Located near Wells, Burcott Riding Centre is a well-established riding school and livery yard run by partners Nikki Stephens and Bob Andrews. With strong backgrounds in both equestrian sport and professional careers, they bring a wealth of experience to their business – and a clear passion for developing the next generation in the equine industry. We spoke to Nikki Stephens about their experience of taking on apprentices and how it has supported their business.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your history in the industry and your business?
We are Burcott Riding Centre near Wells. Bob Andrews, and I run this medium-sized riding school and livery yard. My background is as a school teacher, although I have always had horses and competed, before taking my BHS exams up to BHSII and later becoming an Ecole de Légèreté (French Classical) teacher. Bob’s background is as a professional footballer and a manager at Western Power. I mainly teach private lessons, with Caroline Wall also teaching the younger pupils.
When did you first start hiring apprentices, and what motivated you to take this step?
We originally had working pupils back in the day, and it seemed a natural progression to start taking on an apprentice. The working pupil route really died out with the advent of college courses, and apprenticeships gave us a new chance to take on a younger trainee.
What benefits have you seen in your business from having apprentices on your team?
The apprenticeship scheme works well for us – we get to choose our apprentice, and the structured training programme. It also helps us to keep up to date with developments in the equine industry. Plus, it’s always nice to have a keen younger person on the yard.
How has your experience been as an apprentice with Haddon Training?
The support provided by Haddon Training has been excellent.
Find out more about are equine apprenticeships and qualifications here.
Are you a business that is looking to hire an apprentice? Please get in touch with us here.
