As 2024 draws to a close, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is reflecting on and celebrating a successful first year of its new Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme.

The programme, a key initiative of GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life For Every Greyhound’, has seen webinars and workshops delivered by leading experts in a range of fields from nutrition and behaviour, to veterinary care and greyhound fertility and breeding.

GBGB also held its second practical training day for racecourse veterinary surgeons to complement its long-standing annual Track Vet Training Day which has a scientific research focus. Beyond this, GBGB’s Track Liaison Officer, along with leading sports surfacing experts STRI, has delivered monthly webinars for ground staff on track surface preparation and maintenance.

Speakers this year included, for example, internationally renowned animal nutritionist Dr Teresa Hollands, RCVS and EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine Dr Sarah Heath, Professor of Comparative Veterinary Reproduction Professor Gary England, and Associate Professor of Veterinary Anatomy Dr Richard Payne who is also Scientific and Veterinary Advisor to GBGB.

All of GBGB’s CPD sessions are available for licence holders and attendees are awarded CPD points and certificates for each hour of CPD they attend. Attendees have described the programme and its speakers as “extremely interesting and informative” with others noting that their knowledge of caring for a racing greyhound has “definitely been enhanced” by the sessions they attended.

Meriel France, Learning and Development Manager at GBGB, said:

“I’m so pleased that the first year of GBGB’s new CPD programme has been so well received by licence holders. Attendance has increased over the course of the year, and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive.

“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.”

GBGB’s CPD programme will continue in 2025, beginning with a webinar from Dr Richard Payne entitled ‘How Biosecurity is Key to Your Kennel’s Health’. This will take place on 16th January and GBGB licence holders can secure their place at the event by emailing Meriel.France@gbgb.org.uk