THIS is Good Employment

THIS is what Good Employment looks like. BGA, Executive Director, Lucy Katan, writes about a vist to an exceptional employer who runs a yard of #supergrooms...

Yesterday I was invited to visit Wimbledon Village Stables by Carol Andrews and Caroline Stevenson; two inspirational employers.

In the past weeks, there has been a lot of bits and pieces that we have had to focus on surrounding substandard employment.

The BGA makes no apologies that we do spend a proportion of our time working on these important issues, but I genuinely look forward to the day that we don’t have to.

I believe that a day will exist where all grooms are employed just like the team at Wimbledon Village Stables. And also the day that all grooms are BGA members too!

Nestled behind the Dog and Fox pub, (I am a local to Wimbledon so have enjoyed many a glass of vino there….!) the stables really are a hidden gem.

Not just for the horses that are all kind natured, or the quaint yard that is literally squeezed down corridors or Fudge the Shetland who welcomes kids to come and stroke his nose.

Wimbledon Village Stables is a gem for its first-class employment of its team of staff.

Carol runs the business, which has been in her family for 40 years, as a business. That means the staff are employed no differently than every other employee on Wimbledon high street.

Written contracts, pay on the London Living Allowance (this is above the NMW), holiday entitlement, Statutory Sick Pay, maternity leave, career progression, training opportunity, staff socials, annual rewards, team meetings, an approachable management, all make this place an absolute beacon for Good Employment. 

The average staff lifetime is 9 years – that is an outstanding statistic.

No wonder this place has a long list of awards that it has won. Just recently, Poppy Graves won the Haddon Training British Grooms Apprentice Award which her employers nominated her for. 

With a lot of laughter from the team, they even managed to get me on a horse... (a rare thing).

The team are being trained to teach clients on the Equicise, just another example of staff development. 

I then met with Yard Manager, Natasha Moore, who commutes 40 minutes to work, and earns a decent salary.

She has a work life balance and loves her job. “We always finish on time, we are respected members of the team, which really is more like a family. The way we are employed makes us all feel very safe and valued. Carol and Caroline are so very approachable, not the norm. in the equestrian world.”

It was an absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with Carol, Caroline and the team and it gave me hope that one day, all yards will be just like this.

We will continue to strive towards educating both grooms and employers in the importance of Good Employment and hope to share even more good news stories like this in the future, as we see our industry modernise and change.

Image is of Natasha, Poppy and Matt - just some of the Wimbledon Village Stables team. 
 

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS