Mike Rigby qualified from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London in 1992. After a basic surgical training rotation at University College Hospital, London he moved to the West Country to gain further experience in Orthopaedics. A research post attached to the University of Bath followed, with work looking into the mechanical properties of impacted morcelised allograft.

In 1997 Mike started a Specialist Registrar rotation in the Wessex region, and to develop his interest in lower limb arthroplasty he pursued a fellowship at Exeter in the Hip unit, which he started in January 2003.

Mike was entered onto the Specialist Register for Trauma and Orthopaedics in November 2003 and started a consultant post shortly afterwards at The Great Western Hospital, Swindon in Wiltshire.