Fern Gresty (on the left in picture) is a Co-Founder  and Managing Director of iPET Network, an Ofqual-recognised Awarding Organisation specialising in Animal Care and Veterinary Science qualifications. With nearly 20 years of experience in animal care and business leadership, Fern has helped shape professional standards and career pathways for thousands of learners and training providers across the UK.

From Wet Noses to Industry Leadership: The Story Behind Fern Gresty’s role in iPET Network

Like many journeys in the animal care sector, mine started with a wet nose, a wagging tail, and a lifelong love of animals.

Growing up on a farm, I was fortunate to be surrounded by animals every day. Dogs were a constant part of family life, and from an early age I developed a deep appreciation for animal welfare, behaviour, and care. Horses were a strong passion too and these 2 species moulded my formative years, teaching me responsibility and diligence in all I do. I originally planned to become a veterinary professional, working hard throughout school and college with my sights set on university. However, when the time came, I chose a different path and began a successful career in sales and marketing with a local newspaper.

Although I enjoyed the media world, my passion for dogs never faded. That passion was strengthened when I welcomed Fable, my beloved Rottweiler, into my life. More than a pet, she was my companion, inspiration, and the driving force behind a career change that would shape my future.

In July 2009, I founded Cheshire’s first licensed dog daycare centre, creating a business that allowed me to combine my entrepreneurial ambitions with my commitment to animal welfare. As demand for professional pet care services grew, I expanded the business and completed my dog grooming training, introducing grooming services to what would become the Four Paws Group.

As the business developed, I quickly recognised a challenge facing the industry: finding highly skilled dog groomers trained to the standards pet owners expected. Determined to help raise standards, I collaborated with my former grooming tutor to establish Four Paws Groom School, delivering professional dog grooming training designed to prepare learners for successful careers within the grooming industry.

From the beginning, our mission was simple: provide practical, hands-on dog grooming education that equips students with the skills, confidence, and knowledge required to thrive in a professional salon environment. Our training covered a wide range of grooming techniques, breed-standard styling, commercial grooming, pet trims, canine welfare, and customer care, ensuring graduates were ready to meet the needs of both dogs and their owners. Dog grooming was an unregulated industry (and remains so) but I always believed in the power of education and would have liked all groomers to gain formal qualification. However, there was a flaw. At the time just 1 dog grooming qualification existed on the national framework and its structure made it inaccessible to those we were training. It required a number of breed standard dogs that we just didn’t have access to in the numbers required in rural Cheshire. This meant that highly talented, skilled dog groomers were unable to gain the recognition deserved.

In 2016, Sarah Mackay joined the Four Paws Groom School team, and we became business partners the following year. Together, we shared a vision to improve the quality and accessibility of dog grooming qualifications across the UK. This led us to develop accredited training programmes and ultimately write the Open College Network West Midlands Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming (which would go on to become AIM Qualifications), an Ofqual-regulated qualification recognised throughout the industry.

As demand for quality animal care qualifications increased, we began supporting training providers across the UK through a growing network of satellite training centres operating under the iPET Network brand. By sharing our expertise, quality assurance processes, and educational resources, we helped training providers deliver consistent, high-quality learning experiences to aspiring dog groomers nationwide.

By 2019, it became clear that the animal care industry needed an awarding organisation dedicated specifically to the sector. We wanted greater flexibility to develop qualifications that truly reflected employer needs, industry standards, and evolving animal welfare requirements. Acknowledging modern trends (the rise of the Cockapoo), new equipment and best practice.

That vision became reality in February 2020 when iPET Network achieved Ofqual recognition as an Awarding Organisation.

Today, iPET Network is one of the UK’s leading specialist Awarding Organisations for the Animal Care and Veterinary Science sector. Our flagship qualification, the iPET Network Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming and Salon Management, has become one of the most recognised dog grooming qualifications in the UK, supporting learners seeking careers in professional dog grooming, salon management, and self-employment.

Since gaining recognition, iPET Network has continued to develop innovative qualifications that support learners, employers, colleges, independent training providers, and industry professionals. Our portfolio now spans a wide range of animal care, veterinary science, canine welfare, pet services, and specialist animal industry qualifications, all designed to improve standards, enhance professional development, and promote exceptional animal welfare.

Alongside my work with iPET Network, I have remained actively involved in advancing standards across the grooming profession. Four Paws Groom School is a member of the British Isles Grooming Association (BIGA), and I was honoured to serve as a Director between 2017 and 2020, helping support initiatives focused on education, best practice, and raising awareness of the importance of professional grooming in safeguarding canine welfare. In 2023-2024 iPET Network went on to sponsor Groom Team England and help push UK dog grooming further into the global spotlight.

Over the years, our family of businesses expanded to include multiple animal care services across the North West of England, employing a dedicated team of more than 40 professionals. Through dog daycare, boarding, grooming, pet transport, and education, we have gained invaluable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the animal care industry. This real-world experience continues to shape the qualifications and training programmes developed by iPET Network today. As iPET Network has grown and demands on our time increased, we have sought to streamline our business structure with businesses owned by Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty all falling under the Fizz Star Group Ltd. Brands include iPET Network, Four Paws Groom School, The Dog Grooming Hub and Pet Training Courses.

As pet ownership continues to grow across the UK, so does the need for qualified animal care professionals. Pet owners rightly expect the highest standards of care from those entrusted with their animals. Our commitment is to ensure learners gain not only industry-recognised qualifications but also the practical skills, professionalism, customer service expertise, and animal welfare knowledge required to excel in their chosen careers. We are extremely proud to have developed the first Canine First Aid qualification on the national framework with others following, a sure sign that welfare standards are improving across the UK.

iPET Network is now a multi award winning business that has attracted large scale corporate groups as well as small one man bands to choose our services.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my four daughters and my two dogs, Tipple, a Korthals Griffon, and Pudding, a Jackapoo, both named after two of my favourite things. We are well known for working and playing hard, and I remain committed to ensuring our services come with the personal approach each business and individual deserves.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my journey. What began with a love of dogs has evolved into a mission to improve education, professional standards, and animal welfare across the UK. Through iPET Network, we remain committed to supporting learners, training providers, employers, and industry professionals in building a stronger future for the Animal Care and Veterinary Science sector.