Find answers to your frequently asked questions here, or contact us for more help!
Date, Time & Venue Facilities
When and where is BSAVA Congress + Expo 2025 taking place?
Join us in the heart of Manchester Thursday 20 March - Saturday 22 March 2025, at Manchester Central (Convention Complex) Windmill Street, M2 3GX
Dates & Opening Times
20 March 2025: 8:00AM - 7:20PM
- Exhibition Open: 8:00AM - 7:20PM (Drinks Reception in Exhibition Hall 5:50PM - 7:20PM)
- Programme Time: 8:40AM - 5:50PM
- Registration/Help Desk Open: 7:00AM - 7:30PM
21 March 2025: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
- Exhibition Open: 8:00AM - 5:50PM
- Programme Time: 8:40AM - 5:50PM
- Registration/Help Desk Open: 7:30AM - 6:30PM
22 March 2025: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
- Exhibition Open: 8:00AM - 3:50PM
- Programme Time: 8:30AM - 5:50PM
- Registration/Help Desk Open: 7:30AM - 5:30PM
What are the registration and badge-print open hours?
Registration & badge printing open hours:
- Wednesday 19 March, 14:00-20:00
- Thursday 20 March, 07:00-19:30
- Friday 21 March, 07:30-18:00
- Saturday 22 March, 07:30-18:00
Find the Registration Area in the Central Foyer/Exhibition Entrance. Here you will find the BSAVA Team as well as the self-serve Badge Print Kiosks.
Is there wi-fi in the venue?
Yes, event delegates may use the complimentary standard Wi-Fi around the venue. Look for BSAVA Wi-Fi in your networks.
Please note, this is a standard service suitable for checking emails and web-pages and you may experience intermittent lag time in some areas of the venue. Visit the venue's Concierge desk in the main entrance foyer if you have any issues with their Wi-Fi service.
How accessible and disabled guest-friendly is Manchester Central?
Manchester Central allows us to to deliver all programme content and the exhibition within the same venue.
Most of our lecture space and exhibition is on the ground floor/street level and can be accessed via the main entrance.
All entrances are fully ramped and accessible. Once inside, any sessions held in rooms located on the first floor can be accessed via stairs or lifts.
The exhibition hall will have a number of seating areas around catering, and within dedicated lounges for our guests to rest between sessions.
There is also plenty of space in the Exchange Auditorium for wheelchairs.
If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your needs, please do contact us via email at congress@bsava.com or telephone +44(0)1452 726720 to speak to the Congress Team. Alternatively, you may contact the venue's First Aid department on + 44(0)1618 342700 ext. 2211
Attendees + Registration
Who can attend BSAVA Congress + Expo?
All professionals within the small animal veterinary community are welcome at BSAVA Congress + Expo, including BSAVA Members and Non-Members. Content is aimed toward:
- Vets
- Vet Nurses
- Practice Managers
- Practice Owners and Partners
- Student Vets and Nurses welcome
- Newly Qualified Vets and Vet Nurses
- Practice Staff (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
- Commercial representatives
How much are tickets to attend the event?
See our Tickets + Pricing page for ticket options and costs.
What is included with my ticket?
With a full Congress and Expo attendee ticket comes:
- Exhibition entry on all days registered
- Access to the full CPD programme delivered in the main halls and on the exhibition floor
- Lunch and refreshments served from the catering points on the exhibition floor, on all days registered
- CPD certificate
With an exhibition only ticket comes:
- Exhibition entry on all days registered
- Access to any CPD delivered on the exhibition floor
With an Exhibitor Pass (for stand personnel only) comes:
- Exhibition entry on all days registered, and for stand dressing on the day prior to the event start
- Access to the full CPD programme delivered in the main halls and on the exhibition floor
- Lunch and refreshments served from the catering points on the exhibition floor, on all days registered
- Exclusive use of the Exhibitor Lounge with complimentary refreshments
- CPD certificate
View the Tickets + Pricing page for all ticket options and inclusions.
How do I register and pay for BSAVA Congress and Expo?
Registration is easy with our online ticketing platform. Book your ticket here!
I can no longer attend, can I cancel or transfer my booking?
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for details on cancelling your booking. Contact the Registration Team at congress@bsava.com or +44(0)1452 726720 to discuss the cancellation.
Do I have to check in on arrival?
No - If you have registered ahead of the event, there is no need to "check in" with staff at the registration area. Simply stop at one of the self-service badge print kiosks located in the Registration Area (Central Foyer/Exhibition Entrance) to print your attendee badge, and pick up a lanyard.
We encourage all attendees to register and purchase a ticket prior to arriving onsite. If you have not purchased a ticket and have arrived to the event, you can book your ticket online via your phone - simply scan the onsite Registration QR code or click the link below.
The BSAVA Team and event stewards will be available to help with any queries you have.
Data Sharing: Can I Opt-Out of sharing my contact information with exhibitors + sponsors?
At the time of registering your ticket, you will be asked to Opt-In or Opt-Out of data sharing with Sponsors.
if you Opt-In to data sharing, your name, contact email, telephone, job title, company name and address will be shared by us with the sponsor of any sponsored session/activity, when your badge is scanned on entry to the session/activity.
If you Opt-Out to data sharing, your contact information will not be shared by us with the sponsor, even if your badge is scanned.
If you allow an exhibitor to scan your badge on their stand you are consenting to them collecting your contact information, so they may reach out to you post event. You can check your contact information is up to date via your profile in the Congress App.
Am I able to bring my baby / child / family member?
We are pleased to offer a creche at Congress and Expo 2025, hosted by Nipperbout. Visit our Creche page for more information on sessions available and how to book.
I will have my baby with me, can I still attend lectures?
We understand you may need to keep your baby with you whilst attending Congress. We politely ask that prams do not obstruct any AV in the room or delegate access, and are taken out of the room if they become upset, to avoid disruption to the other attendees.
A creche hosted by Nipperbout is open on all live event days if you would like to book session(s) for your baby/child whilst you attend sessions.
Exhibition
Where can I find who is exhibiting in 2025?
Check the exhibitor directory to see who is exhibiting at the 2025 event, and where their stand is located on the exhibition floor. All company profile information including details of their products and services, and contact information can also be found in the directory. The exhibitor list will also be published in the Congress Guide (in delegate bags onsite) and the show app.
What data is shared with an Exhibitor if they scan my badge at their stand?
Some of our exhibitors have signed up to use a lead retrieval service on their stand, this allows them to scan your badge and collect your contact information like you would sharing a business card. The exhibitor can then reach out to you after the event, to continue the conversation, or share information on products or services you may be interested in.
Data that is shared with an exhibitor when they scan your badge includes: your name, contact email, telephone, job title, company name and your address.
If you allow an exhibitor to scan your badge you are consenting to them collecting your contact information. You can check your information is up to date via your profile in the Congress App.
Programme
Where can I view the full CPD and event programme?
Take a sneak preview of our 2025 programme! We have reinvented the programme for 2025, with more varied learning styles and formats, more non-clinical and hot topics, a dedicated business and innovation stream, and more content delivered on the show floor. We've kept the best, and reinvented the rest! Look out for more session details, speaker biogs, and an overview of the programme format coming this November.
What sessions can I attend?
The Congress and Expo 2025 programme is open to all. Whether you are a vet, nurse, student or practice manager, no session is off limits! With a full Congress pass you can access any and all of the sessions running in the main programme, as well as on the exhibition floor on the day(s) you are registered.
Some sessions may dive into more advanced content whilst others help you with the day to day skills and knowledge required for general practice.
We've added a handy "Audience" key to our programme, so you can easily see if the content in a session is aimed more toward a Vet, AVP, VN, Student, Practice Manager or suitable for All. If you see a session is not specifically aimed toward your role but are still interested in the content, you are still welcome to join!
What sessions can I attend with an exhibition only ticket?
The exhibition only ticket will allow access to the show floor, where you can network with colleagues and exhibitors alike. There will be a number of educational zones on the show floor, offering CPD in the way of lectures, short demonstrations and hands-on practical workshops. All ticket holders including those with an exhibition only ticket, may participate in any of these sessions. Look out for additional CPD opportunities delivered by exhibitors on their stand - see the show app for information on stand activities.
How many hours of CPD can I acquire?
There are 25+ hours of CPD you can bank if attending the full three days! Each 30 minute session counts as a 0.5 CPD points/hours and a 50-60 minute session counts as 1 CPD point/hour. Use the Congress Guide or show app to track the sessions you attended and then complete your CPD certificate after the event.
Do you track my attendance to CPD sessions?
No we do not track which sessions you attend whilst at BSAVA Congress + Expo. If recording your CPD you will need to track the sessions you attend.
If a steward asks to scan your badge at the door for a session, this is due to the session being sponsored (see here for information on badge scanning and data sharing permissions).
Can I track my attendance with the RCVS 1 CPD App?
Yes, you may use the RCVS 1 CPD app for recording your attendance at CPD sessions at Congress. At the end of each session there will be a slide displayed on screen with a QR code. Open the 1 CPD app and scan the QR code to record your attendance at that session. If you forget to complete this at the end of a session you can manually enter your attendance into the 1 CPD app.
Find out more about the 1 CPD app here and register if you are not already a member. Please note, the BSAVA do not manage the 1 CPD app and only facilitate it;s use at the event. If you have any issues with the 1 CPD app please reach out to the RCVS directly.
Are sessions being recorded for access after the event?
We will be recording a number of lectures for access post-event via the BSAVA Library. There will be no recording in the practical village or in any workshops/discussions that focus on hot topics or sensitive issues as we want attendees to feel comfortable participating in these discussions.
Destination + Travel
Can I book my hotel through you?
We have appointed MICE Concierge as our official event accommodation booking provider. MICE can help with individual or group bookings, and have secured some of the best rates in the city for our attendees. Visit the dedicated MICE website for hotel availability and to book.
How can I get to the venue?
Thanks to an integrated transport network, Manchester is one of the most accessible cities in the UK for both national and international visitors. Visit our Destination + Travel page to find out about the transport links in and around Manchester Central.
Can I park at or near the venue?
Due to the City Centre location we highly recommend using public transport to get to the event! However if you are travelling by car, there are various NCP run car parks you can use. Manchester Central NCP car park is located below the venue; with 643 spaces including 15 disabled bays.
Booking Online & ParkPass App
Pre-book via the NCP website and pay only £14 for 24/hrs parking, with discount code MCEXHIB14
Have the NCP ParkPass App? Whilst you cannot pre-book via the App, you can still benefit from the discounted rates when you register before you travel to the venue! Download the ParkPass User Guide for further details
What are the public transport options to the venue?
Getting around the city and surrounding area is easy once you're here thanks to the fleet of buses, trains and trams. The compact nature of the city centre also makes walking easy!
Transport for Greater Manchester offers a wealth of information and planning tools, to help you take the stress out of planning your journey.
By Bus
Within the city centre, Free Bus provides a free ‘hop on, hop off’ service linking all of the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. There are three Free Bus services which operate on circular routes
By Metrolink or Train
Metrolink is Greater Manchester’s tram network that can be used to travel across the city-region. There are 99 stops on the network and lines connecting north, south, east, and west. Purchase a ticket from the on-stop ticket machines before boarding a tram or tap in using contactless payment on your mobile device.
By Bike
Consider hiring a bike or e-bike to make your way around the city, and from hotel to venue. You Well have a handy guide to the best options to try!
What can I do in Manchester out of hours?
Manchester is a vibrant and dynamic city, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and modern amenities. From iconic landmarks and cultural attractions to a wide range of dining and entertainment options, there's something for everyone.
View our Destination + Travel guide for suggestions on things to do in Manchester, and any delegate exclusive offers and discounts that may be available courtesy of Marketing Manchester.
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