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Record-breaking numbers were in attendance at the 2019 Pets at Home Vet Group’s National Partner Conference over the weekend, which this year promoted the importance of partnerships.
The two-day event at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, welcomed around 300 joint venture partners and practice managers from across the group’s Vets4Pets and Companion Care practices, as well as colleagues from its Support Office and Pets at Home.
The delegates took part in more than six hours of CPD, split across eight different workshops, covering such topics as emotional intelligence and wellbeing, providing the best consults to clients and current workforce trends in the veterinary profession.
Partners were also offered the chance to engage with industry suppliers at the exhibition, which brought together 42 exhibitors, including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD.
Jane Balmain, the COO of the Vet Group, said: “This year’s annual partner conference was the biggest yet, as we focused on the real heart of our business, which is building upon our unique approach to partnerships.
“From the very beginning our business has been built on working closely together, whether that’s our partners within the practices and our colleagues at Support Office, or within the Group itself between Vets4Pets, Companion Care, Pets at Home and more recently our Specialist Divisions.
“The past year has been one of changes for our group, but together we are all working hard to improve and strengthen these partnerships moving forward.
“The conference is always a great chance for our partners to come together, share experiences, ideas and ways of working, learn something new, and have fun as well.
“Our gala dinner and awards show was the perfect opportunity to thank and celebrate all of our partners and colleagues for their hard work and dedication over the year, and we want to say a huge congratulations to all of the winners.”
Day one of the event concluded with a presentation from keynote speaker Chris Pointon from #HelloMyNameIs on how through adversity, comes legacy.
A number of awards were presented to partners during the evening, including Practice of the Year and Graduate of the Year.
Jane continued: “We hope all of our joint venture partners and practice managers enjoyed the event and we already can’t wait for next year’s conference.”
Award winners
New Practice of the Year – Vets4Pets Nuneaton
Practice of the Year – Vets4Pets Linwood (Paisley Phoenix)
Better Together – Vets4Pets Bristol Emersons Green and Vets4Pets Harrogate New Park
Clinical Excellence – Vets4Pets Leeds Birstall (pictured at top)
Preventative Health Care – Vets4Pets Worthing and Vets4Pets Stockport
Graduate Practice of the Year – Vets4Pets Northampton
Graduate of the Year – Rachael Riley, Vets4Pets Accrington