The British Veterinary Receptionist Association’s Veterinary Receptionist of the Year - Anna Shadforth from Pennard Vets.
KIND KENT RECEPTIONIST WINS COVETED NATIONAL AWARD
6 months ago 
543 views
A receptionist from Pennard Vets in Borough Green, Kent has won a coveted national award and been crowned the British Veterinary Receptionist Association’s Veterinary Receptionist of the Year. Anna Shadforth was one of 827 people to be nominated for the award, which she collected at an awards ceremony in Solihull.
Anna was nominated for the award by senior vet, Charlotte Botham, and vet, Hayley Stenning, form Pennard Vets in Borough Green. Charlotte said: “Anna is a rare find, she brightens the lives of all she meets, including our furry and feathered friends! For the clients she serves and the team she works with, she is not just a friendly, smiley face when they walk in, she’s a safe place, a friend, a confident and a fabulous sounding board. She laughs and smiles with joy during the happy times and she’s a supportive shoulder to lean on during the sad times.
“Anna is not only manning the front desk and answering phones but doing the stock take, ordering food and prescriptions, dealing with insurance queries, keeping the place spick and span, sorting blood and other samples - the list goes on! She is also a feisty cat wrangler, a bouncy dog distractor, or is simply there to hold an anxious paw or hand, with treats or a cup of tea at the ready!
“Our clients, staff and suppliers, as well as every pet that walks through the door, is treated like family, any concern big or small is acknowledged with compassion and empathy and she finds an efficient and fair solution to every problem.”
Anna regularly goes above and beyond in her role. Hayley added: “Whether its pet sitting for a client while they were at a funeral or dropping medications off to client’s homes in her own time - nothing is ever too much trouble for Anna. She calls clients who are vulnerable or alone to check in on them regularly, especially after they have lost a pet. She is always sourcing prescription foods across all eight of our sites when clients run out and arranges for it to get to their nearest practice. Anna also plays a big part in our confidence building clinics, so that anxious pets are at ease from the moment they enter the practice.”
CEO and founder of the British Veterinary Receptionist Association (BVRA), Kay Watson-Bray, said: “We're delighted that Anna is this year’s BVRA Veterinary Receptionist of the Year winner. Anna's nomination instantly stood out and impressed the judges. She is clearly an exceptional receptionist who goes above and beyond for both her colleagues and her clients, and she truly deserves this award.”
Anna said: “I’m so honoured to receive this award. I really love what I do, it’s more than a job, it’s a way of life and I find helping my team, our clients and their pets incredibly rewarding. As part of the award win, I will now have a place on the BVRA Council for the year, which means I will help shape the training courses and the support veterinary receptionists receive. I will also be part of the judging team for next year’s awards so it’s a very exciting role.”
The BVRA was founded in October 2017 to support and raise the profile of veterinary receptionists through training, education and development. This is the sixth year that the awards have been run.
With nearly 7,000 members, the BVRA provides a wealth of CPD courses as well as holding the Register of Associate Veterinary Receptionists.
More from Pennard Vets
- Employees saddle up for a share in equine vets
- National award confirms Kent's employee owned veterinary group is a thriving model for sustainability
- Pennard Vets strikes gold again
- Tonbridge veterinary practice becomes part of the Pennard Vets family
- Employees who are the cornerstone of Belfast veterinary practice take ownership of the business
2 days ago