Stud Staff Training for the

Breeding Industry

held at

2

Graduates of 2015/16

Pre-Apprenticeship - Oct 2015

Diploma in Stud Practice and Management - Jun 2016

3

As the only UK provider of full time stud work courses based on a commercial stud farm, training is a

role that the Board and staff at the National Stud take seriously. The National Stud is proud of its

tradition of training stud staff for the breeding industry and equally proud of the annual graduates who

complete their course and help fulfil the industry’s demand for skilled stud staff. The Stud also

participates in collaborative projects with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA). Both organisations have formally recognised the value and

importance of the programmes of stud staff training to the overall industry.

Over the last 30 years the Stud has provided over 1,500 full time students with training in the skills,

knowledge and behaviours required by domestic and international breeding businesses. Part-time

students and delegates attending other training have increased for the last 5 years to be in the region

of 300 per annum. The Stud has a long and well respected educational reputation with many of its

alumni now being leading figures across different parts of the industry. In 2014 the TBA’s Workforce

Analysis reported that approximately 300 staff need to be recruited per year to maintain the estimated

total number of people in direct employment in the industry (ITRO 3,600).

Primarily the success of the Stud’s vocational training can be attributed to students being exposed to

realistic experiences and trained in commercial environments. The importance of the training being

completed on active breeding farms, with genuine events unfolding around them, is crucial to a

graduate’s employability and the credibility of the full time courses.

“I can think of no finer start to a career in the bloodstock industry than doing the Diploma Course at the National Stud’. Angus Gold, Racing Manager, Shadwell Estates Ltd.

“Blue Diamond Stud has taken a number of Apprentices from the National Stud’s pre-Apprenticeship. They have always been keen to learn and work in the industry having experienced 9 weeks of preliminary training at the National. We have recruited some excellent junior members of the team; that have become valuable assets to Blue Diamond Stud.”

Andrew Rawlins, Stud Manager, Blue Diamond Stud.

4

To ensure the relevance of the training to the industry, all content is reviewed internally and externally

by a variety of senior stud managers and other industry experts via the National Stud’s Training

Review Group (TRG). These reviews feed in to an annual appraisal of the training, which when

combined with evidence of the student experience informs any changes to be made.

In addition to access to a busy commercial stud environment, students benefit from the Stud’s

dedicated training department who are on hand throughout and focus their attention on the residential,

in work training and post-graduation care of all students. The excellent onsite facilities for teaching

and learning consist of Westbrook House accommodation and the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre

which were financed through the WCT’s £1.5 million capital improvement programme for educational

facilities.

CURRENT FULL TIME STUD STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMMES

The Stud holds two residential courses every year. They differ hugely in content and in skills level but

have identical aims in providing vocational training for people wanting to pursue a career with

thoroughbred bloodstock.

The most appropriate measures of success are the initial employment of graduates; their retention

within the industry and their career progression. Not withstanding the difficulty keeping track of the

fluid, diverse and often transient population of ex-students, the Stud endeavours to maintain contact

with graduates and track their careers.

In 2015, figures published in a House of Commons briefing paper put the annual percentage of

Apprenticeship completions in the UK at around 54%. For the last four years the National Stud has

completed around 75% of all new Apprenticeships placed in industry per annual intake.

A bed study room at Westbrook House Teaching in the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre

5

PRE-APPRENTICESHIP, APPRENTICESHIP AND ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIP IN STUD WORK

Pre-Apprenticeship

Each year around 22 young people (aged between 16-24) are selected to attend the 9 week Pre-

Apprenticeship training course at the Stud. The programme is a Government scheme and is a

precursor to the Apprenticeship. The candidates come from assorted backgrounds but almost all are

new to the industry. Many trainees have had no previous contact with horses, let alone thoroughbreds,

but have clearly identified stud work as their future career.

The 9 weeks are supervised by the National Stud’s training department and as many of the trainees

are under the age of 18 this includes 24/7 staff presence to fulfil safeguarding requirements. The Pre-

Apprenticeship course has three main functions;

to teach basic stud work skills

to prepare young people for living away from home and the responsibilities of their first full time job

to assess if the trainee is committed to and suitable for a career on a thoroughbred stud farm.

The constant supervision during the Pre-Apprenticeship puts the training team in an excellent position

to assess trainees for their capabilities with horses and as potential employees. By the end of the Pre-

Apprenticeship course, all trainees should have achieved a basic horse care qualification, but only

those trainees that have met all the required criteria to progress to a full Apprenticeship will continue

past the 9 weeks.

Apprenticeship students registered 2013-15

Apprentice Placement

Year

Number accepted on

Pre-App (Oct to Dec)

Number successfully completed Pre-App.

(Dec)

Number achieving

L2 Principles of Horse

Care

Number placed in industry

Number completing 12 months placement

Number still in industry

post completion

@ Mar 2016

2014

21 18 18 16 12 10 (83%)

2015

20 20 20 19 +1

transferred to Adv. App

14 14 (100%)

2016

22

20

21 achieved new

qualification Level 1

Horse Care

18 On scheme

in employment

N/A

6

“I had the best time at the National Stud; everyone was there to learn and have fun at the same time. It

was an amazing experience.”

Ana Rodriquez Marray— 2016 Apprentice working at Newsells Park Stud.

Parents of the Pre-Apprentices very often thank the Stud’s training team for all their help and

guidance . “a fabulous professional team taking care of this group. Thank you so very much.”

Parent of a 2016 Pre-Apprentice, who is now an Apprentice in employment

Apprenticeship

Trainees are recommended by the National Stud for employment to other studs, who interview them

like any other potential member of staff. The National Stud continues to support Apprentices and their

employers through the employment period by regularly visiting and assessing the trainee against the

required qualifications which are a requirement of the Governments Apprenticeship scheme. The role

of the employers in encouraging and supporting the Apprentices during employment cannot be

underestimated. Over 60 studs in the last 10 years have taken trainees, often on an annual basis.

“Without the excellent start at the National Stud I would not of completed my Apprenticeship and now

be progressing my career so successfully with Lanwades Stud.”

Daniel Mansworth, 2014 Apprentice, now a Stud Hand at Lanwades Stud

Mar to Sept Oct to Dec Approx. Jan to Jan but must be completed within 18 months

Graduate decides on next career step as qualified Stud Hand

Interviewed by

National Stud for a Pre-Apprenticeship

place

9 week Pre-

Apprenticeship training at

National Stud

12-18 months in work at a stud farm. Assessed continuously by National Stud whilst

in employment

Could include staying

with current employer, or applying for other Stud

Hand roles. Option to progress to

Advanced Apprenticeship

Successful trainees get an interview with an employer Complete Apprenticeship

The Apprenticeship timeline

7

"The two girls from the National Stud Apprenticeship Course have become an integral part of our team here at Glebe Farm. Their fresh, young, enthusiastic approach to the job enriches the rest of the team. The excellent supervisory support the students get from the National Stud ensures they will be equipped to develop their careers in this industry."

Denis Barry, Owner Glebe Farm Stud

An Advanced Apprenticeship is available as a progression route for completing trainees and is also an

alternative for the more experienced entrant to the industry to gain an accredited qualification. The

National Stud also offers assessment and guidance on other relevant qualifications for those already

employed within the stud workforce.

DIPLOMA IN STUD PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT

Unlike Apprenticeship applicants, Diploma candidates must have prior equine experience in order to

cope with the high intensity of training through a breeding season. The Diploma aims to give current

stud staff with little experience or those young people wanting to move from other equine disciplines

the chance to expand their knowledge and practical skills. The Diploma programme combines the

practical experience of a breeding season with an associated programme of lectures, seminars, visits,

qualifications and assignments. The focus for the Diploma is to attract skilled horse people to use the

Diploma experience as career development within the racing and breeding industries. In the autumn of

each year applicants for the Diploma are interviewed and 24 students accepted for the following

January. Applications come from all over the world (non-EU students pay for their accommodation and

training); each is assessed on their individual merit for suitability for the course and commitment to the

industry.

During the 5 months of the Diploma course the students are exposed to every element of the industry

possible. The practical work during the course ensures that every successful graduate of the course

has had sufficient experience to be employed anywhere in the world as part of a stud team. The

academic and underpinning knowledge gained during the course provides graduates with a better

understanding of their role, responsibilities and most importantly the care of the horses.

The National Stud is proud that for the last five years almost 100% of Diploma graduates have found

employment in the stud industry. The racing and breeding industries offers employment in a multitude

of different forms. Over 30 years’ worth of Diploma graduates are now spread across the world working

in those roles and helping shape the industry for the future.

Advanced Apprenticeship

8

“the Diploma course at the National Stud gave me the best possible start in this industry and took me from a complete novice to a position where I was able to work seasons for Lane’s End, USA and Newsells Park before applying successfully to the Darley Flying Start programme 2012.” Stephen Heath, 2009 Diploma Graduate

FUNDING OF STUD STAFF TRAINING

The programmes of training for stud staff cost in the region of £530,000 p.a. Currently the

programmes are funded via: £

Cost of stud staff training programmes at The National Stud 530,000

Apprenticeships contracts with the Government’s Skills Funding Agency - 90,000

HBLB industry funding for education -184,000

Educational revenue (student fees/charges/sponsorship and facility revenue) -140,000

Funding gap being filled by the Wavertree Charitable Trust (WCT) £ 116,000

In addition, WCT provides generous bursarial help to students towards the accommodation and board

costs (£2,133 per student; total of £32k in 2016) incurred during the Diploma course.

The sustainability of the stud staff training offered at the National Stud is heavily reliant on the support

from the WCT.

Stu

d In

du

stry

UK

/IRE

Stu

d In

du

stry

Ove

rse

as

Sa

les U

K

Sa

les O

ve

rse

as

No

n-E

U G

radu

ate

retu

rne

d to

stu

d w

ork

at h

om

e

Stu

d in

dustry

Ad

min

istra

tion

TB

Ra

cin

g

In fu

lltime

ed

uca

tion

or e

m-

plo

ym

en

t bu

t wo

rkin

g p

art

time

in s

tud

indu

stry

Un

ab

le to

co

nta

ct

Mo

ved

ou

t of in

dustry

2014 Diploma

Graduates

24@graduation 2 13 1 1 3 1 2 1

Jan 2015 11 7 0 0 3 0 2 1

Jan 2016 15 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 3 1

2015 Diploma

Graduates

21@graduation 9 6 1 0 1 3 1 0

Jan 2016 9 6 0 0 2 3 0 0 1