The University of Central Lancashire’s School of Veterinary Medicine is the first Higher Educational establishment to claim a British Veterinary Association Wellbeing Award
The University of Central Lancashire has become the first higher education institution to win a specialist industry award.
The School of Veterinary Medicine has claimed the 2024 British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Wellbeing Award for non-clinical workplaces.
It was recognised for the wide range of wellbeing initiatives and activities run by the School for its colleague community.
These include aspirational institutional values supporting ‘being proud’ and ‘achieving together’ underpinned by robust support for appraisals, annual leave and colleague support. In addition, school-based initiatives such as ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’, where activities are scheduled to support teamwork and the appointment of a School Wellbeing Lead emphasise the strategic commitment to supporting workplace wellbeing throughout the School.
The School also runs several other initiatives to support colleague wellbeing including colleague coaching and a digital suggestion box with a ‘you said, we did’ responses. It also organises regular Lunch and Learns, and has digital spaces, which are dedicated to ‘Celebrating Success’ and ‘Wellbeing and Socials’ allowing colleagues to offer praise and support and to share thoughts and ideas, interesting courses or videos, good news, and general events.
"It’s a real honour to have everyone’s hard work acknowledged in such a public way"
— Karen Beech RVN, a Veterinary Lecturer and Wellbeing Lead for the School
Karen Beech RVN, a Veterinary Lecturer and Wellbeing Lead for the School, said: “It’s extremely refreshing to work somewhere that takes wellbeing in all its forms so seriously.
“The Vet School and the wider University see supporting positive wellbeing as an integral part of managing a team, not just something to address when things get bad.
“It’s an honour to not only work in an environment like this, but also to be actively involved in the development of wellbeing and in sustaining that culture of support and kindness. I’ve never worked in a team quite like this one, and I am excited to see where we can go!
"It’s also a real honour to have everyone’s hard work acknowledged in such a public way, and I hope this inspires other workplaces to see the value in integrating positive action to support wellbeing into work life.”
In awarding the University with the honour, the judges said: “We felt your application and accompanying photos really stood out, and the initiatives you stated, along with all other relevant criteria being surpassed/achieved, were very impressive.”
The trophy was presented at the BVA’s Awards Dinner yesterday, 14 November, in London.
The BVA Wellbeing Awards 2024, supported by MSD Animal Health, recognise veterinary workplaces that go above and beyond to support staff wellbeing as highlighted in the Good Veterinary Workplaces Voluntary Code.
*Photo courtesy of British Veterinary Association