The Pet Care Trade Association is the only membership body dedicated to the entire pet specialist sector in the UK, supporting its members with a range of benefits and services. In our first issue we’ve asked them to tell us the latest on one of their cornerstone events – the  British Dog Grooming Championship…

The voice of the pet specialist sector for the past 50 years, the PCTA and its predecessor bodies have been a leading force in the pet industry. Businesses displaying our logo offer the pet-owning public a hallmark of quality: our members agree to abide by a sector-specific charter to demonstrate good practice, high standards of professionalism, customer service and animal welfare.

There are around 1,500 PCTA members from small, sole trader enterprises right up to many of the largest players in the industry. Our members include pet shops, groomers, kennels, catteries, manufacturers, and wholesalers and our professional services category – colleges, publishers, dog walkers and pet sitters – is ever expanding, reflecting the increasing diversity of the sector.

The British Dog Groomers’ Association (BDGA) and British Kennel & Cattery Association are both parts of the PCTA, representing and supporting members specific to those sectors.

2012 British Dog Grooming Championship

The centrepiece of the BDGA calendar is the British Dog Grooming Championship, at which groomers compete for the prestigious title of ‘Groomer of the Year’. It’s a great event for industry professionals with seminars, masterclasses and demonstrations taking place as well as the competition itself.

This year’s event is the 32nd annual championship and will take place on Sunday October 28 at the Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. The championship is open to groomers, whatever their level, from juniors and students right up to advanced. Competitors have the chance to show off their skills to our array of prestigious judges, and to pit themselves against their peers.

New for 2012

For the first time in the history of the competition, a suite of winner’s logos will be granted to those reaching the top in the competition using a ‘Proud to British’ theme in the light of the Olympics and the Royal Diamond Jubilee. Class winners, group winners, the Groomer of the Year and the runner up will be able to use these on marketing materials, websites and adverts.

Also new for 2012 is a ‘Team Student’ event – open to students from colleges and satellite centres who have studied in the last 12 months and have entered the Student and Newcomer category. The winning team will win the BDGA Memorial Award for a year, as well as a trophy for the training centre and certificates for all members of the team who are placed first, second or third.

Janet Nunn, Chief Executive of the BDGA and PCTA said: “We’re delighted to provide the opportunity for colleges and satellites to demonstrate the efforts of their students and to celebrate the next generation of groomers, at what will be another fantastic event. The British Dog Grooming Championship showcases the best of British grooming.”

Seminars and Trade Show

Visitors and competitors will have the opportunity to further their own professional development through a range of seminars and workshops that will be hosted in the Kennel Club Building’s bespoke seminar room. Those with level 3 qualifications will be able to gain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, and anyone who attends will receive a certificate proving to customers their commitment to advancing their knowledge and skills.

A trade show will take place alongside the excitement of the competition. It offers visitors and competitors the chance to browse a range of products and services specifically catering to the grooming market.

Businesses who are interested in promoting their products and services to a captive audience of top groomers should contact the PCTA on 01234 273933.

Find out more by visiting www.petcare.org.uk