Pudding, the leading bra fitting trainer to lingerie businesses across the world is collaborating with Cancer Research UK to offer bra fitting trainees a Cancer UK Endorsed Qualitification and to establish a Bra Fitting Academy.
The academy is a key milestone in the #Campaign for Better Bras or Campaign #BB – launched by Pudding at the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month, last October.
The Pudding & Cancer Research UK Bra Fitting Academy will offer a specialist post breast cancer bra fitting training programme where all trainees will complete an exclusive Cancer Research endorsed training course. Trainees will receive a certificate as a Cancer Research approved post breast cancer bra fitting specialist.
In addition, graduates of the Academy will take away a free sample of the Cancer Research post-surgery bra, which they will also be able to stock in store and online for their customers.
As the biggest contributor to research into breast cancer in the world after North America, with a spend of £20 million, Cancer Research UK can ensure trainees have a deeper understanding of breast cancer. The training programme will focus on how to offer an expert bra fitting service to women in all the different scenarios they face during and after breast cancer – and will go much further, helping trainees to really understand the reality of breast cancer for their customers and to establish a successful business as a specialist bra fitter.
This comprehensive course will include:
- How to offer a professional bra fitting service for women during or after Breast Cancer – including mastectomy, lumpectomy, prothesis fitting & reconstruction
- An Education in Breast Cancer – to help trainees develop real expertise
- Practical bra fitting on women who have undergone breast cancer using market leading products from specialists such as Anita, Royce, Trulife, Boost and Evenly
- Discussion sessions with breast cancer survivors and cancer care nurses
- How to deliver superior customer service in the specialist and often sensitive situations of women with breast cancer
- How to set up links to local breast cancer nurses & hospitals & introduction to each trainee’s local hospital and cancer care teams by Cancer Research UK
- How to buy the right selection of bras
- Introductions to key suppliers of post breast cancer bras, protheses and related cancer care products
- A Bra Fitting Manual to refer to after the training course
- Certification as a Cancer Research endorsed Bra Fitter for Women During And After Breast Cancer
- A free sample of the Cancer Research post-surgery bra
- The option of becoming a stockist of the Cancer Research post-surgery bra range and other post breast cancer related products
- Membership of Pudding’s #Better Bras Community offering networking and mutual support on social media and a listing as a Recommended Cancer Research UK endorsed Bra Fitter
- The option of follow on coaching after the training course
Courses are designed for experienced bra fitters who wish to expand their skills to serve women during or after breast cancer. A beginner bra fitting course is also available to be undertaken by any trainees who are totally new to bra fitting.
A self–fit option for breast cancer survivors and Cancer Research supporters who wish to become more knowledgeable in this area is also in development.
Courses will be held at Cancer Research’s UK headquarters in London, with additional training available online. Courses are also available in Italian, for Pudding’s many Italian bra fitting trainees.
Previous Pudding trainees with a post breast cancer bra fitting qualification, who include bra fitters from leading specialists such as Nicola Jane, Bras Sisters & Bra Consultancy, are also invited to join the course at a reduced rate or undertake a supplementary Fast Track Course to receive status as a Cancer Research Recommended Bra Fitter.
Helen Masters, Founder & Managing Director of Pudding, commented,
As a post breast cancer bra fitter and bra fitting trainer for the last 20 years, I work closely with women who have undergone breast cancer and I am very familiar with some of the challenges they face.
I passionately believe that every woman should have access to specialist bra fitting advice and the right kinds of bras after breast cancer, yet still many of the post breast cancer survivors I talk to remain frustrated at what they see as the limited provision of post breast cancer specific bras and bra fitting expertise.
At the same time those who have been lucky enough to have a professional bra fitting and find suitable post breast cancer bras report that it is a significant step on their road to recovery and to feeling themselves again.
Enabling more stores to be trained as specialist bra fitters is a win/win for the consumer, the retailer and the specialist post-surgery lingerie brands. Joining forces with Cancer Research means we can spread the word to more people , offer more than the average training course and raise awareness of the important work of Cancer Research to encourage more people to donate and get involved.”
Serita Moore, Engagement Manager, Cancer Research added:
My 20 plus-year track record of designing products and undertaking bra fittings for women during and after breast cancer has taught me the importance of having more specially trained bra fitters who can offer the right products for women after breast cancer. I have known and worked with Pudding for many years and am delighted to introduce the Pudding & Cancer Research Bra Fitting Academy where we will ensure our trainees receive the highest quality training to become partners in our mission to make expert bra fitting and suitable bras available to more women after breast cancer.”
The Academy’s first face to face training course will take place on 8 May 2025, at Cancer Research Headquarters next to Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, London. Places are available on a first come first served basis.
Places can be booked by emailing: consulting@puddinglingerie.com or calling Helen on +44 (0)7789921097. Helen can also provide information on how to join the Campaign for Better Bras.
Comments from Pudding’s post breast cancer bra fitting models:
“As a person (I say person, because it isn’t just Women that get breast cancer!, so please check your chest) who has experienced breast cancer and the changes this imposes, I personally feel so grateful to be alive BUT l also feel embarrassed, awkward, and a huge sense of loss – having lost both breasts. I do actually grieve my breasts, you may well think this is stupid, but there will be ladies that understand. It is sooo hard to even get out there for something as simple as a bra fitting, and when you do, it would be good to have a fitter that understands and that can do it right – because it is different “’ Caroline Lester, double mastectomy survivor.
‘”I was literally at my wit’s end and had given up on ever being able to wear a nice bra again. I couldn’t find anything in my size – seeing a specialist bra fitter was literally one of the best things I have done to help my recovery, but we need more stores offering this service.” Tracy Shaw, single mastectomy survivor.
