Europe’s largest meeting of vets has broken records in Birmingham. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) World Congress drew more than 10,000 delegates to Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) and National Indoor Arena (NIA).
More than 5,000 vets, 2,000 vet nurses and 3,000 exhibitors from more than 70 nations turned up - a 22 per cent increase on the previous high in 2011. The event’s packed social programme included comedian Greg Davies and chart-topping singer Olly Murs, whose sister is a veterinary nurse. Scientist Lord Robert Winston delivered the keynote speech.
This year the event was jointly hosted with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA).
BSAVA President Andrew Ash said: “I am incredibly proud to preside over such a truly world-class congress for the small animal veterinary profession. It has surpassed all my expectations and broken all records. We have welcomed the world to congress this year and I am honoured to have been part of a tremendous team who have worked alongside the WSAVA and FECAVA to make this happen. This was the largest small animal congress ever, however we believe size isn’t everything and it is an honour to be part of the world veterinary community.”
The Birmingham Convention Bureau, operated by Marketing Birmingham, estimates that the five-day congress will have generated more than £18m to the regional economy.
Pictured: Olly Murs entertains the vets
