Colleagues who care for patients, the planet and each other are rewarded with a Nettie

A CLINICAL Director who has been a keen champion of sustainability in veterinary practice is among our latest winners of a VetPartners' Nettie award.

Nicole Dyer, from Ash Tree Vets which has practices in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, has worked tirelessly to help make both her practice and the wider veterinary profession more environmentally friendly.

Nicole is perhaps best known for leading Project Drapes which stands for stands for Drapes in Routine Aseptic Procedures for Environmental Sustainability. The large-scale study looked at whether reusable surgical drapes have substantially lower environmental impacts compared with their single-use equivalents during routine neutering procedures.

She has also overseen environmental initiatives at Ash Tree Vets, where she leads the green team. Nicole was also awarded 2025 Green Individual Veterinary Professional of the Year in the Webinar Vets’ annual Green Awards, for work she’s done within the practice and the veterinary profession to promote more sustainable pet care.

Winners demonstrate our values

Colleagues Kathleen Wood and Lucy Clarke nominated her for a Nettie, and she is one of our latest winners who will receive a cuddly mascot, certificate and £250 Love2Shop voucher for demonstrating our values of being respectful, supportive, dedicated, approachable and collaborative.

Lucy said: “As well as her green pursuits, Nicole is a great colleague. She always strives to do the best for her clients and as a senior vet is always there to support her colleagues with her knowledge. Nicole is also conducting two research projects within the practice currently, and I'm not sure how she has the time do it all, but she does!

“There is no doubt that she sacrifices her own personal time to complete everything. Nicole works very hard and is always very modest about her achievements and it would be lovely to celebrate these with a Nettie.”

Every month, VetPartners surprises 10 colleagues with a Nettie award to thank them for demonstrating our values which helps to create great workplaces.

It is also a thrill for those nominating their colleagues for a Nettie when they see them named in the list of winners.

Vet Macy Glen, who works at Ashworth Vets in Hampshire and Berkshire, is also among our latest winners.

Macy is always the first person to volunteer to stay late to help a sick patient, will spend her own time researching cases to ensure she can practice the best evidence-based medicine and always tries to follow through on her cases to ensure continuity of care.

Recently, she gave up her free time to support a poorly colleague on a busy day at their Fleet branch, taking on two sick inpatients, a full list of consults and additional consults to enable them to go home and rest.

Fellow vet Amy Greentree, who nominated Macy, said: “I was suffering from flu and I could leave knowing the practice was in safe hands and our team would be well looked after. Still being a young vet, this was a lot of responsibility to take on, but she did so gracefully, effectively and with her usual positive attitude.

Caring for each other

“I know this is not the only time Macy has cancelled plans or given up her half day to help the practice when it has been short of team members or very busy. Another excellent example of how Macy looks out for her colleagues is her support of our more recent graduate, Caitlin.

“Despite only being two years qualified herself, Macy has been assisting Caitlin with surgeries and talking her through blood results or other diagnostics. She always updates the clients before handing over the case, even if this means staying late to do so. This ensures there are no miscommunications so patient care and continuity are maintained.”

Another vet who wins a Nettie for supporting colleagues is Christo Labuschagne, Clinical Director at Clifton Lodge.

The North East practice welcomed five recent graduates from South Africa, and Christo has helped to nurture and support them to help them settle into the practice and a new country.

He collected them from airports, made beds for their arrival and even done food shopping to ensure everything was welcoming.

Galedin Vets Deputy Practice Manager Amanda MacLaren was nominated by colleagues after creating a beautiful outside seating area for everyone at their Berwick branch. She painted a fence and tidied the area in her spare time.

Amanda also organised a stand Kelso Show for farmers and spent the day engaging with clients, children and farmers visiting the show.

Minster Vets RVN Rebecca Driffield also organised a stand for her practice at the Great Yorkshire Show, coming up with ideas on how to decorate it and organise competitions for visitors to the stand.

Even when things didn’t go to plan and banners didn’t arrive, Becky didn’t flap. She drove to Leeds to collect the banners and to Malton to collect prizes. After the show, Becky then volunteered to drive the VetPartners show trailer back up to Scotland.

When a member of the public brought in a tiny, collapsed kitten which had been found on an allotment, vet Amber Beard, who works at Willows Vets in Boldon, near Sunderland, did everything in her power to save it.

Even though it wasn’t expected to survive the night, Amber took the kitten home and spent the first night giving it glucose and fluids every hour. He gained some weight and was able to eat, drink and move around but, sadly, after three days of apparent improvement, he began having seizures and deteriorated, so the decision had to be made to let him go.

Amber returned to work the following Monday and managed to remain cheerful and professional even when called upon to put another cat to sleep.

She’s a true credit to the profession – and we are rewarding her with a Nettie.

Congratulations to our July winners:

Nicole Dyer, Clinical Director – Ash Tree Vets

Macy Glen, Vet – Ashworth Vets

Christo Labuschagne, Clinical Director – Clifton Lodge

Amanda MacLaren, Deputy Practice Manager – Galedin Vets

Matt Sinovich, Vet – Liphook Equine Hospital

Rebecca Driffield, RVN – Minster Equine Vets

Zoe Phipps, Head Receptionist - Rosevean

Georgia Lewis, SVN – St David Vets

Amber Beard, Vet – Willows Vets (Boldon)

Simone Bennett, Head Nurse - Willows Vets (Cheshire)

Know someone who deserves a Nettie?  

Each month, we select 10 colleagues from across the VetPartners family from the dozens of nominations we receive. Winners are rewarded with a cuddly Nettie mascot, a £250 Love2shop voucher and a certificate. 

Our Nettie awards recognise team members who demonstrate our values of being respectful, supportive, dedicated, approachable and working collaboratively. 

You can nominate a colleague here: https://www.myvetpartners.co.uk/nettie or by emailing: recognition@vetpartners.co.uk 

Article by Amanda Little, VetPartners PR and Communications Director. Email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk