The HIPB has been awarded $1 million to strengthen the UK horseracing workforce, with initiatives focusing on training, welfare and equality.
The UK’s Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) recently announced that it has secured substantial funding of £759,000 (approximately €890,000) from the Racing Foundation and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The funding is to support a range of workforce initiatives for the year 2025.
The funding comes shortly after the publication of the ‘Our People, Racing’s Future’ strategy, which aims to attract and retain skilled workers in the UK racing and breeding sectors. The aim is to enhance the skills and well-being of professionals in the sector.
Varied programmes for a lasting impact
The funding will be allocated to a number of key programmes, including a pilot project on substance misuse, which includes drug and alcohol testing, as well as educational initiatives in stables and stud farms. This project is being led by the National Trainers Federation, the National Association of Racing Staff and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
Another important programme is the mentoring project, which aims to standardise existing programmes and establish industry standards for mentoring. In addition, workforce analysis and forecasting will be carried out to better understand skill levels in the industry, enabling development opportunities and recruitment priorities to be more accurately identified and predicted.
Some of the funding will also be directed towards the Racing Home project, which seeks to improve working conditions for parents, carers and women in the industry. The HIPB will also continue to fund its jockey coaching programme in conjunction with the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (JETS), the British Racing School and the Racing Staff Development Programme.
Thanks to this funding, the HIPB will be able to strengthen its team by recruiting new experts to key positions. The expanded team will be led by new programme director Jon Pett, who will take up his post in May and oversee the organisation’s three-year plan.
The HIPB added that this latest funding is part of an overall £4.2 million contribution to people-related activities in the UK racing and breeding sectors in 2025.
Positive reactions
HIPB Chair Julia Tyson expressed her gratitude to the Racing Foundation and the HBLB for their commitment to the racing sector.
‘This is a significant additional investment in racing’s people, which will allow us to deliver new activity and accelerate work already underway, with an immediate focus on supporting those in horse-facing roles.’ – Julia Tyson, Chair of the HIPB
Tansy Challis, CEO of the Racing Foundation, also expressed her delight at the opportunity to support the HIPB’s initiatives, saying they align with the foundation’s commitment to industry sustainability.
Alan Delmonte, CEO of the HBLB, added that the board has supported the HIPB since its inception and will continue to do so during the implementation phase of its workforce strategy.