Fundraising star Pauline is among out latest Nettie heroes

LONG-serving Newry Vets Head Receptionist Pauline Bennett helped her practice to raise £2,500 for Guide Dogs Northern Ireland – with a bit of help from former Ireland rugby captain Rory Best.

Pauline, pictured right, secured an impressive range of raffle prizes, including a signed rugby shirt from Rory, while she and her reception team worked tirelessly to sell tickets to clients and supporters.

Now, her efforts have been rewarded with a VetPartners Nettie award.

Each month, VetPartners recognises 10 colleagues from across its veterinary practices and associated animal healthcare businesses for demonstrating its values of being respectful, supportive, dedicated, approachable and collaborative.

Winners receive a £250 Love2Shop voucher, a cuddly mascot and a certificate in recognition of their outstanding contribution.

As well as supporting charitable causes, Pauline plays an active role in strengthening relationships with the local farming community, encouraging farmers to attend practice farm meetings and product launches to keep them informed and engaged.

Newry Vets Practice Manager Shantel Lloyd said: “Pauline does the most amazing job and constantly goes above and beyond to demonstrate the values of VetPartners. She runs our stock counts like a military operation. On top of all this, she does her actual job of running the reception team and driving their levels of customer service. The practice would be absolutely lost without her.”

A farm vet who answered an SOS call to help with the rescue of 16 cows after a trailer in which they were travelling tipped over during bad weather on a country road has been rewarded with a VetPartners Nettie award.

Lauren Bell, of Clyde Veterinary Group in Lanark, left, has been hailed as a hero for the calm and courageous way she handled a traumatic incident that was fraught with danger.

Lauren, who graduated in 2023, was the closest vet available and was quickly onsite to help out, before being joined by some of the practice’s equine vets, Caleb Askin, Katy Bredin, Scott Duncan and Lauren Macalister, and equine nurse Emma Bone. Police and Fire & Rescue crews were also at the scene.

Thanks to Lauren’s leadership and careful coordination of the rescue effort, 12 trapped cows were safely freed after the trailer they were being transported in overturned on its side along a twisting rural road.

Lauren is described as a “ray of sunshine” by colleagues who joined forced to nominate her for one of our Netties.

Clyde Vets Practice Manager Tony Reilly said: “Lauren displayed maturity beyond her years while dealing with this unfortunate accident and deserves to be acknowledged. All those who witnessed her actions that day have sang her praises since.”

Sarah Finnie, right, is among our November Nettie winners after organising and running a hugely successful charity fundraising evening for Farmstrong Scotland, a mental health and wellbeing charity supporting farmers and crofters.

The charity night was hosted by Donview Vets in Inverurie, near Aberdeen, where Sarah works as large animal and equine coordinator and pharmacy controller. The event attracted more than 250 people from the local rural community.

Committed to farmer wellbeing and supporting rural community

The evening was hailed a huge success, raising £5,036 through a traditional Scottish roup (auction). VetPartners then topped up the total with an additional £1,909, bringing the grand total to an impressive £6,945.

Receptionist Roisin Robertson-Greig, who was among the colleagues who nominated Sarah for a Nettie, said: “Sarah’s commitment to farmer wellbeing and to supporting the rural community shines through in all her work. Her professionalism, kindness and passion make her an outstanding colleague and a highly deserving winner of a Nettie.

“Her achievements reflect not only her personal strengths but the best of what our organisation stands for. She is the embodiment of the VetPartners values.”

Sarah added: “As well as raising much-needed funds for a great cause, it was important to get people to come along. It was amazing that VetPartners topped the amount raised with an additional £1,909.”

Clevedale Vets vet Jess Weighell also received a Nettie for demonstrating our values after helping a dog involved in a road accident.

On her way home, she saw a dog has been involved in an accident. She collected the dog and brought it back to the practice, staying with him until she could locate the owner. Sadly, the dog did not survive, but Jess was supportive and caring for the dog and owner, prompting her colleagues to nominate her for a Nettie.

Congratulations to our November and December Nettie winners:

Jack Ashby – Vet, Equivet

Pauline Bennett – Head Receptionist, Newry Vets

Heather Limbert – HR and Finance Support, PCS

Tim Pitman and Amber Hoad (shred award) – Vets, Senlac Vets

Michaela Davis – Senior RVN, Woodcroft Vets

Lauren Bell – Farm vet, Clyde Vet Group

Sarah Finnie – Large animal and Equine coordinator, Donview Vets

Lucy Clarke – Vet, Ash Tree Vets

Amy Greentree – Vet, Ashworth Vets

Jess Weighell – Vet, Clevedale Vets

Cassie Maggs – RVN, Caerphilly Vets

Jane Paramore, Hannah DuPlessis and Jenny Weeks (shared award) – Practice Manager, RVN and RVN, Calweton Vets

Sarah Day – Branch Manager, LLM Farm Vets

Lucy Auld – RVN Moloney Vets

Shannon Stewart – Senior vet, Parkside Vets, Dundee

Jenny Cheeseman – Acting Head Nurse, Tower Vets

Charlotte Allen – Senior Marketing & Events Executive, VetPartners Central Team

Leonie Quinn – Auxiliary Nurse, Westway Vets

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