Guild of Master Groomers gains new member

The British Dog Groomers’ Association (BDGA) has welcomed Belinda Morris to its Guild of Master Groomers. Belinda has been grooming for 12 years and is currently team leader at the Hadlow PIF Grooming School at Hadlow College in Kent. Prior to that, Belinda worked at Pets at Home and The Dog Shop in Galway Ireland. Membership of the Guild of Master Groomers is only open to those BDGA members who have completed all ten units of the Pet Industry Federation’s Higher Diploma. It is held by only 21 other groomers in the UK today. On achieving her place in the Guild of Master Groomers, Belinda said: "Becoming a member of the Guild of Master Groomers has been my ultimate goal. It provides a fitting recognition of the time and effort I have dedicated to my own personal self-improvement in the dog grooming industry and proof that I have made the grade. "The BDGA Higher Diploma is a hugely challenging qualification in every aspect with regard to both the practical standards required and the self-motivation needed to undertake the theory and written elements of it. However, as the highest grooming qualification the UK grooming industry offers, it stands for a lot! "As a teacher of the next generation of dog groomers at Hadlow PIF Grooming School, I wanted to be at the highest level I can be, in order to pass on that knowledge and expertise to my students, and be an example of what study and qualifications can ultimately lead to." To dog groomers aspiring to one day join the Guild of Master Groomers, Belinda has this advice: "You need to be strong minded and determined to reach your goal. You also need to be prepared to travel to breed experts and breed specific seminars, and attend dog shows and grooming competitions to learn more about the breeds you will be grooming for the qualification. "However, there are now a few Facebook groups out there for this qualification where you can get advice and get to know others doing the qualification. These groups can be very supportive and confidence-boosting, something which is priceless when the going gets tough." The BDGA is part of the Pet Industry Federation and offers a range of qualifications to dog groomers, including the City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 dog grooming qualifications delivered through its accredited training schools; and the Higher Diploma. Further information is available at www.petfederation.co.uk.