British Groomer of the Year 2004
We are incredibly proud to celebrate a defining moment in the history of Absolutely Animals. In 2004, our founder and owner Heidi Anderton was named British Groomer of the Year, taking the top honour at the prestigious British Dog Grooming Championships held in Luton.
Competing against 30 of the UK’s finest groomers, Heidi stood out by winning both the Miniature Poodle and Handstrip (non-gundog) categories, earning her a place in the finals and securing the overall title. The award recognised not only exceptional technical skill, but also dedication, preparation, and professionalism at the highest level of the industry.
At the time of her win, Heidi was already City & Guilds 7750 qualified and had been preparing intensively for the competition throughout the year. Reflecting on her achievement, Heidi said:
“This is really great. I’ve been preparing my dogs all year for this competition. I’m so pleased and my kids are so proud”, said Heidi. I’ve been branching out at my grooming salon, Absolutely Animals, into training groomers and with just two more units needed to gain my Pet Care Trust Advanced Grooming qualification, this national title will give my business a real lift.”
Industry leaders also recognised Heidi’s contribution to dog grooming standards. Janet Nunn, Chief Executive of the Pet Care Trust, praised Heidi as a strong advocate for excellence and a role model for those considering grooming as a career.
This award marked a major milestone for Absolutely Animals and reinforced the values the business still stands for today: high standards, continuous learning, and genuine passion for animal care. Heidi went on to expand into teaching, examining, and mentoring groomers, helping to raise professional standards across the industry.
Winning British Groomer of the Year remains a proud part of our story and a reflection of the expertise, care, and commitment that Absolutely Animals continues to offer every client and every dog.
