This March, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) will be attending the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress to discuss the future of veterinary nursing and provide an update on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation. Additionally, staff from the College will share insights into internal research processes, ongoing workforce initiatives, and outline upcoming regulatory changes. The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative will also be hosting a session about addressing stress and promoting wellbeing in veterinary workplaces.
BSAVA Congress is being held from Thursday 20 March to Saturday 22 March at the Manchester Central Convention Complex.
RCVS sessions and session involvement are as follows:
Thursday 20 March
VN Vision workshop: The future of team-based veterinary healthcare – where next? (Exhibition CPD Stage, Personal Development stream, 4pm to 4.30pm)
Speakers:
- Julie Dugmore RVN, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing
- Jill Macdonald RVN, RCVS VN Futures Project Lead
RCVS session overview: Supported through the work of VN Futures, the RCVS has facilitated a series of ‘VN Vision’ engagement events during 2024/25 to gain views from the veterinary nursing profession on their aspirations for veterinary nursing. During these events, the RCVS has encouraged open-minded, unrestricted thinking to explore how veterinary healthcare delivery may evolve over the coming years, and the role that veterinary nurses will hold in that delivery.
The College and VN Futures has gained a large amount of data that will assist in understanding key themes and directions for the development of veterinary nursing, and that will feed into future projects and initiatives to help drive the profession forward.
In this interactive session Julie and Jill will share key findings and begin the first area of work – to explore how we can empower nurses to work to their professional capacity, thus enhancing team-based healthcare, client experience, accessibility to veterinary healthcare, and practice efficiency.
Friday 21 March
CMA Review: Latest update and what can we expect? (Charter 3, Big Issues stream, 2pm to 3pm)
Speakers:
For this session, RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett will be sitting on the panel.
Session overview: For more information on this session, please keep an eye on the BSAVA Congress website for updates.
Why does the RCVS do research? (Exhibition CPD Stage, Personal Development stream, 4pm to 4.30pm)
Speakers:
- Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager
- Mel Pearce, RCVS Research Officer
RCVS session overview: This session will introduce the RCVS research team, highlight the significance of its work, explore the principles that underpin its approach, and demonstrate how RCVS research benefits the profession.
The RCVS research function works collaboratively with teams from across the College to build a robust evidence base that captures a diverse range of perspectives from across the profession, ensuring that key stakeholders have their voices represented in the evidence that shapes our work. The team identifies and addresses gaps in knowledge by conducting rigorous internal research, supporting teams in commissioning external studies, and analysing existing data. RCVS research is guided by four core principles: impact, accessibility, transparency, and engagement.
Saturday 22 March
Understanding the workforce to build a successful workplace (Charter 3, Big Issues, 9am to 10am)
Speakers:
- Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager
- Linda Belton, RCVS President
- Angharad Belcher, RCVS Director for the Advancement of the Professions
RCVS session overview: This session will use data and insights from the RCVS Surveys of the Professions 2024, the Institute of Employment Studies workforce modelling report, as well as wider employment insights from outside of the veterinary sphere. The data will be used as a foundation for a discussion on building workplaces that promote retention of staff as well as recruitment. With a focus on the challenges facing vets in different age groups and career stages, it is a chance to cast a data-driven light on potential developments in the veterinary workplace. Understanding the needs and concerns of the workforce at different life and career stages can help build a veterinary workplace that fits the needs of the workforce in a positive setting for all, including the animals and their owners.
RCVS regulation changes: What does the future hold? (Charter 3, Big Issues, 11.10am to 12.10pm)
Speakers:
- Linda Belton, RCVS President
- Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO
- Ben Myring, RCVS Head of Policy, Insight and Public Affairs
RCVS session overview: This session will providedetails of the new RCVS strategic plan, the College’s response to challenges and opportunities facing the profession, such as the CMA review and Artificial Intelligence, and details and progress on the RCVS legislative reform proposals.
RCVS Mind Matters – Thriving at work: addressing stress and promoting wellbeing in the veterinary workplace (The Community Hub, 12.50pm to 1.30pm)
Speakers:
- Professor Elinor O’Connor, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
RCVS session overview: This interactive session will discuss some of the sources of work-related stress experienced by veterinary professionals and will consider some steps that can be taken by individual workers, line managers or employers to maintaining wellbeing at work. The session will also introduce the forthcoming RCVS Mind Matters Initiative’s practical guide, ‘Understanding and managing stress in the veterinary workplace’.
On the stand
In addition to workshops and talks, the RCVS Team can be found at stand A24 to answer any questions or queries and provide demos of their popular free online digital learning platform, the RCVS Academy.
For further information on BSAVA Congress 2025, please visit the BSAVA Congress website.
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