THE North East’s biggest veterinary business, Westway Veterinary Group, is sending three members of staff on an all-expenses-paid trip to America as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.
Westway bosses wanted to reward the hard work of staff during the past year so put all their employees’ names into a hat – and three lucky winners are going to the 2016 North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Conference, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, on January 16-20.
Vet Abbey Taylor, veterinary nurse Anna Soulsby and receptionist Karla Edgar will attend the annual event, which attracts members of the veterinary profession from all over the world.
NAVC is a non-profit organisation that provides world-class professional development and support services for the global veterinary healthcare community. Their work aims to educate and connect the global veterinary community.
The three Westway attendees were announced at a special event at Gateshead’s Marriott Hotel on Sunday, where Westway staff celebrated the veterinary business’ 40th anniversary since it was established on Newcastle’s West Road in 1975.
Westway, which also owns the Easyvets and Value Vets chains, has 23 surgeries and employs 35 vets right across the North East, from Newcastle to Darlington, making it region’s biggest veterinary business.
Director Nick Myerscough said: “The opportunity to go to the conference in America will be really good for their veterinary education, but we also wanted to reward staff for all their hard work during the year as well as celebrate our milestone anniversary.
“Everybody’s name went into the hat and we had three categories for vets, veterinary nurses and receptionists and office staff.
“It is the biggest veterinary congress in the world so this is a fantastic opportunity for them that they will never forget.”
Ten members of staff were also presented with long-service awards at the special event.
They included head veterinary nurse Kay Sanderson, who has clocked up 30 years with Westway.
The other recipients were senior nurses Michelle Lock (20 years) and Clare Walker (20 years), administration staff Christine White (25 years), Elaine Docherty (20 years) and Cynthia Pryor (25 years), vet Helen Clark (15 years), vet Carey Taberner (20 years) and receptionist Kelly Hughf (15 years) and Helen Milburn (25 years).
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