Work Experience and young people at work
This section outlines the employer’s legal obligations when hiring individuals under the age of 18 and information on offering work experience placements. Young workers are defined as those who have reached the minimum school leaving age but are under 18. This means they are subject to some specific protections under UK employment law.
Work experience
Work experience is one of the most effective and affordable recruitment tools available to thoroughbred breeding employers. By engaging with young people early on, showing them what stud work is really like, and helping them develop basic horsemanship skills on-site, studs can build a stronger and more stable workforce for the future. This directly supports industry-wide efforts to tackle skills shortages and improve recruitment across the thoroughbred breeding sector.
Why Work Experience Supports Recruitment in the Thoroughbred Breeding Industry
1. Builds a Sustainable Workforce Pipeline The breeding and racing industries are facing significant workforce challenges, offering work experience helps employers introduce young people to the industry early, develop their basic skills and create a pool of motivated potential recruits.
2. Attracts New Talent and Widens Industry Appeal Work experience placements provide positive early engagement, helping students see racing and breeding as rewarding and accessible career options.
3. Reduces Recruitment Costs and Improves Hiring Quality Work experience acts as an extended assessment opportunity. Employers can identify individuals with the right attitude, work ethic and aptitude for horses before offering employment.
4. Enhances Retention Through Realistic Job Insight Students gain a genuine understanding of stud work, routines and daily physical demands. Early exposure reduces future staff turnover by helping individuals decide whether the role and lifestyle suit them before they enter the workforce.
5. Strengthens Industry Reputation and Community Engagement Work experience placements demonstrate that the industry is open, welcoming and invested in developing people.
Work Experience Toolkit
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have developed a Work Experience Toolkit which provides an industry wide practical framework to help studs deliver safe, well-organised and meaningful work experience placements. It covers three main types of activities:
- Hands-on practical tasks such as mucking out, cleaning tack, filling hay nets and basic horse handling, giving students real exposure to stud farm and yard life.
- Structured learning activities including a student diary and workbook covering horseracing, stable management and stud operations, with quizzes to reinforce learning even when staff are busy.
- Work shadowing opportunities, allowing students to observe different roles such as the stud groom, stud hands, a yard manager or stud secretary with minimal disruption to daily operations.
Click the link to open the toolkit which provides support for employers to facilitate work experience opportunities. If you would be prepared to offer work experience to students from schools and colleges, please contact Michelle Douglas on [email protected] or call 020 7152 0020
Young people at work
Hiring young people requires a distinct approach due to their legal protections, developmental needs, and educational commitments. They face strict limits on working hours, tasks, and environments—especially those under 16, who are barred from industrial work, night shifts, and roles that interfere with schooling. Employers must also conduct tailored risk assessments to account for their inexperience and vulnerability, and may need to obtain work permits or liaise with parents.
Despite these complexities, employing young people can be incredibly rewarding. Their enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, and eagerness to learn can bring new energy to the workplace, while offering them meaningful experience helps shape the future of the industry and builds a loyal, skilled workforce for years to come.
The National Stud currently offers an apprenticeship to support the recruitment of individuals straight from school/college. For more information on the courses, visit the National Stud website.
*Please the information provided by the TBA is produced as a guide to members and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. It is not a substitute for individual legal advice and members are recommended to seek advice on their own circumstances from a specialist employment lawyer