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Shaping Grooming’s Future: BIGA Meets with VetSkill

This week marks a major milestone for the UK dog grooming industry. On Wednesday, Paula Bryan, Director of the British Isles Grooming Association (BIGA) and founder of Clipit Grooming, will present to VetSkill, one of the UK’s key awarding organisations responsible for professional dog grooming qualifications.


Her focus?The future of our industry, the need for national, welfare-first standards, and BIGA’s leadership in shaping them.


Vetskill logo on blue background.
BIGA is taking groomers’ voices straight to VetSkill. Let’s build a safer, stronger industry.

This discussion is more than a meeting — it’s the beginning of real, positive change.


Who Are VetSkill?

VetSkill is a respected, multi-accredited organisation at the heart of animal-related education and professional regulation.

They are:

  • An Ofqual, SQA Accreditation and CCEA-approved Awarding Organisation (AO)

  • An End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) approved by Ofqual, Skills England and the DfE

  • A professional regulatory body supporting high standards in animal-related occupations


VetSkill empowers learners by providing inspirational qualifications and robust assessment, approving colleges to deliver their wide portfolio of courses. They also work with training providers and employers nationwide to deliver End-Point Assessment for apprenticeship standards.


Importantly for the wider animal-care sector, VetSkill is authorised by:

  • The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to maintain a register of Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) — professionals permitted to prescribe and supply certain veterinary medicines

  • DEFRA, to maintain the national register of qualified microchip implanters for companion animals


Their commitment to welfare, education and professional competence makes VetSkill a critical partner in shaping the next chapter of UK grooming standards.


Two dog groomers with a dog standing up, being groomed.
Raising grooming standards — together with VetSkill.

Why This Presentation Matters

Dog grooming is one of the UK’s fastest-growing pet care services, yet it remains unregulated, with no mandatory qualifications and no standardised welfare expectations.

While many groomers work with exceptional skill and compassion, the industry faces significant challenges:


  • Inconsistent qualification delivery

  • Variability in competence among newly qualified groomers

  • Lack of recognised CPD requirements

  • No national groomer register

  • Increasing welfare concerns from the public and vets


Paula’s presentation to VetSkill will address these issues head-on, outlining the urgent need for unity, structure, and national welfare-first standards.



Groomers Are Frontline Welfare Professionals

 key message in Paula’s presentation is clear:


Groomers play a crucial role in animal welfare.

They often see dogs more frequently than veterinary professionals and are the first to spot:

  • Skin issues and irritation

  • Pain responses

  • Ear infections

  • Parasites

  • Weight changes

  • Behavioural shifts

  • Mobility concerns


Yet without regulation or registration, not all groomers are trained to recognise these signs, and pets may be inadvertently placed at risk.


BIGA believes groomers deserve the training, support and recognition that reflect their essential contribution to animal wellbeing.


BIGA’s Welfare-First Vision

Paula will introduce VetSkill to BIGA’s framework for raising industry standards:


1. National Welfare Standards

A unified, evidence-based set of expectations for welfare, handling, equipment, safety, and coat care.

2. The BIGA Groomer Register

A professional, voluntary register becoming industry expectation.It provides:

  • Verified qualification pathways

  • Annual CPD requirements

  • A welfare-first code of practice

  • Greater public transparency

  • Insurer confidence


3. Stronger Training Consistency

Supporting training centres with:

  • Clear GLH expectations

  • Updated welfare protocols

  • Consistent practical assessment methods

  • Industry-approved learning resources


4. Professional Recognition for Groomers

Registration, CPD, and standards combine to raise the status and credibility of groomers nationwide.


The Goal: A Safer, Stronger, More Respected Industry

With BIGA’s leadership — and collaborative partners like VetSkill — the sector can move toward a future where:

  • Every groomer meets a national welfare standard

  • All training centres deliver with consistency and clarity

  • Awarding bodies lead with excellence and transparency

  • Groomers gain status and feel valued

  • Pet owners make confident, informed choices

  • Pets receive safer, welfare-first grooming


This is not just desirable — it is achievable.

Paula’s presentation marks the next crucial step toward this future.


BIGA’s Message to the Industry

Our goal is simple:


To unite the grooming industry under clear welfare-first standards, supported by education, recognition, and professional accountability.


This moment is a turning point. Through BIGA’s leadership and with support from awarding bodies like VetSkill, we can build the structured, respected, and welfare-led grooming profession the UK deserves.


Stay tuned — BIGA will share updates, outcomes, and opportunities to get involved following Paula’s presentation.


Together, we can shape the future of professional dog grooming.


Want to JOIN BIGA?



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