Thursday 22nd March 2007

Levy Board Renews £692,000 Grant for Education and Training

The Levy Board has renewed its support for racing industry training and education programmes for 2007/08 with a £692,000 grant to the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust.

A sum of £362,500 will go towards training of racing stable staff, supporting NVQ 2 learners at the British Racing School and the Northern Racing College, £28,500 will provide over 60 places on the very successful scheme to prepare equine college students for employment in racing yards, £49,000 will support jockey training through the Hands 'n' Heels series and continuation courses for apprentice and conditional jockeys, £32,000 will be applied to stable staff recruitment and £1,800 to industry health and safety updates.

£218,000 will support the schools Education Programme as it enters the third year of the plan to boost participation from 8,000 school pupils a year to 20,000 by 2010. 11,500 pupils are expected to participate in 2007.

Levy Board Chairman, Robert Hughes said, "The Board remains totally committed to this vital investment in the future of racing. Our industry enjoys comprehensive training opportunities, backed by nationally recognised qualifications, which are essential to its development and success. We fully support the continuing growth of the Education Programme, which simultaneously benefits the industry and the education of school children nationally".