Keep up to date with all the industry careers news, from new initiatives and training courses to the latest new features on this very website.

Congratulations to all of the following who received qualifications in February

British Racing School
NVQ Level 2:
Amy-Rose Blakemore, Grant Cockburn, John Dixon, Klarna King, Beata Oryszczyn, Debbie Sharrock, David Symes-Meineck

NVQ Level 3:
Michael Blake, David Bourton, Cher Gill, Andrew Nichols Hollinshead, Nicola Jackson, Julie Lingham, Andrew James Martin, John Murray, Jill O'Neill, Eleanor Katherine Elizabeth Scott, Jody Anne Wilson, Sophie Wray

Northern Racing College
NVQ Level 1:
Kevin Lundie, Laura Berry, Nicole Briggs, Alesyha Cobb, Steven Croft, Georgina Ducker, Ryan Earnshaw, Kyle Johnson, Louise Leser, Phoebe Lucas, Jamie Tyson, Savannah Wake, Laura Watson

NVQ Level 2:
Katherine Crane, Jake Fraser, Kayleigh Harman, Megan Jones

NVQ Level 3:
Angela Burrows

Winners of the Goldolphin Stud & Stable Staff 2010 Awards announced

Stuart Messenger was crowned the Employee of the Year at the annual Goldolphin Stud & Stable Staff awards on 1st March. Messenger was presented with the Goldolphin trophy along with a cheque for £25,000 - £15,000 for himself and £10,000 to be shared amongst his colleagues at Sir Michael Stoute's yard in Newmarket.  

Each individual category winner collected £5,000, with their colleagues at their respective stable or stud sharing £5,000 between them. The two runners-up in each category also received £2,000 with their respective yards of employment collecting the same amount. The full list of winners and runners up are as follows:

David Nicholson Newcomer Award
Winner: James Gray, Whitsbury Farm & Stud
Runners Up: Harry Fry, Paul Nicholls and Sam Davis, Rae Guest

High Achiever Award
Winner: Stuart Messenger, Sir Michael Stoute
Runners Up: Catherine Morse, Overbury Stud & Timothy Potts, Luca Cumani

Stud Staff Award
Winner: Roy Gedge, Hascombe & Valient Stud
Runners Up: David Cartledge, The Royal Studs & Hazel Woods, Kirtlington Stud

Rider/Groom Award
Winner: Elizabeth George, Ed McMahon
Runners Up: Shane Fetherstonhaugh, Henry Cecil & Brian Groves, Sir Michael Stoute

NASS Special Merit Award
Winner: Ken Bedford, John Dunlop
Runner Up: Jeremiah Michael Walsh, Paul Webber

Dedication to Racing Award
Winner: Jimmy Scott, Sir Michael Stoute
Runners Up: Clifford Baker, Paul Nicholls & Larry Wargen, Luca Cumani

For more on the Awards please visit http://www.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff/
   
Update on Training Race Series winner

The BRS caught up with the 2009 Betfair Training Race Series winner, Simon Pearce, who has been gaining experience across the pond:

http://www.brs.org.uk/jockey_news/News_and_Features/simon_pearce_on_santa_anita/index.php

'Horse Show'
The following article features in today's Guardian and is a fascinating insight into the foundation course offered at the Northern Racing College:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/16/horse-racing-failed-young-people

British Grooms Association launches support for Employers

Keep up to date with all the industry careers news, from new initiatives and training courses to the latest new features on this very website. The British Grooms Association (BGA) has proudly launched the Equine Employers Handbook, the first ever dedicated guide to employing staff in the equestrian industry.

Made possible due to a £4,400 Grant from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, the BGA has worked tirelessly with Morrish Solictors LLP to pull together this easy-to-use problem solver. It addresses the everyday and more infrequent issues that every employer needs to deal with, from recruiting to discipline and termination, employment facts, sickness and employee relations. Tailored pecifically to the challenges of the equine industry, the Handbook includes: Case Studies, Sample letter templates, Practical handy tips, Useful links, The legal facts, Check lists.

Executive Director, Lucy Katan, explained more: "The realisation that the Equine Employers Handbook was going to be possible happened thanks to the 2009 National Equine Forum. I was honoured to speak for the second time at this prestigious event and after my presentation the Worshipful Company of Saddlers offered to support our project. As the BGA is a Social Enterprise we have always had a vision that to help the grooms, we must also offer support and guidance to employers - this Handbook fulfills this ambition. We have not used any of our members' funds or association sponsorships to develop it; however any profits will go back into supporting the association.

Since its launch in 2007 the BGA has received countless requests for help from employers. "We have been contacted so many times, by really conscientious employers who are keen to employ their staff in the best possible way; they know it makes good business sense. We realised that there was nowhere else for equine employers to turn to for help, so decided to tackle this issue - for the ultimate benefit of the grooms", explained Lucy.
the Equine Employers Handbook has received unanimous support from all sectors of the industry. It has been endorsed by the BEF. Chief Executive Andrew Finding said: "The Equine Employers Handbook is an excellent, well researched and practical tool for any equine employer. As an industry we depend on our employees and our businesses reap the benefit if they are correctly managed. I am delighted that the British Grooms Association has undertaken this important work and I recommend the Equine Employers Handbook to all who seek to employ staff who do so much vital work within our industry."

Mary King was one of the first to see the Handbook and she has also offered her endorsement: "Having been an employer for many years I am thankful that at last there is an informative guide to employment relevant to the equestrian industry and its demands. The Equine Employers Handbook is full of useful information and advice. I would strongly urge all employers,no matter how experienced you are, to have a copy on your shelf. 

For more information and to purchase your copy of the Equine Employers Handbook for just £37.50, visit www.britishgrooms.org.uk

The British Racing School Expands the Racing Qualification for 14-16 year olds

From September 2010, the British Racing School is offering an opportunity for a limited number of young people aged 14 – 15 years to weekly board at the BRS for the final two years of their compulsory education. The scheme is brand new and will see these young people ride out each weekday morning, attend a local school for four days of the week where they will study for their GCSEs (or for the Land Based and Environment Diploma). One day a week will be devoted entirely to learning about and riding our ex-racehorses and by the end of the second year (Year 11), periods of which may be spent in a Newmarket trainer’s yard, they should have achieved their NVQ 2 in Racehorse Care.

This is a variation on our current Flexible Learning Programme which is available to young people at schools in the Newmarket area. We think this will appeal to those with a passion for racing but who live too far from Newmarket to travel daily. A number of promising young jockeys have been through our FLP programme, amongst them Luke Morris, Charles Eddery and William Carson. Parents will be required to cover the boarding costs (food, accommodation, supervision, travel to/from school) at the British Racing School which will be £8,000 per year. There are no tuition fees to pay. For more details please contact Duncan Gregory (Duncan@brs.org.uk) or Jaki Houston-Campbell (jakihc@brs.org.uk) or phone 01638 665103.