As 2024 approaches its end, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is celebrating the remarkable achievements of its inaugural Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme. This initiative is a cornerstone of GBGB’s welfare strategy, A Good Life for Every Greyhound, aimed at enhancing the care and well-being of racing greyhounds.
The CPD programme has offered a rich blend of webinars and workshops, led by top-tier experts across diverse disciplines, including animal nutrition, behaviour, veterinary care, and breeding. These sessions provided invaluable insights to professionals dedicated to greyhound welfare.
In addition to these workshops, GBGB hosted its second hands-on training day for racecourse veterinary surgeons, complementing its annual Track Vet Training Day, which highlights scientific research. Furthermore, the Track Liaison Officer, in collaboration with sports surfacing specialists STRI, organised monthly webinars focusing on track surface maintenance and preparation—an essential component of racecourse safety.
Notable speakers included esteemed professionals such as Dr. Teresa Hollands, an internationally recognised animal nutritionist; Dr. Sarah Heath, a specialist in behavioural medicine; Professor Gary England, an authority in comparative veterinary reproduction; and Dr. Richard Payne, GBGB’s Scientific and Veterinary Advisor. Their expertise has significantly enriched the CPD sessions.
For licence holders, these sessions offered not just invaluable knowledge but also CPD points and certificates. Attendees praised the programme as “highly engaging and educational,” with many noting an improvement in their understanding of greyhound care.
Meriel France, GBGB’s Learning and Development Manager, expressed her delight at the programme’s success: “As part of GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy, making ongoing CPD available for everyone working in the licensed sport is vital in ensuring we can deliver a good life for every greyhound.”
“Thank you to all the fantastic speakers who have provided a wealth of valuable information to our licence holders this year. I look forward to working with them all again as we build on this year’s success in next year’s programme.”