BSAVA Congress 2025

We are delighted to be attending BSAVA Congress, which will take place between 20 - 22 March 2025 at Manchester Central exhibition and conference centre.  

RCVS Stand

Across the three days of Congress, members of RCVS staff will be available on exhibitor stand number A25 to answer any queries and provide demos of their popular free online digital learning platform, the RCVS Academy - come and say hello! 

Programme 

The RCVS will be supporting various elements of the congress programme, if you would like to hear from us at one of our sessions, we will be available at the following times.

Thursday, 20 March

VN Vision workshop: The future of team-based veterinary healthcare - where next? 

Julie Dugmore RVN, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing  and Jill Macdonald RVN, RCVS VN Futures Project Lead

Exhibition CPD Stage, Personal Development stream      4pm - 4.30pm

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? 

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO - Panel member

Charter 3, Big Issues Stream      4pm - 4:30pm

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? 

Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager and Mel Pearce, RCVS Research Officer

Exhibition CPD Stage, Personal Development stream      4pm to 4.30pm

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

Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager, Linda Belton, RCVS President and Angharad Belcher, RCVS Director for the Advancement of the Professions

Charter 3, Big Issues      9am - 10am

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? 

Linda Belton, RCVS President, Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO and Ben Myring, RCVS Head of Policy, Insight and Public Affairs

Charter 3, Big Issues      11.10am - 12.10pm

This session will provide details 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

Professor Elinor O'Connor, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester

The Community Hub      12.50pm - 1.30pm

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'. 

The full programme for BSAVA Congress can be found on the BSAVA Congress website.

Congress enquiries

For queries or questions, please contact the RCVS Events Team.