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Benefits of BIGA membership

Do you know what BIGA is?

BIGA is a trade organisation run by groomers, for groomers: a community to support one another and lead the way to the recognition, improvement and standardisation of skills.

Do you know what BIGA does?

BIGA membership offers trade discounts, regular talks by - and access to - grooming professionals and industry-linked experts, and a voice within the grooming industry.

Do you know how little it costs to join BIGA?

For £5 per week, or £50 per year, you can join the only pet-grooming-specific trade organisation in Britain.

BIGA's aims are to:

• RECOGNISE the range of pet groomers out there. All are welcome, in fact the more diverse, the better! 
• RAISE standards of grooming so that customers know they can trust a BIGA-compliant groomer with their pet. 
• SUPPORT the industry by defining the BIGA code of conduct: a self-regulated Best Practice for Pet Grooming Businesses. 

Benefits:

Personal benefits:

• Discounts that could amount to more than the cost of joining 
• Expert advice and networking at coffee mornings - a pet grooming community! 
• Support and advice Access to useful forms e.g. Customer Consent Forms 
• Being part of the drive to raise standards and unify our voice 

Customer benefits:

• By helping to raise grooming standards, BIGA members are raising the public's perception of the industry. 

Ultimate benefits:

• Professional, skilled, educated and understanding grooming services resulting in safer, kinder grooming for pets.

BIGA Coffee Morning - Monday 24th April 10.30am - 11.30am

Nathalie Doaré Ariey-Jouglard is the creator of DAATA, a grooming method that aims to improve the health of a pet's skin and hair, resulting in calmer salon visits. Nathalie's courses cover: 

Anatomy and functioning of the skin and hair 

Common skin problems 

Studies of specific problems and diseases

Advanced Cosmetology

Click the link for further details:

https://www.mybiga.org/sys/website/?pageId=18138

Join us on Zoom, bring a tea or coffee and a bun - bring your dogs!

We can't wait to see you.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86784121951?pwd=c2dScGkxM1Z6U0RRdzRvb2doYlBwdz09

You may have seen recent marketing activity regarding the launch of iPet Network's new Professional Development Recognition courses, known as PDR courses.  Continued Professional Development is important in all sectors and dog grooming is no exception! Best practice in the industry is to achieve 30 hours of CPD each year and iPet Network are here to help!

 

The first PDR course iPet Network has launched in collaboration with BIGA and The Groomers Spotlight is a great way to start 2023 and show your customers your commitment to their pets. The Health, Safety and Welfare in the Dog Grooming Salon course covers health and safety ensuring you, your customers and the animals you groom are safe in your salon.  This includes understanding biodiversity, refreshing your knowledge on animal welfare practices, updates in legislation, how to look after your long-term health, followed by up to date canine first aid!

 

You will receive a certificate of completion to proudly show off your continued commitment to our wonderful industry, a certificate approved by iPet Network, the sector-specific awarding organisation in the animal care & veterinary science sector.  

The course is only £29 for a limited time so enrol now using this link and click shop online https://www.ipetnetwork.co.uk/courses/online-courses/.

 

Our current PDR courses include, but more to follow:

• Health, Safety and Welfare in the Dog Grooming Salon
• Customer Service Skills

2023 Dog Grooming Events

22^nd January 2023 The Grooming Show

5^th February 2023 Groomers Got Talent

9^th-12^th March 2023 Crufts

26^th March 2023 The South East Grooming Show

2^nd April 2023 Salon Groomer Of The Year

16^th April 2023 The British Creative Dog Grooming Championships

16^th April Groom Fest South

30^th April 2023 Style to Rescue

7^th May 2023 N.I Grooming Challenge

7^th May 2023 Supergroom

21^st May 2023 The Great British Grooming Show

11^th June 2023 Groom Team England

22^nd-23^rd July 2023 The Scottish Dog Grooming Convention

13^th August 2023 Premier Groom

16^th-17^th September 2023 The Kent Grooming Showdown (not confirmed grooming comp date)

17^th September 2023 GroomFest

23^rd-24^th September 2023 Groomania

15^th October 2023 The Great British Groom Off

29^th October 2023 The Groomers Market & Mini Mastergroom

10^th-12^th November 2023 The International Grooming Conference

IPET NETWORK, BIGA AND THE GROOMERS SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST PDR COURSE

iPET Network is excited to announce its first PDR course in Health, Safety and Welfare in the Dog Grooming Salon.

The course provides learning opportunities to support the potential future licensing requirements for dog grooming and improve overall health, safety and welfare for both people and animals in the dog grooming salon.

What will the course involve?

100% Online Learning / 2 hours of study time / Gaining 2 PDR points

Subjects covered:

> Health & Safety

> Biosecurity

> Welfare (Human & Animal)

> Canine First Aid

The course cost: £29

On successful completion, you will receive an e-certificate that can be printed at home and proudly presented in your salon. This will show your customers, your commitment to continuous learning and development.

BOOK NOW: https://www.ipetnetwork.co.uk/courses/online-courses/

iPET NETWORK, FOR PEOPLE, FOR PETS, FOR THE FUTURE.

BIGA are excited to announce their recent collaboration with iPET Network and The Groomers Spotlight, promoting trusted and high-quality courses for Dog Groomers to continue their professional learning. The courses will support their skills in a range of areas such as Health and Safety, Welfare for both people and Animals and Customer Service.

It is vital that Dog Groomers stay up to date with both industry and legislative standards to raise and maintain best practice. With on-going consultations for licensing the Dog Grooming industry, it is important that support and education is provided for business owners. The course will help equip them to prepare for the standards that will be expected in relation to Health and Safety, Welfare, Organisational policies and processes etc.

We are continuing to work with iPET Network and The Groomers Spotlight to develop and promote courses that are current and up to date. To find out more visit our website www.mybiga.org

BIGA Coffee Morning - Monday 27th March 10.30am - 11.30am

Whether you already have a Savvy Pet Spa account or are thinking of getting it, here is your opportunity to learn from Jess and Grainne and ask questions - and don't forget members qualify for a 25% discount for the first 6 months!

Join us on Zoom, bring a tea or coffee and a bun - bring your dogs!

We can't wait to see you.

Zoom link will be emailed to members.

The British Isles Grooming Association (BIGA) would like to express its sincere thanks to one of the industry's leading lights, Colin Taylor, for his volunteer contributions to the association over the last five and a half years.

The Pooch Perfect TV judge, who is also the organiser of the pet grooming industry awards and the recent International Grooming Conference, has recently stepped down from his role as a director on the BIGA board.

"Colin has been instrumental in shaping BIGA from the start," said BIGA Chairperson Kristian Maris.

"As one of our founding directors, Colin has helped to ensure that the authentic voice of pet groomers is heard by government when decisions are taken affecting their livelihoods."

BIGA is an associate member of the Canine and Feline Sector Group, an advisory body to government which, for example, is currently developing the Animal Activity Licence for pet groomers. The CFSG remains instrumental formulating the government's advice around pet grooming services with respect to restrictions due to Covid-19.

"There is so much happening across our industry at the moment," said Colin. "BIGA is now firmly established, I'm glad to have been part of the process, and I'm sure BIGA will continue to grow and develop as a critical force on behalf of pet grooming business owners in the coming exciting years."

BIGA is a not-for-profit trade association and community support network of like-minded business owners in the pet grooming industry. To find out more about BIGA, please visit: www.mybiga.org

Dog grooming professionals from across the UK descend on the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Coventry this weekend for The International Grooming Conference, Sat-Sun 27-28 Nov.

The conference is organised by Pooch Perfect TV judge Colin Taylor. Master of Ceremonies is Melanie Winters-Holmes.

Seminars, Demonstrations, Workshops

Saturday boasts a great selection of seminars, talks, workshops Q&As, with the likes of Julie Harris, Louisa Tandy, Lorraine Mottershead and other industry notables taking part. The day includes a sit-down chat with Pooch Perfect winner Kelly Davis.

Tradestands

The event features a large selection of tradestands for all your shopping needs - many likely to feature Black Friday deals! (see the list of tradestands further down)

Seminar participants at The International Grooming Conference 2019

Industry Awards Night

Saturday evening sees the return of the Industry Awards. For a list of all shortlisted nominees, please scroll down. 

The Awards evening features dinner and dancing - so make sure to take and share plenty of images!

Day Two - including Pooch Perfect contestants and Raffle Prizes

Sunday continues with more seminars and demonstrations including appearances from Pooch Perfect Contestants.

The event also includes a Raffle with the prize-givings Sunday afternoon.

For more information about tradestands attending as well as the nominees of the Industry Awards, please visit the dedicated Facebook Group click here

Look out Mark Zuckerberg, BIGA Voice is about to eat your lunch.

Members of the British Isles Grooming Association, BIGA, now have the ability to seek specialist advice within the BIGA Voice discussion forums on the member website.

BIGA is thrilled to launch our new Professional Advisor forums and very pleased to welcome our specialist advisors. Members can simply log into the forum and ask their pressing questions within a safe, professional and courteous discussion board.

BIGA's New Voices

The newly launched forums and their respective advisors are:

• Ask The Vet – with veterinarian and pet groomer, Sophie Bell.
• Ask The Behaviourist – with certified animal behaviourist Andrew Hale.
• Ask The Business Advisor – with experienced pet grooming business owner, Bill Betts.
• Ask The Accountant – with accountant and finance specialist, Vicky Clark.
• Ask The Groomer – with experienced pet groomer and instructor, Debby Knight.
• Ask The HR Consultant - with HR consultancy business owner, Megan Saint.

“Dog groomers are an extra pair of eyes and often spot things that the owner does not,” explains vet and groomer Sophie Bell (pictured). 

Behaviourist Andrew Hale echoes Sophie’s comments above: “being on the front line, the groomer may well see the dog more than any other care professional.”

As a trade association, BIGA is committed to helping pet groomers develop and sustain their businesses and incorporate best-practice – not just within animal welfare, but across all business considerations. 

“I have learnt the hard way how to make a successful business out of grooming other people’s pets,” offers business advisor Bill Betts.

Likewise, accountant Vicky Clark, who has worked directly with pet groomers develop a business from the garden shed into multiple salons, says “I want to help the members of BIGA get off on the right foot and grow a professional business.”

Experienced groomer and instructor Debby Knight takes on the role for Ask The Groomer and is excited to share her experience in grooming and training. “My door is always open to both new and experienced groomers,” she says, adding that she is committed to helping improve the professionalism of all groomers.

Human Resources Consultancy business owner Megan Saint contributes, "I have experience in working with several dog grooming businesses and believe that the industry could benefit from increased awareness of employment law and HR practices." 

Start With Kindness

BIGA’s chair, Kristian Maris, explains that running a business on your own can be isolating, and it’s difficult knowing what to do and where to turn. Turning to Facebook is helpful for many but can also be intimidating for fear of ridicule. “Recent months have shown this is not social media’s finest hour” says Kristian. 

The BIGA discussion boards, by comparison, are a safe place for knowledge-sharing. "The Advisors are giving so generously of their time and expertise, and welcome questions at all levels."

“The starting point is kindness,” adds BIGA Director Heidi Anderton. “This has always been the spirit of BIGA and why it has attracted like-minded members to help grow and establish a trade association for pet groomers that is also an essential community support network within our industry.”

To learn more about BIGA's new voices, please click here