The Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) has secured funding from the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to support the implementation of its immediate programme of activity for 2025.

The funding approval follows the publication earlier this year of Our People, Racing’s Future – an industry-backed strategy to attract and retain a highly skilled and well supported workforce across British racing and breeding.

The Racing Foundation and HBLB have agreed funding grants of £489,929 and £269,438 respectively – a combined contribution of over £759,000 – to ensure initial activity for 2025 can start to be delivered.

These grants will support several new initiatives and provide continuity funding for ongoing programmes of work, including:

• A substance misuse pilot – Building on the work of the Newmarket Substance Misuse Support Network to pilot drug and alcohol testing, education and support in training yards and studs. This work is being led by the National Trainers Federation, National Association of Racing Staff and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
• Mentoring training and qualification pilot – Standardising and aligning existing programmes by introducing an industry-recognised standard for training and qualification in mentoring. Training will be rolled out as part of the Racing Staff Development Programme, with skill-sharing opportunities and peer-to-peer support.
• A workforce analysis and forecast – Developing a better understanding of the industry’s existing skills level, with an initial focus on training yards, to more accurately identify and predict development opportunities and industry recruitment priorities.
• Racing Home (continuity funding) – an ongoing project to improve the working lives of parents and carers, with a particular focus on encouraging and supporting women to work and remain working in the industry.
• JETS jockey coaching (continuity funding) – to support the enhanced training element of the jockey coaching programme while the HIPB works with the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (JETS), British Racing School and the Racing Staff Development Programme to develop an aligned industry approach to coaching and training provision.

Alongside the specific initiatives, the funding will support additional roles in the HIPB programme team, based within the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), with new recruitment into key delivery positions and existing personnel retained to oversee the successful implementation of the three-year strategy.

The bolstered team will be led by newly appointed Programme Director Jon Pett, who will take up his role in early May. Jon has a strong background in sport, having worked in senior leadership and performance director roles at Pentathlon GB, British Cycling and Table Tennis England.

He will oversee the coordination and delivery of the activity identified in the workforce strategy as an immediate priority for 2025, including in the following areas, where work is already underway or soon to begin:

• Expanding vocational training to equip new entrants into the industry with essential skills
• Reviewing and redesigning the trainer licence course
• Developing a rider development pathway
• Strengthening mental and physical wellbeing support services
• Creating and embedding clearer, more consistent employment standards
• Analysing and building data sets to inform ongoing decision-making.

The funding from the Racing Foundation and HBLB forms part of an overall £4.2 million contribution to wider people-related activity across British racing and breeding during 2025.

Julia Tyson, Chair of the Horseracing Industry People Board, said:

“We are very grateful to the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board for providing this vital funding to support the HIPB’s immediate programme of activity for 2025.

“This is a significant additional investment in racing’s people, which will allow us to deliver new activity and accelerate work already underway, with an immediate focus on supporting those in horse-facing roles.

“I am also delighted to welcome Jon Pett to the role of HIPB programme director. Jon is a highly experienced leader, with an impressive background in sport and a strong track record of workforce programme management and delivery.

“He will work closely with the industry people team within the BHA and industry stakeholders as we implement our strategy and start to make a positive and meaningful difference to the lives of racing’s workforce.”

Tansy Challis, Chief Executive at the Racing Foundation, said:

“The Racing Foundation is pleased to support the Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) and its partners with this collaborative grant of up to £489,929. This funding ensures continuity for vital programmes such as the Jockey Coaching Programme and Racing Home, while also piloting new initiatives in mentoring and substance misuse support.

“Supporting these programmes alongside key individuals responsible for delivering crucial elements of the HIPB strategy, in alignment with the British Horseracing Authority, Industry Programme Group and other industry funders, emphasises our commitment to the wellbeing, development and long-term sustainability of the racing workforce.”

Alan Delmonte, Chief Executive of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), said:

“The Horserace Betting Levy Board has awarded grants of up to £269,438 for 2025 to support the Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) staff costs and the ‘Workforce Analysis and Forecast Project’. The Board has supported the HIPB since its inception and has agreed further support during the implementation phase of the workforce strategy.”

Lucy Gurney, Chair of Women in Racing, said:

“We are grateful to the HIPB and the Racing Foundation for continuing to support our work on Racing Home. This important programme of work supports parents in our industry to thrive, through the Racing Home portal (rights, entitlements and more guidance), through podcasts, videos, events and of course the free-to-access return to riding rehabilitation programme. Join us at our WiR Summit at York next month to find out more about the programme. With thanks to Simply Racing who deliver Racing Home and co-funders FDJ United (Unibet) and RWK Goodman.”