Outstanding customer service and giving back to the industry clinch the prizes.
Westgate Laboratories scooped Online Store of the Year at the National SQP* Awards in London on November 10.
In a double win, its marketing director Claire Shand was named Equine SQP of the Year at the glittering awards evening.
Northumberland based Westgate Laboratories supplies equine faecal test kits, analyses worm egg counts, returns the results to retailers and horse owners, and advises on parasite control.
The judges commended the way Westgate Labs puts animal welfare at the forefront of its work.
“The company’s website looks great,” they said, adding that they liked its “case studies from real owners, current stories and findings from its lab.”
Of winning Equine SQP Claire Shand, the judges said: “Not only has she worked hard at Westgate Labs, but she has given back to the industry this year, especially with the amazing amount of work she has put into CANTER [the industry-wide campaign to combat wormer resistance].
“She is an asset to Westgate Labs, and a true professional in her role as an SQP.”
Claire told ETN: “It was a rare chance in our line of work to get glammed up and celebrate excellence in the animal health sector.
“We were overjoyed and slightly overwhelmed to scoop the trophy in both categories we were nominated in.
*SQPs (suitably qualified persons) are also known as RAMAs (registered animal medicines advisors). They are qualified legally to prescribe and supply certain categories of animal medicines such as equine wormers.
AMTRA (Animal Medicines Training and Regulatory Authority) registers SQPs/RAMAs and monitors their training and qualification including CPD requirements. ETN publishes regular AMTRA accredited CPD features to help SQPs/RAMAs maintain their qualification.
