Surrey Vet Awards return to thank the practices that train ‘future vet leaders’

Nominations are now open for the University of Surrey’s Veterinary School Awards, as they look to celebrate vets and practices that “do so much to develop the future of the profession”.

The winner of the Small Animal Preceptor of the Year 2026, Ashley Sinnott (middle). Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam (left) and Professor Stephen Jarvis (right).

Now in their second year, the awards shine a spotlight on some of the country’s most highly skilled practicing vets who teach, mentor and supervise students from the Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine while they are on clinical placement. The awards also recognise practices that host intramural rotations for the Vet School.

The upcoming awards have six categories – covering farm animal, small animal and equine. They are:

Small Animal Preceptor of the Year
Farm Animal Preceptor of the Year
Equine Preceptor of the Year
Small Animal Practice of the Year
Farm Animal Practice of the Year
Equine Practice of the Year

Nominations close on 14 May 2027, after which a shortlist will be announced.

The winners of each award category will be announced at the Surrey Vet Awards ceremony on 30th June 2027. Each winning preceptor (veterinary surgeons, who oversee the education of students within their practice) will also receive a £250 gift voucher, and each winning practice £600.

Surrey Vet School operates the UK’s first fully distributed model, which sees final-year students learn at a variety of clinical settings in partner practices. This gives students a solid grounding in the kind of environments and places vets go on to work. Surrey works with more than 100 partner practices.

These awards are a way for us to tell our partners simply thank you for working with us and helping us to develop the future leaders of our profession. Every graduate of our school learns from a preceptor who has taken time out of their busy schedule to teach and encourage our students – that is invaluable mentorship. Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam, Head of School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor in Clinical Physiology

The inaugural awards took place in June 2026 and drew more than 140 nominations. The practice awards winners were: Tilehurst Veterinary Centre, Avon Farm Vets and Mayes and Scrine Equine Veterinary Practice.

Nominations can be made online at surrey.ac.uk/surrey-veterinary-school-awards.

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Notes to editors

Surrey is believed to be the first veterinary school in the UK and Europe to gain accreditation from both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) for a fully distributed model of education.
Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam is available for interview on request. Contact the University of Surrey press office at mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk.

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