VETPARTNERS has capped its 10th anniversary celebrations by being named Employer of the Year at The Press BusinessiQ Awards.
Our CEO Jo Malone collected the award, along with colleagues from the central support team, at the glittering awards dinner at York Racecourse.
At VetPartners, we want to be a great place to work and a great place to bring your pets and other animals. Our values – being respectful, supportive, dedicated, approachable and collaborative – guide how we treat one another every day.
The award is the icing on the cake for our 10th anniversary celebration after VetPartners was established in 2015 by Jo. Back then, we had just three practices in the North of England, and the business has grown into one of the most respected and trusted groups of veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses, with 13,000 employees working across the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Jo said: “When you walk into one of our practices with your pet, you’re stepping into a workplace where people feel valued, supported and able to give their best. That’s what this award means to us – a recognition that putting people first ultimately means better care for the animals and communities we serve.
“We listen carefully to our colleagues through an annual engagement survey and act on what they tell us. That’s led to fun, community-building activities – sports days, pumpkin carving, cake baking, and a Month of Movement, as well as monthly awards that recognise people who really live our values. We also give everyone a paid day each year to volunteer for a cause close to their heart, and we match fundraising that’s helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities here and overseas.
“We’re equally serious about helping people grow. From leadership programmes and nurse training, to our VetPartners Learning online platform and funded CPD, diplomas and certificates, we want every colleague to see a clear path for their career.
“Because caring for animals can be emotionally demanding, we invest heavily in wellbeing: a full-time mental health trainer, posters on every toilet door signposting confidential support, Health Shield benefits and an employee assistance programme, support for colleagues going through IVF, enhanced maternity and paternity pay, and life insurance for peace of mind.”
- For VetPartners media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, PR and Communications Director, at [email protected] or 07970 198492