Stepping into a leadership role for the first time can feel both exciting and challenging – but you don’t have to do it alone.
SPVS Elevate is a veterinary leadership programme designed for vets, veterinary nurses and anyone leading or aspiring to lead a team within practice. Whether you’re a Clinical Director, Head Nurse, Practice Manager, Team Leader or taking your first steps into leadership, Elevate will help you build the confidence, self-awareness and practical skills to lead with authenticity and make a positive impact on your team and practice.
You’ll gain practical tools and techniques to take back to practice, while also exploring your own values and motivations—because understanding yourself is the first step to effectively inspiring others. With a strong focus on self-reflection, resilience, and peer connection, this course offers a safe, confidential space to share challenges, celebrate wins, and grow alongside others on the same journey.
MARCH 2027 COHORT NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS
Your Real-World Guide to Leading in Veterinary Practice
The course is delivered via the SPVS Thriving in Practice e-learning hub and is a mixture of face-to-face coaching, asynchronous and online group learning. This allows for self-study at a time to suit, networking with other delegates, and a regular monthly sum up discussion with the course tutors and overall course facilitator, Pete Orpin.
SPVS have brought together a selection of practitioners and experts, from across the veterinary profession, to deliver stimulating and engaging content. Tutors are experienced and approachable and will be happy to answer questions and concerns delegates have along the way.
FAQ
Practice owners, clinical directors, head vets, nursing leaders, aspiring managers… anyone ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.
SPVS MEMBER: £2965
NON-MEMBER: £3465
All prices exclusive of VAT
Course Outline
MODULE 1: Know yourself to lead your team
6 hours in person with Emily Bridges | 26th March 2026 | Full Day
Location: Midlands
MODULE 2: GROW your coaching power
2 hours online coaching session with Adrian Nelson Pratt | 21st April 2026 | 12pm – 2pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 3: Moving from colleague to line manager; Balancing your authenticity with your authority
2 hours online coaching session with Andy Green | 5th May 2026 | 10am – 12pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 4: Flexing your style
2hours online coaching with Helen Silver-MacMahon | 4th June 2026| 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 5: The challenge of change – managing expectations
2 hours online coaching with Nikki Chapman | 1st July 2026 | 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 6: The Vulnerable Leader
6 hours in person with Sara Jackson & Helen Silver-MacMahon | 17th September 2026 | Full Day
Location: Midlands
MODULE 7: The basics of finance
2 hours online coaching with Suzanne Headington | 11th November 2026 | 2pm – 4pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 8: Conflict in the workplace – positive impacts in negative situations
2 hours online coaching with Olivia Oginska | 16th December 2026 | 10am – 12pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 9: The future is bright! at SPVS Congress 2027
3 hours coaching with Pete Orpin | 3rd February 2027 | Morning session
In person session ahead of SPVS Congress 2027 at Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Then join us for the first day (Thursday 4th Feb) at SPVS Congress 2027 to celebrate your completion of the SPVS Elevate course and talk to others about your experience and what you have learned.
MODULE 1: Know yourself to lead your team
6 hours in person with Emily Bridges | 8th September 2026 | Full Day
Location: Voco St Johns Hotel, Solihull, West Midlands
MODULE 2: GROW your coaching power
2 hours online coaching session with Adrian Nelson Pratt | 20th October 2026 | 12pm – 2pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 3: Moving from colleague to line manager; Balancing your authenticity with your authority
2 hours online coaching session with Andy Green | 11th November 2026 | 10am – 12pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 4: Flexing your style
2 hours online coaching with Helen Silver-MacMahon | 3rd December 2026| 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 5: The challenge of change – managing expectations
2 hours online coaching with Nikki Chapman | 6th January 2027 | 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 6: The Vulnerable Leader
6 hours in person with Sara Jackson & Helen Silver-MacMahon | 3rd February 2027 | Full Day
In person session ahead of SPVS Congress 2027, then join us for the first day (Thursday 4th Feb) at SPVS Congress 2027
Location: Birmingham Hilton Metropole
MODULE 7: The basics of finance
2 hours online coaching with Suzanne Headington | 10th March 2027 | 2pm – 4pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 8: Conflict in the workplace – positive impacts in negative situations
2 hours online coaching with Olivia Oginska | 14th April 2027 | 10am – 12noon
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 9: The future is bright!
3 hours coaching with Pete Orpin | 12th May 2027 | Morning
Location: Voco St Johns Hotel, Solihull, West Midlands
MODULE 1: Know yourself to lead your team
6 hours in person with Kirstie Fitzpatrick | 18th March 2027 | Full Day
Location: Midlands
MODULE 2: GROW your coaching power
2 hours online coaching session with Adrian Nelson Pratt | 13th April 2027 | 12pm – 2pm
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 3: Moving from colleague to line manager; Balancing your authenticity with your authority
2 hours online coaching session with Andy Green | 11th May 2027 | 10am – 12 noon
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 4: Flexing your style
2 hours online coaching with Helen Silver-MacMahon | 4th June 2027 | 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 5: The challenge of change – managing expectations
2 hours online coaching with Nikki Chapman | 13th July 2027 | 09:30am – 11:30am
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 6: The Vulnerable Leader
6 hours in person with Sara Jackson & Helen Silver-MacMahon | mid September 2027 | Full Day
Location: Midlands
MODULE 7: The basics of finance
2 hours online coaching with Suzanne Headington | mid November 2027 | time tbc
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 8: Conflict in the workplace – positive impacts in negative situations
2 hours online coaching with Olivia Oginska | mid December 2027 | time tbc
1.5 hours home learning
MODULE 9: The future is bright! at SPVS Congress 2028
3 hours coaching with Pete Orpin | February 2028 | Morning session
In person session ahead of SPVS Congress 2028 at Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Then join us for the first day at SPVS Congress 2028 to celebrate your completion of the SPVS Elevate course and talk to others about your experience and what you have learned.
For Cohort 3 of SPVS Elevate – starting March 2027 – Kirstie Fitzpatrick will be standing in for Emily Bridges and guiding delegates through Module 1. Please see below for details.
Kirstie Fitzpatrick is a Senior Business Development Partner, accredited Insights Discovery Practitioner, and experienced leader with more than 20 years of multisite leadership and business management experience. Over the past decade, she has worked closely with veterinary practice owners and their teams, supporting leaders at every stage of their professional journey.
Her experience spans developing emerging managers as they take their first steps into leadership through to supporting business owners responsible for leading complex teams and delivering sustainable growth. Having spent many years within the veterinary profession, Kirstie has a practical understanding of the unique challenges leaders face while balancing commercial success, clinical excellence, client expectations, and team wellbeing.
As an accredited Insights Discovery Practitioner, Kirstie is passionate about helping people gain a deeper understanding of themselves and those around them. Using the Insights Discovery framework, she supports individuals and teams in exploring communication preferences, leadership styles, team dynamics, and relationship building in a way that is both engaging and practical.
Drawing on real-world leadership experience and relatable examples, Kirstie brings the model to life in a meaningful and accessible way. She helps participants build self-awareness, adapt their communication style, strengthen workplace relationships, and develop high-performing teams.
Whether working with new practice owners, experienced leaders, or established teams, Kirstie’s aim is to provide insights that can be applied immediately, creating lasting personal and professional impact. She believes that understanding ourselves and how others prefer to communicate is one of the most valuable skills any leader can develop.
