"There are 130 hours of CPD on offer across all three days, covering a variety of disciplines and learning styles, from lectures to panel discussions and Q&As," explains Congress Committee Chair Andy Green, “We are passionate about delivering content relevant to what you want and need, and as people who are working in practice, we understand the realities of the profession and the unique challenges you all face daily, not just from a clinical and organizational perspective but from a mental health, energy, and emotional angle too.”

“Congress is an interactive forum where people can come and be informed, challenged, enlightened, and inspired." Andy continues, "All our modules have been developed by experts in their fields and the sessions are set up so that there is plenty of scope for you to get involved in the conversations, put questions forward and delve deeper into topics to get the most value for yourself and your team.”

There are still some dedicated sessions for different members of the practice, for Veterinary Nurses, the module on Primary Care Nursing will cover everything from ‘Day in the Life of’ dramas focusing on nursing clinics and behaviour, puppy, and kitten consults, to speakers Sophie McMurrough and Kelly Eyre, discussing ‘What is an RVN allowed to do?’.

“We often forget how important it is to support our owners when they take on a new puppy or kitten.” Says Kelly Eyre RVN, the Module Lead for Primary Care Nursing. “There’s so much information out there, and by being confident in providing this early source of information to owners, we can increase the chances of forming a client bond and improving the welfare of our patients. I’m looking forward to this session as we have two fantastic nurses who are highly knowledgeable and engaging speakers, Georgia Woods-Lee, and Laura Watson, leading this topic!”

For Practice Managers and Clinical Directors, our module on Culture discusses how to create a culture roadmap for your practice with speakers Alan Robinson and Tessa Plagis. A panel discussion with Dr Jenny Guyat, Olivia Oginska, and Alan will also see them delving into the current culture of vet practice and its existing challenges.

As well as our module on Culture, the ‘Leadership for All’ module aims to tackle tips for successful leadership and more importantly, how to take your first steps in leadership, with a panel discussion from Andy, Victoria Johnson, Paul Horwood, and Helen Silver-MacMahon.

“Leadership means many things to many people and can be a daunting prospect for anyone taking their first steps into this area,” says Victoria. “One of the most important things we want to help people with is to understand that so much of true leadership is about mindset, beliefs, focus, and standards rather than strategy or process.”

"The importance of cultivating a growth mindset and developing a high level of emotional intelligence is crucial to being an effective and transformative leader in any team. We have all lived this particular journey, and this session aims to save our delegates their most precious resource – time."

Within the exhibition, there is even more on offer, featuring over 120 exhibitors explore the latest industry innovations ranging from pharmaceuticals to cutting-edge equipment, network with industry representatives and the small animal veterinary community, refresh your skills and learn new ones in the practical village, or visit the wellbeing zone seminars focusing on the wellbeing and empowerment of you and your team.

The aim of BSAVA Congress '24 is for people to take what they learn and share it with their teams. By sharing simple but proven tips, every person in practice can be a leader. Whether as a seasoned practitioner or starting your career, leadership is not a badge; it's a mindset, a standard that people hold themselves to, and we want to take the trial and error out of cultivating a leadership mindset. It takes time, practice, and patience, but it's worth the effort.

Andy concluded, “Our aim is for you to experience something special and be reminded of why you wanted to join this wonderful profession in the first place. Whatever your job role, we each have a unique privilege and opportunity to positively impact people's lives and the health and welfare of small animals, every single day through the work we do. So, let’s come together, learn together, celebrate together, and leave feeling reconnected with that purpose.”

Join us in Manchester on 21st – 23rd March and get ready to elevate your practice, challenge your thinking, embrace the extraordinary, and be part of an experience tailored for you!

Prices start at just £93 +VAT for BSAVA members for a one-day pass or get 20% off all advertised rates when booking five or more of your practice team! Contact the registration team to get your exclusive discount code at congress@bsava.com.