May 28, 2026
More than 800 people gathered at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole for the Brilliant People Awards 2026, where inspiring vet care celebrated 12 winners.
The annual Brilliant People Awards is a key moment to reflect on colleague achievements from the past year and honour some of our exceptional talent.
This year, our leadership team were delighted to receive over 1450 nominations across 12 categories!
The awards ceremony took place during the Leaders’ Forum gala dinner where George Dymond, UK CEO, and Rob Keates, COO, took to the stage to spotlight our finalists, share their inspiring stories, and congratulate this year’s winners.
As always, our Brilliant People Awards recognise those who truly embody our Group values We Care, We Dare, We Share. From leading community initiatives and contributing to advancements in their clinical field to enhancing patient care through quality improvement and reducing environmental impact, our 2026 winners continue to demonstrate what it means to go above and beyond in their roles.
Congratulations to this year’s Brilliant People Award winners:
Mandy Barker, Reception Administrator, Haughley & Thurston Veterinary Centres
Hayley Hyam, RVN & Digital Marketing, Taverham Veterinary Hospital
Laura Petts, Practice Manager, Robson & Prescott Vets
Gemma Smith, RVN, Highfield Veterinary Centre
Robson & Prescott Vets
Chloe van Der Merwe, RVN, Pool House Vets
Ian Jennings, Referral Veterinary Surgeon, Rowe Veterinary Group
Liz Eaton, Practice Director, Stokesley Vets & Wilton House Vets
Lia Boddington, Client Services Manager, Downland Veterinary Group
Charlotte Brooks, Area Director, SOC
Area 24
Lawrence Vets
Stay posted as we’ll be sharing highlights from the UK Leaders’ Forum and Clinical Congress.