Finding Suitable Candidates | Equine Recruitment

Equestrian Employers Association Employer Conference 2020

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 31st January 2020 News and Updates

Caroline Carter Recruitment is delighted to support the Equestrian Employers Association Employer Conference, on 25th February 2020.

Caroline Carter is a guest speaker at the conference, answering your questions on the staffing challenges with the equine workplace in the session, How to attract, recruit and retain excellent staff.

Caroline says, “I am really looking forward to this conference. It represents a groundbreaking opportunity to eyeball the ‘issues of the day’ surrounding attracting, recruiting and retaining staff. With a recruitment industry ‘in crisis,’ we must all grasp these opportunities to look at strategies which could positively impact change.”

Read on to find out more about this interesting event and its aims…

Brexit – Information for Employers and Grooms in the Equine Industry

Kelly Wallace Horne 29th January 2020 Articles

As Great Britain leaves the European Union at 11pm on 31st January 2020 and “Brexit” dominates our news headlines, what can we expect within the equine industry? As an international recruitment agency, we place many British Grooms in jobs within the EU, and many EU citizens into jobs within Great Britain, so… what about information for Employers and Grooms in the equine industry?

New Years Resolutions for Equine Employers: How to ensure a strong start to 2020

The Grooms List Team 30th December 2019 Employers

The early part of the year can be one of the busiest times in equine recruitment. The blank canvass of the new year stretches ahead, full of potential, promise but let’s face it, sometimes dread to as finding good staff these days can be somewhat…er…challenging, to say the very, very least! Having the right team around you to fulfil that potential is paramount to any person’s (or business’s) success. As equine workers resolve to move on at the start of the year, January is a prime time to assemble that team. To help you make the most of this busy period we’ve put together a quick guide to the key points – if you like, some New Years’ Resolutions for equine employers!

Tips for Employers on Managing Job Applications

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 20th September 2019 Employers

There is more to managing job applications than you might think. The whole point in advertising a job vacancy is to receive applications from job seekers yet, once they start to come in, many employers lose out on their ideal candidate by making simple, easy to make errors when managing them. As seasoned recruiters, we regularly see or receive feedback from employers on the way they approach their job applications and, in turn, we see what works for them and what doesn’t. Here, we put together the do’s and don’ts of managing job applications.

HELP! Why can’t I fill my equine job vacancy?!

The Grooms List Team 22nd August 2019 Employers

Sometimes your recruitment drive gets stuck in a rut and needs a shove in the right direction to get things moving and pick up the momentum needed to fill an equine job vacancy. This is where The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment can help. The Grooms List seems to be the ‘go to’ equestrian recruitment agency these days for the majority of savvy employers and little wonder with over 20 years experience in FILLING EQUINE JOBS which is at your disposal when you subscribe to one of our recruitment packages, either our DIY website package or our bespoke equine recruitment services. This article is written specifically for employers using a DIY website recruiting route who, sometimes, can find themselves at an impasse finding suitable candidates and receiving applicants from appropriate job seekers.

Making and accepting a job offer – the do’s and don’ts!

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 4th July 2019 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Sometimes, making and accepting a job offer can be somewhat rushed and not treated with the formality it really does require. Whilst it’s a huge relief to have reached this stage, it is by no means the end of the process! There is still time for things to unravel and go wrong, and sometimes badly wrong, which it’s why it’s so important for both employers and job seekers to approach this stage with care and to put aside a little quality time to get it spot-on! Read our guidance on making and accepting a formal job offer…

What happens when a job offer is withdrawn?

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 4th July 2019 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Offering and accepting a job offer can be a time of mixed emotions – happiness, relief, anxiety, and even confusion in some circumstances. But occasionally things go wrong when they’ve barely begun and the job offer is withdrawn. Where do employers and job seekers stand when a job offer/acceptance is withdrawn?

Pre Employment checks – Understanding a Driving Licence

Caroline Carter 30th September 2018 Employers

Many employers need their prospective employee to drive a car, tow a trailer, drive a tractor, a horse box or HGV lorry and, rather like reference checks, don’t always bother checking an individual’s licence for what they are legally able to drive, or even if they have any points or disqualifications. You need to know who is going to be doing the odd school run for you, transporting your horses, driving your tractor etc. Do yourself a favour, grab a strong coffee, take the phone off the hook for 10 minutes and have a read of this!

Pre-Employment Checks – References

Caroline Carter 21st September 2018 Employers

As we all know, recruitment is an inexact science and pre-employment checks such as securing valid and recent references gives us important information that helps us to decide if a candidate is suitable for a particular role.

Over the years I have taken references on behalf of thousands of employers and prospective employees as part of delivering bespoke recruitment services. This has lead me to have many positive, long-term placements and via the same established processes of due diligence, I have also diverted my clients away from certain disaster on more than one occasion!

Interestingly these days many grooms, having known me through their careers, give me as a reference to their ‘journey.’ Similarly, and not infrequently, employers will ask me for information about a particular prospective employee and of course, where I can fairly and legally comment, I do.

Over the years, more especially in the equestrian recruitment environment, I have been struck by how many employers who recruit for themselves or via other routes don’t seem to bother taking up references, opting instead to completely ignore these critical pre-employment checks just hoping for the best; many seem to live to regret this omission sooner or later…

How an Apprentice Groom can benefit YOUR yard

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles, Employers

The Grooms List Apprenticeships Zone - How an Apprentice can Benefit Your Yard

In so many of the blogs and articles we write for equine employers, we find ourselves referring to common difficulties when sourcing, securing and retaining good equine career grooms. It’s reasonable to conclude the pool of experienced grooms wanting to remain working with horses and available to yards is diminishing as the years pass. Trainee grooms, including apprentices, are a lifeblood of the equine industry and the ins and outs of employing them need much more consideration than they currently get.

Taking anyone on as an employee is a big responsibility with plenty of legislation to adhere to along associated pitfalls, so it’s very tempting to aim to keep things simple by seeking to only take on employees with experience and a solid employment history. Not only could you find this attempt to keep things simple actually complicates your recruitment drive, as you struggle to attract and secure established, experienced career grooms in what is undeniably a very competitive recruitment market for employers, but by shunning the notion of taking on an apprentice, quite simply, you could be missing out!

A Sneak Peek at an equine Grooms Wishlist…

The Grooms List Team 26th August 2018 Employers

Last week we took a sneaky peek at an equine employers ‘wish list’, this week we thought we would do the same (only fair!) to give those employers who might need it, a gentle nudge towards a better understanding of what grooms are looking for when they make a job move. It is surprising how often we come across bewildered employers wondering why they are still groom-less months down the line. Apart from the fact that the reality is that good grooms are in really short supply, often on further investigation into the job vacancy details the reasons can be somewhat closer to home….

5 tips for a successful equestrian recruitment employer:agency relationship

Caroline Carter 17th June 2018 Employers

5 rules of successful equestrian recruitment client-agency relationships - get the results you want

In my experience, most employers want to find an equestrian recruitment agency with whom they can form an enduring relationship to weather the storm we all find ourselves in currently. But this isn’t always that straightforward. Following are five tips to building a strong relationship from the moment you have decided to entrust your job vacancy with Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd and our services, including The Grooms List.

Employing an Apprentice Groom – Grooms of the Future Part 1

Kelly Wallace Horne 11th May 2018 Articles, Employers

Trainee grooms, including apprentices, are a lifeblood of our industry and the ins and outs of employing them needs much more consideration than they currently get – the yard junior, the trainee and of course the official and safeguarded version of the working pupil, the apprentice groom, are the future. What we all invest today could reverse the sometimes depressing current trends in the industry for tomorrow. If you are sitting comfortably with a large glass/cup of whatever keeps you awake and concentrating, please do read on. We hope you will be glad you did and that you will share this info to anyone you think might benefit from it – THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY DESPERATELY NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

5 Top Tips for Finding a Good Groom

Caroline Carter 30th March 2018 Employers

Finding decent equine staff in this very tough equestrian recruitment market is not easy, it can be very time-consuming, costly and not least of all incredibly frustrating. Trust me, after 15 years as a professional equine recruitment specialist, I know! Follow my 5 simple tips to get the best out of your equestrian recruitment drive – save yourself time, a considerable amount of money, and an awful lot of headaches!

10 steps to successfully recruiting a Super Groom!

Caroline Carter 2nd March 2018 Employers

10 Steps to recruiting an everyday Super Groom

This article is designed to share just a few useful hints and tips if you are about to embark on filling an equine job vacancy, or for those who have been looking for a time and don’t feel they are making the progress they should be. I have recently fulfilled a long-held ambition to sponsor the British Grooms Association in all they do on behalf of the grooms. We work closely with the BGA but independently we have published a lot of very supportive articles/blogs which are being shared far and wide and which promote change with well-researched advice and views on current issues. So, this week we start to turn our attention a little to the other side of this equation, the employer. Employers get tired of hearing “it’s a groom’s market” right now, I know I seem to say it several times daily, but really, it is. Here I will share with you some of the benefits of my many years as an equine recruitment consultant…

About Freelance Grooms and Freelance Groom Jobs

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 23rd February 2018 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Ever wondered who and what Freelance Grooms are, or are you considering setting yourself up as a Freelance Groom? The appeal of a working life flitting from yard to yard, meeting many, many new horses (and people of course!) is understandable but is this perception realistic? You know that according to British Grooms Association guidelines there is no such thing as Freelance Groom jobs? So how does that work? In this article, Kelly Wallace Horne has put together a go-to guide of facts and info, including some of the real considerations that Freelance Grooms or anyone wanting to become a Freelance Groom should be aware of, not to mention some of the semantics associated with this title which can really matter when it comes to employment law and the taxman…

How to negotiate a salary in the equine industry

Caroline Carter 8th January 2018 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

There are of course many factors which influence the longevity and success of any working relationship. Between grooms and employers, none of these are more hotly debated these days than that of grooms’ salary and the general package. You don’t have to look too hard on social media to see the disgruntled outpourings from all sides and every day I have conversations which clearly demonstrate much is still left to be done for this situation to become resolved. I don’t pretend to have an answer as to how we raise the income levels of this particular sector, (which is in many ways is similar to many of the “caring professions”) but I believe how and when the topic of salary and terms is covered within the whole interviewing process, if addressed, could have a positive impact on the longer term security of those involved.

In this article, I give both grooms and employers my advice on laying the foundations of long-term, happy, healthy and successful employment.

Why use an Equestrian Recruitment Agency?

Becky Parker 21st October 2017 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Finding your way through the minefield that is job hunting is a tricky task. Some may liken it to the proverbial hunt for a needle in a haystack, but No! let’s not bring that kind of negativity here. Undeniably there are many shady employers around but equally, there are still quite a few good, generous, kind-hearted and appreciative ones too. Becky Parker outlines the role we play in the recruitment process of both employers and jobseekers in the equestrian industry.

How to write an effective equine job vacancy advert

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 20th October 2017 Employers

Advertise-an-equine-job-vacancy-The-Grooms-List-by-Caroline-Carter-Recruitment-Ltd

Finding and employing a new member of staff for your yard can be a daunting prospect, with so many possible routes to consider and potential pitfalls along the way. Whichever route you choose, to stand the best chance of success you are going to have to write an advert for your job vacancy. To help you out, Caroline Carter Recruitment has put together a suggestion for the recipe to a good job vacancy advert. This will not only help you not only attract equine jobseekers, but will help you to define your needs and your wishes regarding your next equine employee.

Featured Job Vacancies

JL64363 Berkshire – Groom/Rider (optional) required by Top Dressage Yard.

Bexley Stud

Live in Berkshire, UK

Groom required for Professional Dressage Yard. We are looking for a groom to join a friendly team in a live in position at our yard based in the beautiful Henley-on-Thames. Our ideal candidate should have excellent attention to detail, yard experience and be confident in working in a professional environment with horses at varying levels. You don’t need previous Dressage experience, so candidates who’ve worked in other disciplines are welcome to apply. Duties include (but not limited to) yard and stable tasks such as feeding, mucking out, tack cleaning etc. We would prefer someone who is confident and able to hack out. The successful applicant will be provided with their own accommodation (non-shared, on-site flat with all bills paid), 5 1/2 day week, 28 days paid holiday. Salary negotiable depending on experience.

JL67922 Surrey – Groom/Trainee Groom (Riding optional) for sports horse competition yard.

Ideal Sports Horses

Live in Live out Surrey, UK

*Single self contained accommodation on the yard. *Own horse welcomed *5 or 6 day week negotiable Job Description We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard working person to join our yard. We are a competition yard with a variety of horses including event horses, young horses for breaking and producing and some for sale. The role would include all general yard duties. Some riding for the right person if desired though not essential. Some competition prep and travel to training and competitions if desired but not essential. Minimum Requirements No minimum requirements, if you are enthusiastic and have a desire to learn then we are happy to teach you! Equally we would be happy with applications from more experienced candidates. Accommodation details Single self contained accommodation on the yard. Benefits

JL76058 Doha, Qatar – Farrier Required.

Al Samriya Riding School

Live in Qatar

Privately-owned equine farm established in 2007 and located in Al Shahania, an area 30 km from Doha, we pride ourselves for being in a unique location with access to fields, arenas and tracks where riders can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Oryx reserve, farm and FBQ Museum set as an old Arabian Fort. We are looking for an experienced farrier capable of delivering the highest-level farriery care to our riding school and livery horses Qualifications: Must be DIP WCF certified with at least 3 years- experience. Ideally to have experience treating lamainitic horses and remedial farriery skill. Reports to ASRS Operations Manager Scope of work: make horse welfare your first consideration in seeking to provide the most appropriate attention for horses committed to your care including due regard to a safe working environment to be able to coordinate with Stable manager and manage a large shoeing schedule Be Physically fit and capable of treating 8 horses per day; even in high temperatures. ensure that all horses under your care are treated humanely and with respect maintain and continue to develop your professional knowledge and skills uphold the good reputation of the farriery profession recognise the limits of your professional competence be honest and trustworthy communicate openly with clients and be professional at all times foster and maintain a good relationship with your clients, earning their trust, respecting their views and protecting client confidentiality foster and endeavour to maintain good relationships with your professional colleagues respond promptly, fully and courteously to complaints and criticism and understand and comply with your legal obligation. Must hold a clean driving license as may be required to shoe horses off site To comply with Qatar’s laws and cultural values. Please send CV and salary expectation

JL76149 Bucks/Oxon borders – Live Out Apprentice Groom or Groom/Rider for professional Show Jumping Yard

Aston Park Stud

Live out Oxfordshire, UK

SHOWJUMPERS/RACEHORSES OXON/BUCKS BORDERS *Ideal first or second job *Own horse welcome *Riding optional *Groom at top shows *Pay above NMW A wonderful opportunity for a cheerful, enthusiastic person to join an experienced professional team as an Apprentice Groom or Groom/Rider (riding is entirely optional, subject to a minimum standard). Ideal first or second job, with the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications in the equine industry via a Level 1, 2 or 3 Apprenticeship. This is a professional yard with 10 horses: 8 horses ranging from yearlings to Grade A Show Jumpers plus 2 retired horses. You will be joing two full time members of staff, plus part timers who help out where necessary. The job will entail all usual daily yard duties, plus the opportunity to learn show turnout and to groom at Show Jumping Shows. If you have a horse you are welcome to stable it at the yard. Friendly dogs are welcome by prior arrangement. The salary will be higher than the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices. The succesful candidate is welcome to start soonest but the employer is happy to wait until after Christmas if you prefer.

JL73771 Somerset. Experienced high class groom/rider for maternity cover on an International Showjumping yard,

Nuttall Equestrian Ltd

Live in Somerset, UK

Job Description We are looking for someone to cover maternity leave over the next 5 months (possibility of extending employment). The job will involve riding fit competition horses ranging from young horses to Grand prix level, flat work and over poles. All yard and stable duties including clipping etc.. Good communication skills with sponsors and owners. We are looking for someone who is reliable, organised and hardworking and has experience at the level required for this position. References will be required. Accommodation details Shared accommodation with one other member of staff. Benefits Free accommodation. Training

JL54449 Surrey Groom/Rider Competition Livery Yard

Thundry Farm Livery & Training Yard

Live in Surrey, UK

Job Description This role is working in a competition livery yard run by a BS Accredited Coach. The job involves all normal stable duties, the exercise of competition horses and travel to shows. You must have: worked in the industry already, have practical knowledge of stable management, horse health and the ability to ride fit powerful horses competently, hacking or in the school. Most horses are 16 -16.1 so we require a lighter weight person at this time. It would be a good role for someone who has finished an apprenticeship and is looking for their first ‘proper’ job. Equally, we would welcome someone more experienced. Somebody who showjumped would also benefit from the opportunity of having their own horse on the yard, training and going to shows with us. You should: be happy to work within a team in a structured environment, prepared to work efficiently with safety in mind, like things to be organised, clean and tidy with attention to detail, have a keen interest in the training of horses both ridden and on the ground. Our horses are treated as individuals and all our grooms must have their welfare at heart and be prepared to work with a level of detail when caring for the horses. Your role will require you to maintain the high standards of the yard if the Owner is not present. This is a full time position 5.5 days a week 7:30 – 17:30. You will be expected to groom for up to six horses, and on occasions take sole charge. You will work alongside two other full time grooms, who are hard working, love horses and are easy to get along with. Accommodation details The accommodation is a modern brick built bungalow. It has three bedrooms with ensuite shower rooms, and a open plan kitchen and sitting room. All furnished. It is heated by electric radiators. The kitchen has a full cooker, fridge, freezer and microwave. Within the yard there is a washing machine and tumble dryer. All cleaning products, washing powder and toliet roll – are provided. Own Horse. As a dedicated horse person we recognise that you may want to have your own horse. We also recognise that if you are committed to that horse it makes being committed to the horses here more of a challenge, if it is not on site. On a regular basis we do not finish later than 17:30, however show days or vet emergencies will mean longer days. Having your own horse at a different location then becomes a conflict and can be very tiring. Therefore we can offer the right candidate the opportunity to have a horse on Staff Livery. The groom start 30 minutes before work so they can tend to their horse and make up some of the time that they will spend on the horse within the day. The horse can be worked and groomed within the working day in the same way the other horses on the yard are. One

JL72896 Devon – Home showjumping groom

Justin tuff

Live in Devon, UK

Job Description home groom for showjumping yard in devon , needing an experienced and reliable person to join our team happy looking after fit competition horses and to be in charge if we are away horses competing national and internationaly , purpose built yard set in 30 ac family run yard we would love someone looking for a long term job our great home groom is now our show groom so having to replace her Minimum Requirements Must have previous experience working with fit competition horses , happy turning out lunging , etc Accommodation details Shared flat on yard Benefits Happy for you to bring your own horse

JL76068 Scotland. Assistant Equestrian Manager,(riding optional).

Kilgraston School

Live in Anywhere

Job Description Scottish School’s Equestrian Centre is looking for an Assistant Manager to join the team. This is the only school in Scotland with equestrian facilities onsite, housing up to 25 horses between the riding school and livery yard and are hoping to become BHS approved in 2021. This is an exciting role for an experienced and qualified coach, who has experience of working with young people and enjoys a varied working day. The successful applicant will ideally be a BHS Level 3 coach (or equivalent) and be a responsible individual who can supervise a small team in the manager’s absence whilst delivering excellent customer service and the best care to our team of riding school horses and liveries. Equestrian Assistant Manager Role Profile: • Tuition in all aspects of riding and stable management • Implementation of yard routine and regular ‘hands-on’ yard duties including mucking out, clipping, feeding etc. • Assisting in management of equestrian staff and volunteers, including delivery of BHS Stage 1 + 2 course work and assessment preparation • Grassland management and maintenance. • Organisation of vets, farriers and feed deliveries. An attractive package, including use of school facilities, regular CPD training and the possibility of both onsite accommodation and livery for own horse is available. The successful applicant will on occasion be the senior staff member overseeing the Centre and the role will include some evening and weekend shifts. Applications close 20.11.20 Minimum Requirements BHS Level 3 coach/ UKCC L2 Accommodation details Accommodation is available onsite Benefits Possibility of bringing own horse, regular CPD and exam training

JL76066 Gloucestershire Yard Manager. :) Something different :)

Jive Pony UK

Live in Gloucestershire, UK

Job Description We are a small family run yard with 6 winter liveries ranging from DIY to full. We are passionate about using positive reinforcement with all our clients and our own horses. I am head of the horse department for a well known Gloucestershire Based Circus and train the new horses for the coming season from our yard throughout the winter. In the winter I will be working on the yard with you, mainly concentrating on the training and riding of the horses. The job is six days a week in the summer and five and a half days in the winter. All the work can be done in roughly 6 hours a day so plenty of free time for your own projects or studying. Our year is split into two season. In winter most of the work is standard yard work, turning out, getting in, mucking out, hay nets, poo picking and riding out (min twice a week). In the summer most of the horses live out except for one retired Highland pony who’s laminitis needs managing. (Turn out pen grazing muzzle etc) The summer requires more field and fly maintenance (poo picking/and fly masks etc) a little bit more riding and also the managing of our mini circus wagon air B&B. Preparing the space showing guests in and out etc. You will be working the yard on your own during the summer season, except for the DIY’s as I will be working away on tour with the circus. You must be confident and happy to handle all types of horses, most of ours are cold bloods but they can be lively. The ability to think for yourself, and do the job with care, kindness and a positive attitude essential. We are a happy little yard with a passion for what we do and we are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for high standards and continued learning. Minimum Requirements Minimum contract would be year after a months trial. Accommodation details The position is full time live in. The accommodation is a double glazed, central heated 2 bedroom mobile home situated with in a barn, water and electricity included. If required we have space for you to bring one, (well behaved!) horse or pony. Benefits Opportunities to learn positive reinforcement training, also opportunities to work on set and in be in a show environment.

JL76038 Oxfordshire – Head/Travelling Groom and exercise Rider for Professional Eventing yard.

Attington Sport Horses

Live in Oxfordshire, UK

Job Description Fantastic opportunity to head a professional eventer’s yard based in Oxfordshire Minimum Requirements Must be capable of: All normal stable duties, handling fit competition horses, exercising/lunging, managing a busy yard, being a team player, good communication and honesty, 5* turnout to include plaiting and clipping Accommodation details Onsite cottage, sharing with 2/3 others. Wifi, bills etc included Benefits Excellent salary/package for the right experienced candidate, travelling to 5* competitions. Top of the range facilities

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