Key players from the equestrian world are working together to standardise the national equine groom apprenticeship into a qualification that fits the needs of today’s employers.
The government is currently redesigning 76 different apprenticeship schemes, from TV production to welding, and including grooms.
Currently, there are many different apprenticeship schemes open to people wanting to work with horses.
Now member bodies of the British Equestrian Federation, the British Horseracing Authority, equestrian charities, The Household Cavalry and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, as well as representatives from polo and hunting, have become part of a steering group, facilitated by Trent Park Equestrian Centre, to standardise apprenticeships by 2017.
“The overall outcome of the reform is to ensure that every industry benefits from a well-trained workforce with transferable skills,” said Sue Martin of Trent Park Equestrian Centre.
“We will produce a standard of apprenticeship for the equine industry that is world class and builds on existing strengths, with industry and the grooms benefiting from having specialised training.”
Brian Hutton of Talland School of Equitation added: “This will give the many strands of the horseworld the opportunity to work together to create a rounded, educated, practical groom with all the skills for the future of the industry.”
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Through the radical apprenticeship reform, The Department for Business Innovation and Skills aims to increase the quality of apprenticeships, put employers in the driving seat and simplify the system.
In doing so it expects that the successful apprentice will be held in the same esteem as a university graduate.
“It’s good that employers are having an input to ensure that the apprenticeship is designed to produce quality staff with the real skills they need to run their businesses. It is important to remember that an apprentice is still an employee, and must be treated as such,” Lucy Katan from the British Grooms Association told H&H.
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