21/09/2024
I don’t usually post my “thoughts” on social media but something I’ve been noticing more and more recently has had me thinking, so here goes…🙈
I keep seeing a lot of equestrian job adverts for yards/riders looking for grooms. Whether it be a day to day groom, yard manager, travelling groom, exercise rider etc.
I also often see the same people/companies advertising and the one thing that I seem to ask myself as a groom (albeit freelance now) is:
“What can you offer me?”
I notice that in most to all adverts they are requiring certain and specific attributes from potential staff eg: hard working, organised, turn out to high standard, be able to drive HGV etc. More often than not, also states (random example) “you’ll be working a 5-6 day week with hours of 7:30-5pm”.
Now the part for me that is missing and I think seems a big put off is that as a company/rider, what can you offer me in return?
If I am willing to work long hours in all weathers, dealing with live animals, often having to work weekends/bank holidays and through festive periods and sometimes missing family events if shows fall on the same date….what do I get in return?
⚫️Paid holiday ?
⚫️Good pension scheme ?
⚫️Over time if at shows or driving through the night ?
⚫️My Birthday off?
⚫️Bank holiday extra pay ?
⚫️Correctly on PAYE with NI and Tax ?
⚫️Accommodation if available ?
⚫️Horse and training available at a discounted cost or no cost at all?
⚫️Adequate breaks and lunch times ?
I’m just finding myself more and more hearing people say “There’s a lack of good grooms out there these days!” But does this come down to the industry not providing staff with the simple statutory rights and perks of a job that can be as intense and demanding of a groom?
Now we all know the Equine industry is a completely different way of life to your “normal job”. Surely though, there needs to be more given to staff in order to make it more appealing and attractive to encourage the younger generation wanting to start in the industry in able for it to survive?
I fully appreciate that not every yard or company/rider is able to adhere to amazing annual salaries with mega bonuses etc. That’s where the saying “ we do it for the love of it” comes in. Yet, there has to be some good perks in other ways to make it sustainable and to lower the staff turn over in many yards!
Freelancers like myself have opted for the change of employed to self employed because you have so much more control over your hours, pay, time off etc but there is so much to be said for working in a team environment everyday if treated well and having a good employer that makes the graft worth while.
So I just think when writing your advert with all your needs from the future employer, maybe have a think about what you can give them in return and state in on the advert to make it more attractive to an employee.
I do also know riders/yards that provide very good “packages” and care for their staff and also struggle with staffing problems so I do see it from both sides!
PS I know this is a very controversial subject and I do not mean to offend anyone or cause an argument on here ❌ Just from a former travelling groom of many years (treated well!) I would like to think this may help people to find staff and jobs alike
British Grooms Association 🐴
