other's success and connect on a social level.”

BVA President Dr Rob Williams said about this year’s award winners: “Work is such a huge part of our lives that it is vital to feel at ease, comfortable and happy to be there. Being a vet comes with long hours, high emotions and difficult cases and knowing that you have the support of your managers and team is so important – it’s how workplaces thrive. We’re proud to highlight this year’s Wellbeing Award winners and the wonderful and effective ways they support their teams and we hope they inspire other veterinary workplaces to take positive action.”

Consulting Veterinarian and Veterinary Engagement Manager at ManyPets Dr. Kirsten Ronngren, DVM MRCVS, said: “It’s been truly uplifting to have the opportunity to be a part of the BVA Wellbeing Awards this year; an easy and unanimous yes from our veterinary relationship team as we look to make impactful enhancements in our commitment to our colleagues in the field. Recognition of outstanding vet teams through the awards has highlighted what you are doing daily to better us as a community. We’ve been massively impressed with the efforts teams are putting in to support one another, promote employee career growth, enhance communication, implement mentorship, and more. This year’s entries were not only lengthy in their endeavours to cultivate a unique practice culture – but also committed to evolving what that looks like overtime. A massive well done to all participants this year, especially the winners for taking time to spotlight their teams.”

• BVA Young Vet of the Year 2025, supported by Zoetis
• BVA Wellbeing Awards 2025, supported by ManyPets
• BVA Outstanding Service Award(Chiron Award) 
• BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award (Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal)
• BVA Animal Health and Welfare Overseas Award (J.Trevor Blackburn Award)

British Veterinary Association President Dr Rob Williams said: “It’s been a difficult time for the veterinary profession, and vets have been feeling the pressure from all sides. Whether working in a small animal practice, as a farm or mixed vet, in a non-clinical role or as a government vet, vets are highly skilled professions who play an invaluable role in society. The BVA Awards is a chance to shine a light on those exceptional vets who really go the extra mile to care for their patients, support the wellbeing of colleagues or make a lasting contribution to the veterinary community. A big congratulations to all of our winners for 2025, you should be incredibly proud of all your achievements.”