College launches social media competition to find the best vet and VN innovators

We have today (Friday 21 July 2017) launched a social media competition to highlight the best practice-based innovation from both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, with the opportunity to win tickets to the first RCVS Innovation Symposium, to be held at The Shard in September.

The competition, launched on Friday 21 July 2017, encourages vets and VNs to post pictures on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, using the hashtags #VetInnovator and #VNinnovator respectively, to showcase something innovative that they have done in their practice that has led, for example, to improved methods of working, a better service to clients or improved clinical outcomes.

Anthony Roberts, our Director of Leadership and Innovation, explains: “We’d love to hear about the latest technology being used in veterinary practice, but innovation isn’t only about high-tech equipment or scientific discovery, it can also be how business are organised, the services they offer and how they are marketed to clients.

“If you or someone you know has developed a new product or service, established a business model that provides a better serves to clients or accesses new client groups, improved processes or methods of working to make a practice operate more efficiently, or if you have found a novel way to market veterinary service, then we want to hear from you.”

The competition is run ahead of our inaugural Innovation Symposium, which takes place at The Shard in London on Wednesday 20 September 2017. Inspired by the Vet Futures research initiative, it is an invitation-only event that will bring together thought-leaders from the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions and those involved in innovative veterinary technologies or business models.

We are offering free tickets to the event to the top five social media competition entries made by veterinary surgeons and the top five by veterinary nurses. Entries should be submitted by 16 August 2017 and will be judged by Anthony Roberts, our Director of Leadership and Innovation, and Senior Vice-President Chris Tufnell.

Anthony adds: “The event will provide a launch-pad for an ambitious programme to put veterinary professionals at the centre of innovation in the animal health sector and to ensure our regulations further enhance animal health and welfare through fostering appropriate innovation.

"We want to engage with everyone involved in innovation, not just those working in start-ups or research institutions. If you’re at the forefront of innovation in your practice we know you’ll find the innovation symposium to be a useful and engaging event and we would encourage you to enter our competition and tell us how you are making a difference.”

More information about the Innovation Symposium including the provisional programme is available.