Become an Apprentice Groom – a Parents Guide

Everyone likes to keep things simple, and sometimes gathering all the information needed before making decisions and acting on them can be time-consuming. With this in mind, The Grooms List team have put together a simple step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of your son/daughter becoming an Apprentice Groom. From choosing an appropriate course, to finding ongoing employment, The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment will be with you every step of the way.

 

1. Get advice from an Equine Recruitment expert

In order for your son’s/daughter’s Equine Apprenticeship course to be successful you first need to find the right Apprentice vacancy for their needs. Collectively, here at The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment, we have over 20 years of equine recruitment experience specifically. It’s what we do, all day, every day, for all kinds of job seekers, yards and employers. We will be able to chat through and discuss the type of apprenticeship course, yard, employer and vacancy that would benefit your son/daughter, and call on decades of experience to advise you on how to go about finding and securing your son’s/daughter’s ideal job opportunity, whilst helping avoid any mistakes or potential pitfalls in the process. All our services to job seekers are completely free of charge.

Read more about why The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is the go-to place for equine apprenticeships here.

 

2. Search current Apprentice Vacancies

The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is the fastest growing equine job board available today, designed to be user-friendly and effective at it’s purpose.

When looking for your Apprentice Groom Vacancy you need to:

• Establish your basic needs.
  • Location: Your son/daughter may want a live in or live out Apprentice vacancy close to home, or close to family/friends elsewhere, and you can use the filters on The Grooms List Job Board to isolate vacancies in your desired location/s. One important consideration is that, by the nature of the environment, equine yards are very often situated in fairly remote locations. If your son/daughter is not yet able to drive or ride a moped, be sure to chat with the individual employer as to the logistics of getting to and from work/the shops/other local amenities.
    Read more about job locations here.
  • Own horse welcome: Does your son/daughter have a horse to bring with them to the job? Use our “Own horse welcome/possible?” filter to find appropriate vacancies. Read our advice on taking pets or a horse to a new job here.
  • Accommodation: If you and your son/daughter decide it’s appropriate to seek a live in apprentice vacancy, ensure you know the associated laws – read more about accepting accommodation for both the employee and/or their horse here.
  • Read more about negotiating a salary package in the equine industry here.

• Search The Grooms List Job Board and contact potential employers directly. Full, unlimited access to The Grooms List job board is available to job seekers with an approved (free!) Jobseekers Profile. Contact employers directly using the Apply button on the job description or using the contact details displayed with the job vacancy advert.
  • Add a free Jobseekers Profile here.
  • Search The Grooms List job board here.

• Do ensure your son/daughter replies to correspondence from potential employers, even if it’s to reject a potential offer of employment.

 

3. Speak to us about finding your son/daughter a suitable Apprentice Groom vacancy

Not all employers advertise for an Apprentice Groom and there is a wealth of unadvertised opportunities out there waiting for your son/daughter. Once your son/daughter has completed their free Jobseekers Profile on The Grooms List, contact us for advice on finding the right vacancy. With our partners Educ8 Equine we can help source a suitable vacancy for your son/daughter that may not even be advertised yet.

Contact us here.

 

4. Attend interviews and when appropriate accept an offer of employment

It goes without saying that when looking for a suitable apprentice groom vacancy it is very important to have a telephone interview, attend an interview in person and even a second interview before accepting a formal offer of employment.

• A good Equine Recruitment Agency like The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment will be on-hand to discuss and advise on this process.
• It’s a good idea for employees to ask for a job offer in writing and provide a response in writing to prevent complications or possible disputes further down the line.
• Because an Apprentice is an official employment status your son’s/daughter’s employer must issue a Written Statement of Employment Particulars (an employment contract): the Principle Statement no later than the first day of employment and the Wider Written Statement within two months of your son/daughter starting work.
• Apprentices must be offered the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:
  • Payslips
  • Sick pay
  • Paid holidays
  • A Workplace Pension (depending on your child’s age and salary)
  • Any benefits offered such as childcare voucher schemes

We have more information about the process of applying for apprentice job vacancies, attending interviews and accepting a job offer in our Ultimate Equestrian Apprentice Startup Kit.

 

5. Commencement of employment and training

The employer is required by law to ensure your son/daughter receives the necessary opportunities and training they need in order to pass their assessments.

• Training can be given directly by the employer or by a suitably qualified member of staff. Your son’s/daughter’s Training Provider can advise on this.
• Employers are duty-bound to ensure appropriate, regular and scheduled, structured training is provided and this routine must be adhered to throughout the duration of the Apprenticeship course. Dedicated training time must make up at least 20% (8 or more hours each week) and there is no wriggle room on this. If your son/daughter repeatedly finds the yard is too busy to prioritise scheduled training, speak to your Training Provider who can advise further on this.

 

6. Ensure all legal requirements are met

It’s imperative that the employer not only provides a safe and secure environment for your son/daughter to work and train within, but to also be mindful of their development and associated pay-adjustments.

• Providing a safe and secure working environment is an “implied term” of ANY employment contract, and is actually automatically part of a contract even if it is not written down.
• Ensure your son/daughter receives relevant opportunities and pay increases accordingly.
  • Legal pay-rises: Employers must be aware of birthdays, National Minimum Wage increases, and the date your son/daughter starts the second year of their Apprenticeship course so they receive the legal pay increases at the correct times. Read more on how employers must pay an Apprentice Groom here.
  • Paid hours: Apprentice Grooms must be paid for the hours they spend at college – usually 1 in 5 working days or 1 or 2 days every 4-6 weeks.
• As with any employee, the Working Hours Directive applied to Apprentice Grooms, and employers will ensure they adhere to this throughout the Apprenticeship course.

 

7. If things don’t work out with the yard/employer

If things don’t work out as expected and your son/daughter finds themsleves or the employer terminating the employment contract, an alternative employment can be arranged and the Apprenticeship course transferred.

• Communication: First and foremost, speak to the employer about any issues that are arising.
• Advice: If issues can’t be resolved, speak to your Training Provider, who will be able to advise you on the next steps.
• Replace: If the worst comes to the worst and your son/daughter needs alternative employment for the Apprenticeship course to be transferred to, speak to your Training Provider and if necessary come to us. We can help you source a new employment opportunity.

NB: Whilst your son/daughter CAN transfer their Apprenticeship course to another yard and employer they must have valid reasons to do so!

You will find useful pointers of what to your son/daughter should expect, and common highs and lows of moving from having horses as a hobby to making a career with them here.

 

8. Beyond the Apprenticeship

Once your son/daughter has completed their course and gained the desired qualification, they may consider the following points…

• Further training: Look for the opportunity to progress training within the same yard or somewhere new. They can speak to their existing employer about the possibilities or search The Grooms List for a new yard to work on.
  • To go on to complete the next level of their Apprenticeship pathway
  • To go on to follow a different Apprenticeship pathway
  • To consider a Sporting Excellence Study Program
  • See all the levels and options here.
• Continued employment: Your son/daughter may wish to pursue the possibility of permanent employment as a groom on the yard. After all, they know the workings of the yard and they are trained by the employer/their team!
• New employment: Maybe your son/daughter feels ready to find permanent employment in a new yard. To do this they can simply log into The Grooms List, update their Jobseekers Profile to reflect their experience and new qualifications, and start applying for jobs!

Read more about how we help job seekers here.

 

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming an Apprentice Groom see our: