January 30, 2026
The annual event brought together IVC Evidensia vet graduates for two days of CPD and networking at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham.
The Graduate Academy Congress welcomed year one and year two graduate cohorts to meet, connect with internal teams and industry partners, and engage in high-quality CPD delivered by internal and external veterinary experts.
This year’s event offered a packed schedule of over 60 hours of CPD to choose from covering small animal, equine, and farm streams, with varied options for mixed vets.
Reflecting on the event, Nathan Booth, Graduate Academy Director UK said:
“It was fantastic to bring together graduates from both years of the Graduate Academy in one place, with the future of clinical teams across small animal, farm and equine all under one roof.
“Seeing that level of talent, enthusiasm and commitment in the room was genuinely impressive and a real reminder of the strength of our people. It is fantastic that we can invest in our graduates’ development through an event like this as part of our support of the future of our profession.”
Day one was opened by Nathan Booth, who gave a warm welcome to the graduates before introducing George Dymond, UK & Ireland CEO. The event marked George’s first graduate event since joining the business in December, where he shared his commitment to supporting the next generation of vets.
Keynote speaker Sarah Furness then took to the stage, sharing insights into her former career as an RAF squadron leader and how she became the first female pilot to lead the UK Special Forces missions in Iraq. Her fascinating talk also explored themes of resilience, leadership and teamwork, giving the graduates advice for performing in high stakes working environments.
Throughout the days, graduates were scheduled into lectures and workshops based on their area of practise. Some of this year’s topics included laminitis, ophthalmology, emergencies in exotics, and camelids.
One insightful small animal lecture explored lameness in dogs using a case-based approach, equipping graduates to provide first aid after an acute injury. Speakers Chloe Hawkins, Veterinary Surgeon from Glenthorne Vets and Vassilis Chantziaras, Orthopaedics Specialist from Blaise Referrals highlighted the great response from graduates.
Vassilis said, “I was very happy to see a lot of engagement and interest in orthopaedics from all delegates!”
Another workshop provided hands-on training in diagnostic imaging, where graduates utilised screens to identify potential issues via X-ray, helping enhance their skills in image interpretation.
During the evening, graduates were invited to attend a gala dinner which featured a live band, allowing them to relax and socialise amongst peers following the first day of learning.
New to this year’s Graduate Congress, IVC Evidensia introduced a dedicated event app designed to centralise all delegate and exhibitor information, helping ease the experience throughout the two days. The app provided each attendee with a full agenda, including a personalised CPD schedule, their digital badge and access to key event details, including the partner list, venue support, and a built-in messaging platform.
On day two, graduates continued within their chosen streams and visited the Exhibition Space.
At the exhibition stands, graduates were able to chat directly with industry partners including Purina, IDEXX, Hills and Zoetis. They also had the chance to connect with internal representatives from the People team, Clinical teams and Pawsome, our colleague benefits and rewards team.
Nathan shared his pride in the graduates and the highlights from the event:
“Across the two days there was some brilliant CPD, giving graduates the chance to keep building their knowledge and confidence as they continue their learning journey. The gala dinner was also a real highlight, with a great atmosphere.
“It was lovely to see their hard work recognised, while giving them the opportunity to switch off, relax and enjoy time together away from the pressures of practice.”
Find out more about the Graduate Academy Programme and explore graduate testimonies.