Why grooms are leaving the industry
The damning findings of a new survey show more must be done
POOR employment standards are cited as the main reason for grooms leaving the industry, a new survey has revealed.
The British Grooms Association (BGA) surveyed nearly 800 current and former grooms on the factors that made them reconsider their future in the world of equestrianism.
The results show strong links between working relationships and communication between groom and employer and whether employees are happy or considering leaving the industry.
While 61% of the grooms considering leaving said they did not feel able to talk to their employers about issues,
58% of those happy in their career do feel able to speak to their bosses.
More than half of those who have now left the profession (56%) were rarely able or unable to take their annual leave entitlement and 41% said they left due to frustration over their employment rights being ignored.
A third of former grooms left because they were not being paid at least the national minimum wage, which is illegal.
BGA chief executive Lucy Katan said she understands grooming is a life-long career for some and not others, but what the BGA wants to address is those leaving before their time.
“These results are backed up by the Grooms Minds survey (news, 16 November, 2017),” said Lucy.
The Grooms Minds survey found many grooms were not being employed correctly and highlighted the need for change within the industry.
“This [new] survey is the first time we have been able to prove the correlation between good employment and why people stay, and bad employment and why people leave,” Lucy told H&H.
“The good news is that this really does demonstrate if people are employed correctly, there is a very strong chance they are going to stay in the job.”
The survey also found that 74% of grooms who are happy in their career said that being recognised and appreciated for the work they do is of “utmost importance” to them. Similarly, more than half said being appreciated by their boss is particularly important.
Equestrian recruitment specialist Caroline Carter, of Caroline Carter Recruitment and The Grooms List, has more than 15 years’ experience in the equine careers industry.
She stressed that there are many very good equestrian employers, and opportunities within the horse world.
A GREAT INDUSTRY
“THIS is a great industry and
The Grooms List is filling more vacancies than ever before,” she told H&H, adding she has found employers to be “really receptive” to advice and new ideas.
“The survey focuses on what the issues can be, but this is by no means the whole picture [for all employers or employees].”
She added there is a lot of positive work taking place to continue to improve the industry and that people should not be put off from joining.
“What we are seeing is the industry now getting into line with the rest of the employment world when it has operated in a vacuum for a number of years,” she said, adding that there are places grooms and employers can go to for advice or to find someone to mediate in order to reach solutions in a calm, rational and positive way.
“I think the important thing is to get the dialogue going [with employees and employers], keeping it going and having places to go to for advice.”
SOMEONE TO TALK TO
ADVICE for employees and employers can be easily found via the BGA, its sister company the Equestrian Employers Association and equine recruitment agencies, to name a few.
Collaborative working between the racing and sport horse worlds is also helping to support both industries for the future.
For example, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is supporting the BGA through its careers arm and Racing Welfare is collaborating with the BGA on the Grooms Minds helpline.
“The BHA recognises that people who work in racing can start out [in the wider equine industry],” explained Lucy, adding that if the equestrian industry is “forcing people to reconsider their options”, it means that they are unlikely to then go on to choose a career in racing.
‘The industry has operated in a vacuum for years’ CAROLINE CARTER