The following email was recently brought to our attention. Some of you may have received it already but it is likely to be news to most. Sue Martin of Trent Park Equestrian Centre has been invited to form a steering group to create the standards for an Equine Apprentice within the Trailblazers scheme. This has to be an ‘Employer-led’ initiative – organisations such as ABRS, BEF or BHS cannot be directly involved. If you have Horse Care apprentices in the future this will affect their training and the way you receive funding. If you want to have a say in the changes then please contact Sue Martin now. Time is running out! Dear Employers - Have you ever thought that the present education system is not developing the current generation into a workforce that is adequate for the job? This has been our concern for many years, and now the Government has come to the same conclusion about all industries and is making efforts to remedy the situation! Do you care about the future of training within our industry? Recently I was introduced to Peter Lilley, M.P. and Mathew Hancock MP, Minister for Skills and Enterprise who is responsible for the new Apprenticeship Standards initiative and they have encouraged me to make a difference by forming a steering group to create the standards for an Equine Apprentice within the Trailblazers scheme. This is something that I and many of you will feel passionate about - creating a real, tangible, fit for purpose, on the job qualification that really means something for the future. There are as many questions unanswered as there are answered in the government documents, but the bottom line is that the new Apprentice Standards are designed for employers by employers and they will completely replace the old system by 2017. There have already been two phases involving many industries, which have produced skill sets, and Phase three is about to start. It is vital that we, the Equine Industry, become involved. We are required to form a working group (employers only) and submit an Equine apprentice Training Standard (approx 2 sides of A4) by August 2014. If we dont act now then there will be no possibility of an Equine Apprentice. I am sure that you, as I, do not want our industry to be left out. We need to act now. This radical new employer led approach will allow employers to write the new syllabus and set the final end point assessment; thus showing that the Apprentice, once qualified, is an asset to the profession with a well rounded, transferable education and ready for employment. This shall give us the opportunity to have our say and contribute to building the equine workforce of the future. We need the right people with talent, skills and knowledge of our industry, representing all equine disciplines. So, whether you are involved in riding schools, dressage, show jumping and eventing or Polo, endurance, driving, breeding, racing etc. - we need your help to be part of the working group of employers to formulate the Training Standard for our industry. The Government has acknowledged that once this working party can formulate the assessment and training requirements, we will then be able to produce fit for purpose individuals. I have attached a simple information sheet that gives a brief overview (see attachment) as well as a link to the government website: https://gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287276/bis-14-p194-future-of-apprenticeships-in-england-guidance-for-trailblazers-revised-version-2.pdf We have four to six weeks to draft our initial draft statement of intent. Please get in touch and tell us whether you are prepared to devote some time and be on the steering group, or if you would prefer to just be a supporter of our initiative (we need letters of support from a wide range of sectors) or whether you are not interested. Its going to happen, do you want a voice? If so, get involved in a steering group (Trailblazer steering group) Thank you for your consideration and I hope to hear from you. Sue Martin Trent Park Equestrian Centre Ltd E: info@trentpark W: trentpark T: +44(0)208 363 8630 A: Trent Park Equestrian Centre, Eastpole Farm House, Bramley Road, Oakwood, London N14 4UW
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:58:20 +0000
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