Employment Opportunities
Join Our New Dog Grooming Service
We are recruiting an experienced professional groomer through one of two opportunities.
Option 1: Dog Grooming Partner
Build and Grow a Salon With Our Backing
This opportunity is for an established groomer who wants the independence and financial potential of running a salon without taking on the usual start-up costs and risks.
Wags & Whiskers provides:
- An established, five-star pet-care brand
- A substantial boarding and daycare client base
- A professional location
- Marketing and business support
- No personal liability for rent, business rates or utilities
- A profit-share arrangement linked to the service’s success
You will lead the grooming service and help shape its pricing, packages, appointment structure, products, customer experience and future growth.
The final commercial arrangement will reflect your experience, responsibilities and contribution to developing the service. All terms will be agreed clearly in writing.
Option 2: Experienced Dog Groomer
Permanent Employment With Excellent Growth Potential
This opportunity is for a qualified groomer who wants secure employment, strong earning potential and the chance to help develop a new service.
We offer:
- Permanent employment
- Pay commensurate to experience
- Full-time or part-time hours
- Paid holiday
- Employee discount
- Free on-site parking
- Opportunities to progress as the service grows
- On location accommodation could be made available
You will provide professional grooming across different breeds, sizes and coat types while helping us build a loyal client base and an excellent local reputation.
What We Need
Both opportunities require:
- At least three years’ professional grooming experience.
- A recognised Level 3 dog-grooming qualification or substantial equivalent experience.
- The ability to complete full grooms independently and to a high standard.
- Confidence working across different breeds, coat types and grooming styles.
- Strong canine-handling and customer-service skills.
- A calm, welfare-led approach.
- Excellent hygiene, organisation and record-keeping standards.
- The right to work in the United Kingdom.
Canine first aid and previous salon-management experience would be advantageous.
How to Apply
Please send us:
- Your CV
- Details of your qualifications and experience
- A portfolio of recent grooming work
- Your preferred working pattern
- Your notice period
- A short explanation of what you would bring to the grooming service
Please state clearly whether you are applying for:
- Dog Grooming Partner
- Experienced Dog Groomer, Permanent Employment
We will request qualification certificates and professional references before appointment.
Canine Care Assistant – Dog Boarding & Daycare
Location: Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3QA
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Contract: Permanent
Guaranteed hours: Minimum 25 hours per week, with additional hours potentially available
About the Role
Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa is a licensed dog boarding and daycare facility based at Brent Farm in Highbridge.
We are recruiting a qualified, reliable and dependable Canine Care Assistant to work under the direction of our Shift Leaders and help maintain the welfare, safety and comfort of every dog in our care.
This is a physically active, hands-on position. A substantial part of the role involves cleaning boarding suites, handling soiled bedding, preparing food and working directly with dogs of different breeds, sizes and temperaments.
Key Responsibilities
Canine Care
- Provide attentive and compassionate care to boarding and daycare dogs.
- Follow individual feeding, exercise, enrichment and medication instructions.
- Ensure every dog has fresh water, suitable food and a clean, comfortable living space.
- Monitor each dog’s health, behaviour and general wellbeing.
- Recognise and promptly report signs of illness, injury, fear, stress or abnormal behaviour.
- Safely handle unfamiliar dogs of different breeds, sizes and temperaments.
- Assist with nervous, strong or reactive dogs in accordance with company procedures.
- Administer prescribed medication when trained and authorised to do so.
- Maintain accurate feeding, exercise, medication and welfare records.
Cleaning and Facility Standards
- Clean and disinfect boarding suites, exercise areas and shared spaces.
- Deal routinely with urine, faeces, vomit, soiled bedding and other animal-related waste.
- Complete laundry, including washing, drying and returning bedding and towels.
- Follow infection-control procedures, product instructions and cleaning schedules.
- Keep food-preparation, storage and animal-care areas clean and organised.
- Report maintenance issues, damaged equipment and stock shortages.
Team and Operational Support
- Follow instructions and daily task allocations provided by the Shift Leader.
- Work cooperatively with colleagues to complete the daily care schedule.
- Provide clear handovers and communicate welfare or operational concerns promptly.
- Assist with customer check-ins and check-outs when required.
- Support basic administration, record-keeping and customer communication.
- Follow company policies, health and safety procedures and licensing requirements.
Essential Requirements
- An appropriate Level 2 or higher Ofqual-regulated qualification in Animal Care, Animal Management, Veterinary Assistance or a closely related subject.
- Practical experience caring for and handling dogs.
- Confidence working with unfamiliar dogs of different breeds and sizes.
- Ability to recognise signs of illness, injury, fear and stress.
- Willingness to undertake all cleaning duties and deal regularly with animal waste and soiled bedding.
- Strong attendance, punctuality and employment reliability.
- Ability to follow structured procedures and complete tasks accurately.
- Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Physical capability to undertake an active role, carry supplies and assist with the safe movement of dogs, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
- Full UK driving licence and reliable personal transport.
- Right to work in the United Kingdom.
- Availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays.
Desirable Experience
- Previous employment in dog boarding, daycare, kennels, veterinary practice, rescue or another professional animal-care environment.
- Experience handling nervous, strong or reactive dogs.
- Experience administering animal medication.
- Customer service or reception experience.
- Basic computer, booking-system and administrative skills.
Location and Travel
Applicants must be able to travel reliably to TA9 3QA for shifts beginning as early as 6:30 am.
Successful applicants must either:
- Already live within approximately 30 minutes of the hotel; or
- Have a genuine plan to relocate within that distance before starting work.
Accommodation options can be discussed with candidates who are considering relocation.
Working Pattern
The business operates 365 days a year. Shifts may include:
- Morning shifts beginning at 6:30 am
- Afternoon or evening shifts
- Full-day shifts
- Rotational weekends
- Bank holidays shared across the team
Rotas are issued in advance where possible, but flexibility is required because of the nature of animal care.
What We Offer
- Permanent contract
- Minimum 25 guaranteed hours per week
- Additional hours may be available
- Company pension, subject to eligibility
- Employee discount
- Free on-site parking
- Role-specific training and continuing development
- Potential progression within the business
- Accommodation options can be discussed for candidates considering relocation
Application Requirements
Please ensure your application clearly states:
- The complete title and awarding organisation of your animal-care qualification
- Your practical or professional dog-handling experience
- Your current postcode and expected journey time to TA9 3QA
- Your availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays
- Your notice period and earliest potential start date
Qualification certificates and employment references will be requested before appointment.
Work location: In person
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Dog Boarding: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Animal Mgmt/Equivalent Level 2 or above Ofqual Regulated (required)
- Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Dog Boarding & Daycare Shift Leader
Location: Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3QA
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Contract: Permanent
Guaranteed hours: Minimum 25 hours per week, with additional hours potentially available
About the role
Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa is a licensed dog boarding and daycare facility based at Brent Farm in Highbridge.
We are recruiting a qualified and dependable Shift Leader to supervise the day-to-day operation of our dog hotel and support our animal-care team.
This is a hands-on position. The successful candidate will be expected to lead staff while also participating fully in dog care, cleaning, feeding, exercise, medication, customer service and administrative duties.
Key responsibilities
Shift leadership
- Coordinate the daily shift and allocate duties to members of the animal-care team.
- Ensure feeding, exercise, medication, cleaning and welfare schedules are completed correctly.
- Monitor staff performance and address operational issues promptly.
- Maintain accurate handovers and report welfare, staffing or maintenance concerns to management.
- Ensure company procedures, licensing conditions and health and safety requirements are followed.
Canine care
- Monitor the health, behaviour and wellbeing of every dog.
- Recognise signs of illness, injury, fear, stress or abnormal behaviour and take appropriate action.
- Safely handle dogs of different breeds, sizes and temperaments, including nervous, strong or reactive dogs.
- Prepare food and follow individual feeding instructions.
- Administer prescribed medication accurately and maintain appropriate records.
- Provide exercise, enrichment and individual attention according to each dog’s needs.
Cleaning and facility standards
- Participate in and coordinate the cleaning and disinfection of boarding suites, exercise areas and shared spaces.
- Deal routinely with urine, faeces, vomit, soiled bedding and laundry.
- Maintain infection-control standards and ensure cleaning procedures are followed.
- Report maintenance issues, safety concerns and stock shortages.
Customer service and administration
- Complete customer check-ins and check-outs.
- Communicate professionally with clients in person, by telephone and by email.
- Maintain accurate customer, vaccination, medication and animal-care records.
- Assist with bookings, payments, invoices and general administration using our management software.
Essential requirements
- An appropriate Level 3 Ofqual-regulated qualification in Animal Care, Animal Management, Veterinary Nursing or a closely related subject.
- Demonstrable professional experience caring for and handling dogs in a boarding, daycare, veterinary, rescue or comparable animal-care environment.
- Previous experience supervising staff, coordinating a team or taking responsibility for the operation of a shift.
- Knowledge of canine welfare and behaviour, including recognising illness, stress, fear and potentially unsafe behaviour.
- Confidence handling unfamiliar dogs of different sizes, breeds and temperaments.
- Strong attendance, punctuality and employment reliability.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Basic computer and administrative skills.
- Full UK driving licence and reliable personal transport.
- Right to work in the United Kingdom.
- Availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays.
Location and travel
Applicants must be able to travel reliably to TA9 3QA for shifts beginning as early as 6:30 am.
Successful applicants must either:
- already live within approximately 30 minutes of the hotel; or
- have a genuine plan to relocate within that distance before starting work.
Accommodation options can be discussed with candidates who are considering relocation.
Working pattern
The business operates 365 days a year. Shifts may include:
- Morning shifts beginning at 6:30 am
- Afternoon or evening shifts
- Full-day shifts
- Rotational weekends
- Bank holidays shared across the team
Rotas are issued in advance where possible, but flexibility is required because of the nature of animal care.
What we offer
- Permanent contract
- Minimum 25 guaranteed hours per week
- Additional hours may be available
- Company pension, subject to eligibility
- Employee discount
- Free on-site parking
- Training and continuing development
- Potential progression within the business
- Possible rented on-site employee accommodation
Application requirements
Please ensure your application clearly states:
- The complete title and awarding organisation of your Level 3 qualification
- Your professional dog-handling experience
- Your supervisory or leadership experience
- Your current postcode and expected journey time to TA9 3QA
- Your availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays
Qualification certificates and employment references will be requested before appointment.
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Dog Boarding: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Animal Mgmt/Equivalent Level 3 or above Ofqual Regulated (required)
- Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
