Hound Care and Welfare Apprenticeship

Haddon Training has been working with The Hunting Office to ensure that skills from previous generations of hunt staff are passed on to new entrants.

The Hunting Office is certain that part of the future of all forms of hunting will rely upon the training, education and qualifications for all staff coming into the industry, to ensure animal welfare is maintained to the highest standard in the future. It is important for all hunt kennels to take active participation in the promotion of the education of future generation of hunt staff.

The Hunting Office stresses the importance of the scheme:

“The Apprenticeship gives our future huntsmen the opportunity to receive guidance from experienced members of hunt staff. By living and working in kennels, they understand the importance of hound welfare, improve their hunting knowledge and skill, and also obtain a formal qualification.”

An Apprenticeship offers people the opportunity to:

• access nationally recognised qualifications based on practical work skills.
• have their knowledge and achievements from within the workplace recognised.
• be identified as working to a well-respected national standard in their chosen specialist area.
• leave school at 16 and work in the hunt kennels and earn a wage.

  What qualifications are available?

• Apprenticeship at Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs at A-C grades)
• Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3 in Animal Care (equivalent to 2 “A” Levels)

Chris Hewlett, Managing Director of Haddon Training describes the programme:

“An Apprenticeship provides the knowledge and skills hunt staff need to work in hunt service. The Apprenticeship gives young people a valuable qualification with transferable skills that will enable them to make career progression within the hunting industry. We are now in a position of having Huntsmen who have graduated from the programme, that are now responsible for the training of new applicants; thus investing again in the future of hunting.”

• Employing an Apprentice

  We see an apprenticeship as an equal partnership between the Training Provider, the Learner and the Employer.

  We believe as an employer you should be actively engaged from the beginning to motivate and encourage your apprentice through the programme.

  Our Trainer-Coaches will need access to the apprentice for up to 3 hours once every 4-6 weeks to complete their visit. The employer or a senior staff member will be responsible for contributing to the training the apprentice in the required knowledge.

  Health & Safety

  When employing an apprentice with us, we complete a checklist identifying the legal  and advisory standards that Employers are required to comply with.

  Haddon Training will take reasonable steps to satisfy ourselves that the Employer is doing this, and that the Apprentice/Trainee is working in a safe and healthy environment. For further information, advice and guidance please also refer to the following websites: www.apprenticeships.org.uk or www.hse.gov.uk.

  Safeguarding & Welfare: Learners Living On Site

  Where an Employer offers the provision of accommodation for ‘Young People’ working as Apprentices/Trainees, there is a need to be aware of the raft of legislation that covers Employment, Safeguarding and Accommodation.

  Employers need to understand their legal responsibilities and ensure they are complying with them. This guidance is not a substitute for legal advice, which should be sought on this issue; (BHS members have free telephone access to a Business Support Helpline, or the Equestrian Employers Association).

  Where there are charges for accommodation the following link provides useful advice and guidance on the legislation: https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-accommodation/rates.

  Please click HERE for our Tenancy Agreement Information factsheet.

   

• Financials

  You can pay apprentices the minimum National Minimum Apprentice wage of £3.70 per hour.

   

  Apprentices aged 16-18

  All 16-18 year old apprentices are fully funded by the Government. There is no employer contribution cost to hiring within this age group.

  There is a £1,000 grant that employers receive for taking on a 16-18 year old, this is paid to the employer in two instalments:

  • £500 is paid 3-4 months after taking on the apprentice.
  • £500 is paid on successful completion of the programme.

   

  Apprentices aged 19 and over

  The Government has made it a mandatory requirement for all employers to contribute towards the cost of any member of staff aged 19 and over starting an apprenticeship.

  The employer contribution varies across each sector and each level.

  At Haddon Training we have created an effective payment plan that includes an initial payment to register the learner, and then a series of affordable monthly payments by direct debit over the duration of the apprenticeship.

  There are no Government grants/ monetary incentives for employing an apprentice in this age range.