Happy New Year to you all! I hope you’ve enjoyed a restorative break over the festive season and are feeling refreshed as we look ahead to the challenges – and many opportunities – that 2026 will bring.
Change will undoubtedly be a defining feature of the year ahead, as we adapt to the CMA’s requirements, as well as developments within our profession and the evolving needs of our patients and their owners. Navigating change successfully depends on strong, thoughtful and effective leadership, and this is where each of you plays a vital role in supporting your teams and businesses. We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Supporting both new and experienced leaders
Supporting both new and experienced leaders remains central to our mission for 2026 – whether through our signature leadership courses and qualifications, our annual VMG Congress – or through new ways of connecting and supporting our members, such as our online VMG ShareSPACE sessions, which are attracting a growing and committed community.
ShareSPACE sessions are a live forum where you can talk to other members, share experiences in a safe and supportive environment and take away practical ideas to help address the specific challenges you face in practice. Leadership can sometimes feel isolating, but ShareSPACE shows it doesn’t have to be. If you haven’t yet joined a session, make it your New Year resolution to attend the first one of 2026 on 21 January. Further details can be found on our website.
And speaking of ShareSPACE, we’re excited to introduce another innovation: ShareSPACE Live at this year’s VMG Congress. We’ll share more about this soon but, if you’re planning your diary for 2026, this year’s Congress takes place from 22–24 April at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. It will be an inspiring and fun few days and you really won’t want to miss it! You can find out more and book here.
In the meantime, as 2026 begins, thank you for the commitment, professionalism and leadership you bring to your teams and to the wider veterinary community. We look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead and to working together to shape a positive, sustainable future for our profession.
Rebecca Robinson, VMG President
