Skills for the Future Award
Category criteria
- This category will recognise businesses committed to the ongoing training, professional development and upskilling of their workforce.
- This can be via in-house training or external training providers and/or colleges or universities.
Ultra Clean Canines
Skills For The Future Award entrant
An animal-loving Staffordshire entrepreneur has set up a training academy combining her teaching qualifications and expertise with an ultrasonic toothbrush for pets.
Emma Cartlich, from Weston Coyney, created Ultra Clean Canines in 2020 after her husband Adrian qualified as a dog groomer.
Emma and Adrian both completed emmi®-pet face-to-face training, bought an emmi®-pet ultrasonic toothbrush and started to deliver an emmi®-pet teeth cleaning, oral care and maintenance service in the Staffordshire and Cheshire area.
They then decided to create and deliver emmi®-pet seminars to teach and support pet care professionals, especially dog groomers, how to successfully implement the emmi®-pet into their business. Emma’s dream of running her own training academy was born.
Emma created a Zoom seminar for pet care professionals and offers the same course in an online pre-recorded version which is hosted on her own, one-of-a-kind learning management system.
E-learning has now overtaken Zoom seminars as people are able to complete the training at a time, location and pace that suits them.
All courses are officially endorsed by the manufacturer of the equipment and include certification.
Word spread and Emma was approached by a dog grooming college to deliver training to their students and course tutors. She now works with a number of colleges around the UK, has her training included in City and Guilds dog grooming courses and is currently creating a mini course for another dog grooming academy.
“I’m the leading emmi®-pet training provider,” said Emma. “The product itself has a really good reputation so people working in the pet industry want to add it into their business. It isn’t just dog groomers, I’m having every type of pet care professional contact me.”
Emma hosts free, live webinars showing people how they can transform their business with emmi®-pet with up to 150 audience members each time who may then go on to take her training.
She’s been working with a student to do a comprehensive analysis of the market in the UK and US including looking at competitors and social media strategy plans.
“I’m feeling really positive and proud,” Emma added. “Ultra Clean Canines has been recognised as the leading training provider of its kind and more and more colleges are coming on board.”
Ultra Clean Canines has entered the Skills for the Future and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Selina Rudzik of Recruitment Robin
Skills For The Future Award nominee
At Recruitment Robin Selina Rudzik aims to not just shape the future of recruitment but to actively shape the future workforce itself.
A passionate advocate for skills development and professional growth, she is committed to equipping young people with the real-world experience, confidence and career readiness they need to succeed.
Through her work with T-Level students at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, alongside her broader dedication to workplace training and professional development, Selina is making an impact on the careers of young professionals across Staffordshire.
As a leader in the recruitment industry, Selina understands that practical experience is key to professional success. That’s why she has taken an active role in supporting T-Level students, providing them with essential workplace learning opportunities at Recruitment Robin.
She currently has three T-Level students under her wing, offering them hands-on experience in a dynamic business environment where they can apply their knowledge, develop essential skills and gain real insights into the professional world.
Her commitment extends beyond her own business. She is also a placement officer for T-Level students, proactively working with local businesses to secure placements that provide meaningful learning experiences.
She doesn’t just champion T-Levels—she actively creates opportunities for young people to access them, opening doors to businesses that might not have previously considered offering placements.
Based at Hempstalls Lane in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Recruitment Robin aims to help businesses with all of their recruitment, HR and training needs. It works across a wide range of sectors include construction, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and health.
Selina has been nominated in the Skills For The Future category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards by Sarah Allen from the PR company Shoestring.
Sarah said: “Selina Rudzik is not just an employer offering placements—she is a true ambassador for the future workforce, investing in young people’s careers before they even step into the job market.
“Through her hands-on approach, commitment to professional development and dedication to championing T-Levels across Staffordshire, she is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment.
“Her work is not just beneficial for the students—it’s also a win for local businesses. By introducing young talent to companies and demonstrating the value of early skills development, she is fostering a stronger, more skilled and more confident workforce for the future.”