New strategy announced to improve retention of people working in racing

A new three-year workforce strategy designed to improve recruitment, development and retention of people working within the racing and breeding industries has been announced.

The independently chaired Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) says its plan “sets out a vision for ensuring racing is an attractive, rewarding and fulfilling industry in which to work, where people feel supported to build a career and achieve their potential”.

Julia Tyson, interim chair of the HIPB pinpointed the issue of “consistently over 500 critical vacancies” within racing, citing a statistic that “45 per cent (of staff) are looking to leave within next two years” as well as the sport “losing 50 per cent of female intake within 10 years”, with recruitment “not meeting demand”.

She added: “The work day is long, the work is relentless and always on and the workplace is not what should be expected in the 21st century, so we are in danger of taking our people for granted because of their passion for working with horses.”

The strategy encompasses five main themes, starting with the recruitment of more people with suitable skills, the training and development of new and existing members of the workforce and improving employment practices to help with retention of staff, with “more consistent employment standards and flexible working patterns to meet the evolving expectations of a modern workforce”.

The final two elements are inclusion, to ensure a “welcoming, diverse and respectful working environment” and wellbeing, with an emphasis on mental and physical health provision.

It is hoped average vacancy rates across racing and breeding yards will be reduced from 24 per cent to 10 per cent and work rider retention rates increased by 10 per cent at the end of three years, along with a reduction in the skills shortage and the number of people planning to leave the sport, added to having 50 per cent of the workforce engaged in continuous development.

Trainer Daniel Kubler, who is a member of the HIPB, said: “I’d like everyone to approach the strategy with an open mind.

“I think it presents a huge opportunity for the sport to take a big step forward in the people space. It’s an industry-wide initiative, it’s the first time that’s been done, it follows an extensive consultation process – we had hundreds of ideas and hundreds of people attend.

“Feedback is really important to progress this work and keep going forward. We have had to prioritise on the key things the industry told us were important.

“It’s really just the start as we’re trying to change cultures and attitudes as well as everyday practices.”

A total of 15 “shorter term” activities have been set out under the five themes, including targeted recruitment campaigns, the introduction of an employer quality standard, a review and redesign of the trainer’s licensing course, an anti-sexual misconduct campaign and drug and alcohol testing in the workplace – an initiative which builds on existing work in Newmarket, with an emphasis on education and support.

Kubler added: “It’s not just finding out where there’s problems, it’s about creating a healthier and safer workplace as well as identifying people who need support and being able to give them the support needed to combat any issues they have with substances.”

The HIPB, which includes the likes of ex-jockey Tom Scudamore, Neil Robertson, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Rail and National Association of Racing Staff chief executive George McGrath, envisages collaboration between existing and new suppliers to deliver the strategy.

Tyson said just under £12million is currently spent in this area, with an additional £500,000 proposed for the first year programme of the new strategy which was described as “a level of change the industry can handle” but allows an initial assessment of effectiveness.

She added around a third of their projects are already funded by current resources, a third are “in process” and a third are “to be developed and secured later on this year”.

The British Horseracing Authority’s acting chief executive Brant Dunshea feels the strategy launch is “an important moment for the sport”.

He said: “We have made welcome progress, especially in recent years, to create more attractive, safer, supportive and inclusive working environments for racing’s people. We do recognise we need to do more and do it in a more coordinated way.

“We need to be more coordinated if we are going to tackle the challenges we face, particularly when it comes to recruitment and retaining the talent in our industry that will enable our sport, the people and horses to flourish.”