Groom/Yard Assistant Apprentice in Carmarthen

Coleg Sir Gâr is seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Apprentice Groom to join our Equine staff team based at Pibwrwlyd Campus. The successful candidate will be committed to developing their own knowledge and skills as a Coleg Sir Gar Apprentice whilst working as part of a team to uphold high standards of horse welfare at a BHS Approved establishment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform routine stable duties: mucking out, grooming and exercising fit horses ridden and on the lunge, turning out and catching; exercising horses that cannot be ridden by students.
• Work alongside the grooms in exercising horses and liaising with Equine Groups and individuals hiring the riding arenas.
• Maintain the horses, the yard, riding arenas, surrounding areas, fields and paddocks, equipment, horses’ tack and clothing tidy and in good working order to BHS standards; paying particular attention to security including the closing of gates at the ends of shifts and reporting of any faults or issues as they arise.
• Maintain a standard of dress and wear PPE appropriate to a BHS Examination Centre, setting a good example as a positive role model.
• Support other yard staff with routine treatment of horses when you are on duty e.g. farriery, worming, vaccination, clipping, liaising closely with the Yard Coordinator; ensure completion of appropriate records and communicate to other grooms any treatment carried out using the agreed systems.
• Monitor use of feed, bedding and other consumables ensuring that the necessary paperwork is fully completed, liaising directly with the Yard Coordinator.
• Ensure that records and charts are completed and information is accurate and in sufficient detail.
• Liaise with academic staff to supervise students including those learners with additional needs and work-based learners with the supervision of academic staff or full-time groom to perform routine stable duties; be responsible for learners and health and safety and be aware of the needs and level of competency of all learners.
• Liaise with the other grooms and the Yard Coordinator regarding events occurring during your period on duty ensuring that all relevant information is logged in the diary.
• Liaise with the other permanent grooms during the weekly handover period to agree on allocation of tasks e.g. horses coming in or leaving, specific jobs or activities which will require attention, and that the other grooms are fully informed of incidents such as horse injuries and incidents.
• Monitor the appropriate use of the two arenas when hired out to various Equine Community groups; ensure that the arena surfaces are prepared ready for use by those hiring the arenas and in a suitable condition for college use after the hiring.
• Ensure there is adequate equipment available for the community group to access to clean up throughout the day.
• Ensure college equipment on hire is made available and checked after use.
• Report any losses or damage or misuse to the Stables Manager.

Essential Criteria:

• Appropriate level of physical fitness.
• Good communicator with diplomacy and tact.
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to work harmoniously with colleagues.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Commitment to learning and improving personal skills.
• British Horse Society Gold Membership.
• Willingness to undertake First Aid at Work Training.
• Willingness to drive an ATV.

Desirable Criteria:

• Recent and relevant industrial experience.
• Current driving licence and use of a car.

Job Benefits:

• Extremely generous pension scheme with employer contributions of 20%.
• Award-winning professional learning and development programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Free on-site car parking.
• Online and instore retail discounts.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds and areas of the community to the college. Disability Confident Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion are proud to be a disability confident employer. As a result, we ensure our recruitment process is fully inclusive and accessible to all, communicate and promote all opportunities, anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments, support existing employees who acquire a disability or long term health condition to stay in work, and offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.