Preston university’s new vet school wins wellbeing award

Team members from the university’s vet course Pic: UCLan

A new vet school has won an industry accolade – before it’s new building on the city’s university campus has even been finished.

University of Central Lancashire’s school of veterinary medicine has won a wellbeing award at the British Veterinary Association awards.

It is the first higher education institution to receive an award – being recognised for the wellbeing initiatives and activities run for its colleague community.

Karen Beech 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.”

Preston’s university is investing heavily in veterinary courses, with two cohorts of vet students already embarking on their studies, and a new vet school building going up in Victoria Street at present.

The new School of Veterinary Medicine building is due to be completed in January.

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