The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is encouraging licensed kennelhands to take advantage of its fully funded kennelhand qualification, designed to support professional development while helping to maintain the highest standards of greyhound welfare.

Launched in September 2025, the programme enables learners to gain a City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Animal Health, Husbandry and Handling, a nationally recognised qualification that is transferable across the wider animal care sector.

The programme has been tailored to the role of a kennelhand, providing learners with the knowledge and skills required for the day-to-day care of racing greyhounds. The course covers key areas including health and husbandry, handling, diet, grooming, biosecurity and professional responsibilities.

Designed to fit around existing work commitments, the programme is delivered online and completed at a pace that suits the learner, with no college attendance required. Participants undertake an in-person assessment with an experienced assessor, allowing them to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have developed through both the course and their day-to-day work.

Fully funded by the GBGB, the initiative reflects its ongoing investment in developing skills and strengthening welfare and care standards throughout the sport.

The GBGB is keen to see more kennel staff benefit from the opportunity and is encouraging trainers and kennelhands to find out more about enrolling. To qualify, applicants must be aged 16 or over, hold a current GBGB kennelhand licence, and have been employed full-time at a GBGB-licensed kennel for at least 12 weeks.

Reflecting on the first year of the programme, Meriel France, GBGB Learning and Development Manager, said:

“It has been a pleasure to see the first kennelhands complete the qualification. The feedback I’ve received from both learners and their employers has been extremely positive, and it’s encouraging to see how the programme has helped participants feel more confident in their roles.

“We would encourage any trainer or kennelhand who is interested to get in touch and find out more. Whether someone is relatively new to the sport or looking to develop their existing skills, the programme offers valuable knowledge that can support both their professional development and the welfare of the greyhounds in their care.”

Heather Curry, who completed the course this year, said:

“You can get fantastic insights by talking to people who have been involved in the sport all their lives, but getting stuck into all the technical details in this course was interesting and an opportunity to stretch myself and learn more about the greyhound breed and how we can all best care for them. Even for routine care like grooming, it was great to learn about some of the new tools available.

“I would highly recommend the course, particularly to younger people within the sport, as it offers a fantastic foundation of knowledge about caring for greyhounds. The course and the handbooks were easy to follow and very manageable to complete while also working full time in the kennels.”

Claire Conley, whose kennelhands Demi-Jai and Gracie have also successfully achieved the qualification, said:

“I have to say the course has been excellent. We had regular reviews throughout to see how they were doing and discuss the topic they were working on. They have gained confidence, asked questions and really learned a lot. I’ve been really impressed.”

Applications are open now. Trainers interested in enrolling members of staff, or licensed kennelhands wishing to learn more about the programme, are encouraged to contact Meriel for an informal discussion: Meriel.France@gbgb.org.uk