Marvin OnumonuSwadlincote Veterinary Centre in Derbyshire has become the first veterinary practice to receive gold accreditation under the great workplaces by British Veterinary Association (BVA) scheme.
The practice worked with a BVA accreditor during the pilot phase and was assessed against a framework that included health and wellbeing, leadership and management, culture, and learning and development.
The report found that the practice showed strong leadership, supported flexibility for team members, maintained a solid team working ethos, and focused on continuous improvement.
Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, president of the BVA, said: “We’re delighted to see Swadlincote Veterinary Centre become the first veterinary workplace to achieve Gold accreditation through Great Workplaces by BVA scheme. Congratulations to the whole practice team for this incredible recognition.
“Creating positive working environments and targeting areas for improvement are the key to tackling ongoing workforce challenges around recruitment and retention.
“We hope this first Gold accreditation inspires others to strive towards gaining recognition as workplaces where vet teams thrive.”
Ingrid Stevenson, clinical director at Swadlincote Veterinary Centre, said: “While we knew the practice was doing well, we didn’t go into this process expecting Gold at all. That was really a wonderful surprise.
“My practice manager and I were just both really keen to get some feedback and to find out what more we could do to help the team.
“We have several clinical accreditations in the practice, but it is the team that are responsible for achieving these and maintaining the high standards.”
Stevenson added: “I believe the team should be looked after, recognised and rewarded for their hard work and going above and beyond when necessary.
“The team were really pleased when I shared the news. It has certainly been good for team morale and a positive outcome to share with potential new recruits.
“The accreditation process was a thorough assessment of the practice and our accreditor made us feel all at ease during the interviews.”
She said: “While we achieved Gold, which was unexpected, we have also learnt of areas to develop further over the coming months. Overall, it was a positive experience for our practice.”
