Vets4Pets Bearsden, a companion animal practice in Scotland, has achieved Silver accreditation through the Great Workplaces by BVA scheme.
This accreditation recognises the practice’s strengths in several key areas, including psychological and physical wellbeing, work-life balance, flexibility, and leadership capabilities.
Third Practice to Achieve Silver Status
Vets4Pets Bearsden is the third practice to secure Silver accreditation under this innovative workplace accreditation scheme. The Great Workplaces by BVA scheme, which is part of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) broader Good Veterinary Workplaces initiative, aims to recognise and reward positive workplace culture in both clinical and non-clinical settings. The scheme’s ultimate goal is to help build a thriving and sustainable veterinary workforce.
BVA President, Dr Anna Judson, emphasised the importance of such initiatives in addressing the challenges faced by the veterinary profession. “At BVA we are passionate about building a resilient and sustainable veterinary workforce. We know that veterinary careers can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding and we’re delighted to see Vets4Pets Bearsden joining the growing number of veterinary workplaces to secure accreditation through Great Workplaces by BVA,” Dr Judson said.
The Accreditation Process
To achieve Silver accreditation, Vets4Pets Bearsden worked closely with an experienced accreditor from a veterinary background. Together, they assessed the practice’s strengths against an accreditation framework that covers four key themes: health and wellbeing; leadership and management; culture; and learning and development.
The process allowed the team at Bearsden to share their thoughts and experiences in a safe and confidential environment. The confidential report generated from this process identified not only the practice’s strengths but also areas for future improvement. This insight will be valuable if the practice decides to pursue Gold accreditation in the future.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Gemma Lamont, Practice Manager at Vets4Pets Bearsden, explained that the decision to undertake the accreditation process is a sign of their commitment to continuous improvement. “The whole team are delighted to have Silver accreditation and to be part of an accredited team. Great Workplaces has given us a real insight into how our team feel. We better understand our strengths and now have great insight into our opportunities,” Gemma said.
She also praised the structure and support provided during the accreditation process, noting that the BVA team’s understanding of the veterinary industry ensured a smooth and effective experience.
Supporting Workforce Challenges in Veterinary Practice
The Great Workplaces by BVA scheme is part of the association’s ongoing efforts to support the veterinary profession in overcoming workforce challenges, including recruitment and retention. Workplaces that achieve either Gold or Silver accreditation will hold their status for three years, after which they will need to undergo reassessment to retain their accreditation.
For those practices that do not meet the criteria yet, the scheme offers recognition as ‘working towards’ accreditation, providing support to help them make the necessary changes to achieve success in future assessments.
