News
Celebrating Youth Employment Week 2024
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:58
British Dressage is pleased to recognise Youth Employment Week (15 – 19 July 2024), celebrating early careers and the importance of hiring young people, providing opportunities for all.
British Dressage offers a range of apprenticeships to suit all working within the equine industry looking to develop new skills and gain a qualification in the area of business they currently work in. By building skills and confidence, we’re providing young people with lifelong learning to aid career progression.
Sport Structures, our training provider, deliver the training programme that allows apprentices to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours.
This week the spotlight is on Youth Employment Week, with the aim of connecting young people to opportunities, raising awareness of the benefits of hiring young people.
List 1 Judge and BDCC Level 3 Coach Jane Critchley, employs young person Hollie at her yard Denstone Stud and reflected on the apprenticeship journey experience.
“Training our own apprentice ensures we have a well-trained, confident and knowledgeable workforce. Hands on experience is essential in the equestrian industry and the BD Apprenticeship Scheme fully recognises and supports this,” Jane commented.
Hollie is an Equine Groom apprentice at Denstone Stud and spoke to us about the key skills she has learnt during the programme so far. “I have developed a confidence in the routine care of the horses on the yard and have a much deeper knowledge of feeding, worming, field management and managing various medical requirements. My skills in plaiting, lunging and clipping have improved greatly.”
Hollie feels very proud of her achievements and huge growth in knowledge, “My confidence and belief in my own ability has grown enormously, I have really gotten to know and understand the individual personalities and needs of the horses which I have found very rewarding.”
Looking to the future, Hollie told us, “I have been offered a full-time job working as a groom at Denstone Stud and I am looking forward to taking on more responsibility within this role and furthering my skills and knowledge."
Jane commented, “this apprenticeship will lead to a job as a full-time groom, potentially training up to a position as a yard manager and/or training as a competition groom both nationally and internationally. The knowledge and experience gained from these jobs forms an excellent foundation for a multitude of jobs within the equestrian industry.”
At British Dressage, we offer six apprenticeships covering a range of equestrian and business areas, from equine groom to business administration and digital marketing. Find out more about the range of apprenticeships here.
Interested in learning more?
On 15 August, BD are hosting an apprenticeship webinar where you can learn more about the range of apprenticeships, which one is right for you, employers we work with and how to apply.
