RCVS emphasises the importance of collaboration as 2026 awards nomination period launched

We have launched the nomination period for our 2026 Honours and Awards with a new Collaboration Award. The award reflects the ‘stronger together’ theme of our new Strategic Plan, which itself has the power of collaboration to ensure the best outcomes as one of its key values.

The RCVS Honours and Awards programme recognises veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and laypeople, both in the UK and overseas, who are carrying out exemplary work across the breadth of veterinary endeavour. The Collaboration Award joins a number of existing awards covering areas such as compassion, international work and inspiration.

Speaking about the new Collaboration Award Lizzie Lockett (pictured), our CEO, said: “The new strategy recognises how the RCVS, as a royal college that regulates, is in a key position to bring people together to collaborate in support of a common purpose and how such collaborations can bring about positive change.

“The new Collaboration Award is all about recognising best practice in collaboration – whether that’s bringing together veterinary professionals working in different organisations or disparate fields, or veterinary professionals working with human medics, scientists, lawyers, or law enforcement, to improve the health of people, animals and the environment.

“I am excited to hear more about the collaborative projects that are out there and the impact they are having in society, so if you know or are part of such a project, please do consider a nomination for the Collaboration Award.”

In addition to the Collaboration Award, the RCVS awards for which nominations can be made this year are:

• The Queen’s Medal – an award for a veterinary surgeon who has achieved a highly distinguished career with sustained and outstanding achievements throughout.
• The Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award - awarded to a veterinary nurse who has had a sustained and distinguished career, who can demonstrate a leadership role within the profession and who can act as an ambassador for the value of veterinary nurses and their work.
• The RCVS International Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses or laypeople, i.e. those who are neither MsRCVS nor RVNs, who have made an outstanding contribution on issues that are in line with the RCVS mission. Self-nominations* are allowed for this award.
• The RCVS Impact Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses, or a vet- or RVN-led team, that has recently made a considerable impact in terms of clinical or research work, that has led to a profound change in the professions at large, animal health or welfare, one health, or public health. This could include practice-based research, providing it has received appropriate ethical approval. Self-nominations* are allowed for this award.
• The RCVS Inspiration Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who have demonstrated the ability to inspire and enthuse others consistently throughout their careers. Self-nominations* are allowed for this award.
• Honorary Associateship - awarded to laypeople who have made a special contribution to the veterinary sphere and could include, for example, scientists, lecturers, journalists, charity-workers, farriers, farmers and those involved in the commercial field. Please note that those who appear within any category of the RCVS Register, whether that be temporary, practising, or non-practising, cannot be nominated for this award.
• The RCVS Compassion Award - awarded to a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse at any stage of their career who has demonstrated compassion towards fellow professionals and/or members of the animal-owning public. Self-nominations* are allowed for this award.
• The RCVS Student Community Award – awarded to a veterinary or veterinary nursing student who has made a real effort to support their fellow students and the wider veterinary/veterinary nursing school community. Self-nominations* are allowed for this award.

The deadline for submitting a nomination for the 2026 RCVS awards is Wednesday 7 January 2026. All valid nominations will be considered, and the RCVS Nominations Committee will produce a shortlist that will then be put to RCVS Council for approval at its March 2026 meeting. The shortlist for the VN Golden Jubilee Award will be considered separately by VN Council.

Please note that a change in the nomination rules means that only one of each award will be bestowed next year, with the exception of the Honorary Associateship which may still see up to three people awarded.

To read the guidance on making a nomination and to download PDF nomination forms for each of the awards, visit our Honours and Awards page. 

The nomination forms should be filled in, with the completed PDF form being submitted via our Honours and Awards web form. It is the responsibility of nominators to collect and include the appropriate seconders’ statements.

*For those who are self-nominating, please be sure to complete the relevant nomination form in the third person using your own name and preferred pronouns in place of 'I' to avoid unintended bias in the judging process.