Solihull College to invest £600k in new pet grooming and training facility
With UK dog ownership increasing, the investment will focus on building dog grooming and handling areas featuring new equipment such as hydro baths
Solihull College and University Centre has announced its plans to invest £600k in a new pet grooming and training facility ahead of the launch of the new T-Level in Animal Care and Management.
Over half a million pounds is being invested overall in the Animal Welfare facilities at Solihull College and University.
With UK dog ownership increasing, the investment will focus on building dog grooming and handling areas featuring new equipment such as hydro baths.
It also plans on creating a new training and exercise area.
T-Levels are new two-year courses for school leavers that have been developed in collaboration with “leading” employers so that the content meets the needs of industry.
The funding, secured as a Building and Facilities Improvement Grant from the T-Levels Capital Fund, will be match funded by the college to reach the £600k total.
According to Solihull College, the associated market is booming as there are over ten million pet pooches in the UK and 27% of UK adults currently owning a dog.
It added that professional dog grooming is “increasingly becoming a skill which is in incredibly high demand, as are many industries based around animal ownership”.
Claire Powell, head of School for Animal Welfare and Veterinary Nursing, said: “The new facilities will continue to ensure the College is ahead of the game when it comes to animal welfare teaching and learning. This new T-Level will ensure our students are extremely well prepared when it comes to going out into the workplace.”
