The Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) in the UK has announced it has secured £759,000 (approximately $1 million) in funding from the Racing Foundation and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to support its workforce-related initiatives in 2025. This funding comes shortly after the publication of the HIPB’s “Our People, Racing’s Future” strategy, which aims to attract and retain skilled workers across the British racing and breeding sectors.
Funding Allocation and Strategic Goals
The HIPB disclosed that the funds include £489,929 from the Racing Foundation and £269,438 from the HBLB. This significant investment will drive a variety of programs aligned with the organization’s commitment to improving the racing workforce and ensuring sustainability within the industry.
Key programs include:
- Substance Misuse Pilot: Aimed at addressing drug and alcohol issues through testing, education, and support within training yards and studs. This initiative is led in collaboration with the National Trainers Federation, National Association of Racing Staff, and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
- Mentoring Training and Qualification Pilot: Designed to standardize mentoring programs and establish industry-wide standards for effective mentoring.
- Workforce Analysis and Forecasting: A new initiative to assess skill levels across the industry, enabling more accurate identification of development opportunities and recruitment priorities.
- Racing Home Project: Focused on improving working conditions for parents, carers, and women in the racing industry.
- JETS Jockey Coaching Program: A partnership with the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (JETS), the British Racing School, and the Racing Staff Development Programme to enhance jockey training and support.
Team Expansion and Leadership
The funding will also enable the HIPB to expand its team by recruiting experts for key positions. This effort will be led by the newly appointed Program Director, Jon Pett, who assumes the role in May 2025. Pett will oversee the delivery of the HIPB’s three-year plan, including:
- Expanding vocational training for new industry entrants.
- Redesigning the trainer license course.
- Developing a rider development pathway.
- Strengthening mental and physical wellbeing support services.
- Establishing clearer, more consistent employment standards.
- Building and analyzing data sets to inform strategic decision-making.
Sector-Wide Commitment
The HIPB noted that this funding is part of a broader £4.2 million investment in workforce-related initiatives across the UK racing and breeding sectors for 2025.
Julia Tyson, Chair of the HIPB, expressed gratitude to the Racing Foundation and HBLB, stating:
“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.”
Tansy Challis, CEO of the Racing Foundation, praised the alignment of these initiatives with the foundation’s sustainability goals, while Alan Delmonte, CEO of the HBLB, reiterated the board’s long-standing commitment to supporting the HIPB from its inception through the strategy’s implementation phase.
With this funding, the HIPB is poised to make significant strides in workforce development and sustainability within the horseracing industry.
