Recruiting, retaining and developing good staff is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing equestrian businesses. A new partnership between LiveryList and Sheldrake Training aims to help yard owners access practical support, explore apprenticeship opportunities and invest in the people who keep their businesses running.
Running an equestrian business has never been simply about horses. Behind every successful livery yard, riding school, stud farm or training establishment is a team of people whose skills, knowledge and commitment are essential to its day-to-day operation.
Yet finding and retaining those people is becoming increasingly difficult.
Recruitment challenges, rising employment costs, skills shortages and an increasingly complex landscape of employment legislation are putting additional pressure on equestrian employers. For smaller businesses in particular, finding the time and resources to recruit, train and develop staff can be a considerable undertaking.
Recognising these challenges, LiveryList is delighted to announce a new partnership with Sheldrake Training, bringing together LiveryList’s established business support and industry resources with Sheldrake’s specialist apprenticeship training and employer support.
The shared aim is straightforward: to make it easier for equestrian businesses to find suitable people, develop their skills and build stronger, more sustainable workforces.
An Industry Facing Growing Employment Challenges
Employment has long been a difficult area for many equestrian businesses, but the pressures are becoming increasingly apparent.
Recruiting people with the right practical experience, knowledge and attitude can be challenging. While there are plenty of people who enjoy horses and aspire to work within the industry, finding candidates who are ready for the demands and responsibilities of a professional equestrian environment is another matter.
Retention presents its own difficulties. The physical nature of the work, unsociable hours, weekend commitments and the responsibility of caring for horses every day can make equestrian employment demanding. Employers need people who are not only capable but who understand the importance of reliability, consistency and professional standards.
Recent industry reporting has also highlighted concerns about the future workforce and employment conditions. Research by the British Grooms Association has identified significant issues affecting those in training and early-career roles, while wider industry research is examining recruitment, retention and skills development. Horse & Hound
For employers, the challenge doesn’t end once somebody has been recruited.
Increasing National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, payroll and reporting responsibilities, pension obligations and changing employment legislation all add to the cost and administration of employing people.
For many yard owners, these responsibilities sit alongside the practical demands of running a business, managing clients, maintaining facilities and, of course, looking after horses.
It is increasingly important that employers have access to the right guidance and support, but also that the industry looks at how it can develop the next generation of skilled equestrian professionals.
Apprenticeships: An Opportunity To Develop Your Own Workforce
One option that more equestrian businesses should consider is taking on an apprentice.
Rather than relying solely on recruiting someone who already has extensive industry experience, an apprenticeship offers the opportunity to bring someone into the business, develop their practical abilities and build their knowledge within the working environment.
For a yard owner, this can be particularly appealing.
You can identify a suitable candidate and help them develop into a valuable member of your team, learning your routines, understanding your horses, becoming familiar with your clients and working to the standards and expectations of your business.
An apprentice is not simply an additional pair of hands. With the right training, supervision and investment, they can become an important part of the business and contribute to its longer-term development.
Apprenticeships also provide a structured route for individuals entering the industry to gain recognised qualifications alongside practical workplace experience.
Sheldrake Training offers equine apprenticeship pathways including Level 2 Equine Groom and Level 3 Senior Equine Groom, with different pathways available to reflect the type of work and responsibilities involved. Sheldrake Training+1
How Sheldrake Training Can Help
Sheldrake Training specialises in work-based apprenticeship programmes and brings considerable experience of supporting both equestrian employers and apprentices.
Its approach is designed to be personalised, recognising that no two equestrian businesses are quite the same. A livery yard has different staffing requirements from a competition yard, riding school, stud farm or racing establishment.
Rather than expecting employers to navigate the apprenticeship process alone, Sheldrake provides support from the outset, helping businesses understand their options, identify suitable candidates and put appropriate training arrangements in place.
This includes:
- Recruitment and candidate matching: Helping employers find an apprentice whose interests, abilities and aspirations are suited to their business.
- Workplace development: Providing structured training that complements the practical experience gained within the employer’s own operation.
- Ongoing coaching: Supporting apprentices as they develop their knowledge, practical skills and confidence.
- Employer support: Helping yard owners understand their responsibilities and what is involved in taking on and supporting an apprentice.
- Progression: Providing opportunities for apprentices to develop their skills further and work towards higher-level qualifications.
Sheldrake has a dedicated equine coaching team with extensive industry experience and has previously placed more than 180 young people into equine apprenticeships across the UK. Its programmes are designed to reflect the practical realities of working within the industry, rather than simply delivering training in isolation from the workplace. Sheldrake Training
For employers, having access to a training provider that understands the equestrian sector can make a significant difference. It means there is someone to turn to for guidance, support and advice throughout the apprenticeship, rather than the yard owner having to manage every aspect of the process independently.
Building A Team That Works For Your Business
One of the biggest advantages of developing an apprentice within your own business is the opportunity to build skills and standards from the ground up.
Every yard has its own way of operating. From feeding routines and turnout arrangements to horse handling, client communication and general yard management, consistency is important.
By bringing someone into the business and supporting their development, employers have the opportunity to nurture an individual who understands how their operation works and what is expected of them.
This can be particularly valuable for businesses looking to expand, introduce additional services or plan for future staffing requirements.
It can also provide a route to developing more experienced employees who may eventually take on additional responsibilities, supervise other staff or progress into management roles.
Importantly, apprenticeships are formal employment and training arrangements, not a substitute for paying staff properly. Employers must still meet applicable minimum wage, contractual, working-time and other employment obligations. Sheldrake can help employers understand the apprenticeship arrangements and support available, but good employment practices remain essential.
Could Government Funding Help Make It More Accessible?
One of the reasons employers sometimes overlook apprenticeships is the assumption that taking on an apprentice will be prohibitively expensive.
However, depending on the employer’s circumstances, there may be government funding and financial support available towards apprenticeship training costs.
The arrangements depend on factors such as the employer’s size, levy status, the apprentice’s circumstances and the applicable funding rules.
This is an area where speaking to a specialist training provider can be particularly useful. Sheldrake Training can help employers explore the funding arrangements that may apply to their business and understand the financial and practical considerations before committing to an apprenticeship.
Rather than ruling out recruitment because of the perceived cost, it is worth finding out what options are available.
Further information is also available through the government’s Apprenticeship Funding Guidance.
Bringing Together LiveryList’s Business Support And Sheldrake’s Training Expertise
The partnership brings together two complementary areas of support for equestrian businesses.
LiveryList has spent more than 15 years supporting the UK equestrian sector, working with yard owners, industry organisations and businesses to improve standards, share information and provide practical resources.
Through the LiveryList Directory and Yard Owner Hub, yard owners can access business guidance, management resources, templates and information covering many of the practical and legal responsibilities involved in running an equestrian establishment.
The Yard Owner Hub’s Good Yard Guide, for example, covers areas including business governance, health and safety, employment, livery agreements, insurance and equine welfare.
Combining these resources with Sheldrake Training’s specialist apprenticeship support provides a more joined-up approach to helping employers develop their businesses and their people.
For yard owners, this means having access to support that extends beyond simply finding staff. It is about understanding how to employ people responsibly, developing their skills and building a business that can operate successfully in the longer term.
Supporting The Future Of The Equestrian Workforce
The long-term sustainability of the equestrian industry depends on having people with the right skills, knowledge and experience to support its businesses.
Encouraging more people into equestrian careers, providing meaningful training opportunities and helping employers develop their teams are all important parts of that picture.
For yard owners who have struggled to recruit experienced staff, an apprenticeship could offer a different approach: finding someone with the right potential and giving them the opportunity to grow into the role with professional training and support along the way.
For those already employing staff, developing existing employees and creating opportunities for progression can also help strengthen retention and build a more capable team.
Cheryl Johns, founder of LiveryList, comments:
“Employment is a significant part of running a successful yard, yet apprenticeships can feel complicated to navigate. By joining forces with Sheldrake Training, we aim to make apprenticeships more accessible to equestrian businesses, helping yard owners understand the opportunities available and take practical steps towards bringing new talent into the sector.
We know how challenging recruitment and retention can be, particularly for smaller businesses. We want to help yard owners look at the opportunities available to them, rather than feeling that finding and developing good staff is something they have to tackle alone.”
The partnership is intended to provide a practical route for employers to explore their options, ask questions and find out what support is available.
Whether you are considering your first apprentice, looking to expand your workforce or wanting to develop someone already working within your business, there is support available.
Better-supported employers. Confident apprentices. Stronger yards. A stronger future for the equestrian industry.
Find Out More
Interested in exploring an apprenticeship for your yard?
Contact Sheldrake Training directly at info@sheldraketraining.co.uk to discuss your business, potential candidates, available apprenticeship programmes and funding options.