About us

 

Improve CPD was established in 1998 by a group of veterinary surgeons from across the UK, including a number of recognised experts. The primary mission of the Company is to provide the highest quality CPD in a format that allows delegates to develop their skills and knowledge in a logical and progressive fashion, under the supervision of dedicated Course Directors each of whom has the highest qualifications in his or her field.

 

The Company currently organises CPD courses in venues across the UK and Eire, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Portugal.

 

Run by vets for vets
As Improve continues to expand rapidly, the management team also grows, to ensure that we can provide all our clients with the highest possible level of service.

 

Instead of the usual team photo we’ve decided to be a bit different for a while and put some individual photo’s up. Aren’t we brave!

 

Caroline Burgess

CPD Liaison Manager

     

Caroline has been with Improve for the last three years and is part of the management team. Caroline travels around the country visiting practices to discuss their CPD requirements.

 

I’m very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country (edge of the Cotswolds) so therefore do lots of walking with my lovely husband & dog; if not doing that we enjoy BBQing with loads of friends - a habit we picked up when living in Australia.  I also ride other people's horses when they let me.

 

 If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would ... be writing best-selling novels.

If I was able to choose one superhero power to have, it would be…  the ability to time travel.

 

Nina Gould

Business Manager

               

Nina has been with Improve since 2004 and is part of the management team. Nina manages the Administrative team, course planning and date scheduling as well as office systems, procedures and policies.

 

I enjoy swimming, cycling and generally keeping fit. I have recently started ballroom dancing lessons with my partner Jerry and we’re currently trying to master the steps for Waltz, Quick Step, Tango, Cha Cha, Jive and Rumba.

We take part annually in a sponsored bike ride for Macmillan Cancer and have also undertaken the Guide Dogs Challenge as part of a four man team in September 2006

 

Things that make me smile are…. shoes, preferably high heels.

 

Carol Hill

Customer Care Co-ordinator

   

 

Carol has been with Improve since 2003 and handles the database, sending out information about courses by letter, email and fax plus helping delegates with changes.

 

As a wife and mum I rarely seem to have spare time, however I do enjoy keeping fit, and then flopping on the sofa with my embroidery. I’m also an avid reader of all types of books especially history. I’d like to learn more languages – this year I’m attempting Hungarian for a weekend in Budapest. I make the other staff groan with word jokes – I love a good pun!

I’m keen to do my bit for the environment and encourage recycling at work as well as at home, and I get a buzz out of helping charities; I’ve done the London Moonwalk three times – it’s the ultimate girls’ night out, but oh those feet…..

 

If I was able to choose one superhero power to have, it would be….the ability to see the future

Things that make me smile are….my kids

 

Amy McDougall

Delegate Liaison Officer

 

 

On a daily basis Amy processes course reservations, registrations, deals with delegate enquiries and delegate feedback.

 

In my spare time, when I am not spending time with my fiancé Mike, I enjoy visiting my family, socialising with my friends and going to car rallies.

 

Nice things to do on a Sunday…going home to visit family and friends and numerous day trips out and about!

If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would...have to be working on Top Gear as a presenter!

 

Jacklyn Reilly

Reception/Customer Care Administrator

Jacky does her best to make sure our delegates are looked after, arranges venues and generally ensures everything runs smoothly for the courses.

 

I have recently joined a gym in an attempt to get fit and it seems to be working as I now don’t get too out of breath getting the kit on!

 

If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would ... be a landscape gardener on Corfu

Nice things to do on a Sunday… Prepare dinner, walk to the local pub, come home and relax.

 

Jacqui Spinks

Marketing manager

            

 

Jacqui has been with Improve since 2002 and is part of the management team. She is responsible for the marketing in the UK, and is also the IT monitor!

 

I’m usually surrounded by children and their various pets. Life is them, my friends, riding and mimbling around with the horse I share, reading, really laughing, eating, drinking, walking in isolated spots, sleeping, messing around in water, baking, and gardening with a passion.

 

If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would... be a virtuoso cellist, or a static trapeze artist.

If I was able to choose one superhero power to have, it would be…  to be able to make myself invisible at will.

 

Katie Taylor

Projects Administrator

     

Katie has been working at Improve since April 2006, and is the Projects Administrator looking after all aspects of speaker notes, books and eventually DVD Sales, loading course materials on to the website, course handbooks and nurses exams so as you can see, does a bit of everything!

 

In my spare time I like to eat, sleep, be silly, socialise with my friends, walk my dog Benjy and Kick Box. I have been a member of the WUMA Cirencester Kick Boxing Club since October 2007 and train there twice a week.

 

Things that make me smile are….my friends and Steve my boyfriend (aww)

If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would…run a doggie hotel

 

Rachel Waldron

Accounts Manager

   

Rachel has been with Improve since 2003, is part of the management team and responsible for the entire accounting function of Improve International.

 

In my spare time I enjoy gardening and like to grow my own vegetables.  I have two dogs, one husband and we all enjoy cycling and walking on Dartmoor.  I am a member of my local Village Hall committee and Parish Council.

 

Things that make me smile are…Cows

Nice things to do on a Sunday…Cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

 

Anne Wearing

Speaker and Sponsor Liaison

           

    

Anne became part of the Improve team at the end of March 2008. Her role as Speaker and Sponsor Liaison is to bring speakers and sponsors to the right course at the correct place and time.

 

I have been a supporter of Swindon Town Football Club for forty years. I rarely miss any of the home games and for the past 10 years have taken my two nephews with me. I love to dance and trained as a ballet dancer for twenty years, but these days I tend to strut my stuff doing line dancing at classes and social evenings. If I am not watching football or dancing I go for walks with my husband. We are both keen photographers - he takes the photos and I take the videos and convert them into small movies on the PC at home.

 

If I wasn’t doing this and could do any job I wanted I would... run a home for black and white cats as I think black and white cats are cats with attitude.

  Nice things to do on a Sunday…A good book and a glass of chilled white wine, even better on a sunny day is a picnic in the New Forest with a good book and a glass of chilled white wine