Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Applications open for RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025
Winners have the chance to work with RCVS Knowledge for QI progression.
This year features new categories for Quality Improvement.

Applications for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Knowledge Awards have officially opened for its 2025 competition.

Organisations and practices can apply across four different categories, including new categories designed to represent the wide range of Quality Improvement (QI) work in the veterinary sector.

The first category, 'QI in Practice', is set to recognise how veterinary practices have implemented QI techniques into their everyday work. Applicants should demonstrate how it has contributed to better outcomes, better care and better learning.

The 'Antimicrobial Stewardship' (AMS) award highlights practical examples of veterinary teams tackling antimicrobial resistance. It will celebrate where teams have used QI methods to improve responsible prescribing.

'Education in QI' rewards educators and organisations who are able to show how they are teaching recognised QI methods.

Finally, 'QI to Lead Organisational Change' showcases initiatives where organisations have successfully implemented QI methods to improve practices. Applicants will have used these methods to develop and embed new frameworks, which have then resulted in measurable improvement for patients and teams.

Each category will have three winners, awarded a first, second or third place prize. As well as a cash prize and certificates, they will have the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to promote their project.

Other entries may be ‘runners-up’ – which are highly commended for their QI work, but have not yet gained the results or progressed enough to win.

Applications are open for organisations and practice teams across the UK, across all species. The closing date for applications is 10 January 2025.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: “We’re really excited to launch the RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025, and to expand the categories we cover to reflect a broader range of QI projects.

“The awards are an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the fantastic work that vet teams across the UK are doing to use recognised QI techniques to drive better clinical and non-clinical outcomes, better care for their patients, and better learning. I can’t wait to see the applications we receive this year.”

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.