A Hucknall pet store is set to offer state-of-the-art dog grooming training at its brand new upscale salon.
Pets and Friends Hucknall, one of 18 Pets and Friends stores across the Midlands, will become the groomer training base for the pet group, and in order to help fill the nationwide shortage of dog groomers, will now offer the qualifications of the iPET network to their employees and the general public.
Learners can now train and qualify in grooming, receive business advice to pursue their dreams, and turn an interest into a lucrative career, all under the watchful eye of veteran groomer and head trainer Kerry Chapman.
Skilled groomer Kerry, 33, has been teaching dog grooming since 2019, but her entire career has been spent with animals working as a riding instructor before that.
His passion and expertise have already guided dozens of students into rewarding and skilled careers in the industry, but thanks to the school’s renovation and a new partnership with regulated qualifications awarding organization Ofqual iPET Network, she’s convinced the sky’s the limit for The Grooming Academy at Pets & Friends.
“Grooming is such a rewarding and creative skill set, it’s not something anyone can just pick up a pair of scissors and do, so it’s wonderful to see students becoming amazing stylists on these Classes.
“What’s great about iPET Network courses is that learners can work at their own pace, and there’s also a focus on handling and welfare. Animal welfare is at the heart of everything they do and these are also our values.
The new purpose-built training center at Hucknall has been designed specifically to facilitate training sessions, whilst keeping animal welfare as a number one priority.
New and exclusive to Pets and Friends in the UK, the DezynaDog Electric Grooming Tables ensure the safety of groomed dogs, cats and small animals whilst allowing easy access for the training staff and students.
The new center organizes initiation sessions for future students on June 30 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and July 2 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The new courses are already proving popular with students, many of whom are changing careers after working in other industries, to fulfill their dream of working with animals.
Naomi, who trained with Kerry in February 2022, said:
“I would highly recommend anyone considering joining The Grooming Academy, you learn so much in a short time and it has helped me tremendously in my career and my confidence in all aspects of my job.
“Kerry is an amazing teacher, you learn so much from her as she has so much knowledge and experience in all aspects of grooming.
“She’s patient, lets you go, but if you need her, she’s there to guide you and has personally helped me deepen my skills and taught me different techniques that I haven’t. not learned in college. I really believe that she helped me and taught me more than what I learned in the two years of college.
Pets and Friends is a pet care specialist, with stores offering grooming salons across the Midlands, and a website that delivers to customers nationwide and also offers convenient repeat subscriptions.
Part of the Kennelpak Group, with nearly 50 years of experience in the pet care industry, Pets and Friends prides itself on the expertise of its salon and in-store teams. The company is dedicated to helping pet parents meet the nutritional, health and wellness needs of their pets, whether in-store or online.
Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty of the iPET Network, said:
“We are thrilled to be working with Pets and Friends and the new training school looks amazing.
“Dog grooming is a growing industry, with more groomers needed than ever to care for the record number of dogs currently living in UK homes.
“But for the industry to be an industry that everyone can trust, it is imperative that groomers get their qualifications. It’s great that Pets and Friends takes this responsibility so seriously.
Claire Bayliss, CEO of KennelPak, said:
“It is well known that there is a shortage of highly skilled groomers across the UK.
“We are delighted to have partnered with IPET Network to launch The Grooming Academy, a state-of-the-art training center in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, offering groomers and those looking for a career change the opportunity to gain a highly valued qualification with the skills they need to groom not just dogs, but a variety of small animals to exacting standards.
“This supports Pets and Friends’ goal of building communities of happy, healthy pets and responsible pet parents across the country.
“There are a number of training courses available which offer flexible timings as well as various payment terms, ensuring that our courses are accessible to students of all ages.
“Our training team has over 20 years of experience grooming puppies, dogs, cats and rabbits, and classes are all led by a fully qualified trainer.”
For more on how to become a dog groomer, see a comprehensive guide at www.ipetnetwork.co.uk/guides/a-guide-to-becoming-a-dog-groomer/
To find out more about Pets and Friends, go to www.petsandfriends.co.uk
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