West Suffolk MP and Minister for Skills, Matthew Hancock, today opens a new learning centre in Newmarket for people working in the horse racing industry.
The centre is being launched by the National Association of Stable Staff (NASS), supported by unionlearn and City of Bristol College. It is based at The New Astley Club (a social welfare charity building links with the racing community) and will provide learning facilities for those working at the heart of the British horse racing industry.
The centre will start off by running 15 week courses covering IT, maths and English, with more courses planned in future. The courses will be based around the times of the stables’ working hours to ensure as many staff as possible can take advantage of them.
The learning centre will join a network of other centres funded through unionlearn, and run by the trades unions, at workplaces around the Country. Further learning centres are being planned by NASS including at Lambourn, Middleham, Malton and Epsom.
Tom Wilson, director of unionlearn said: “we’re delighted to be able to support the first learning centre for staff working in the racing industry and to see the National Association of Stable Staff join the network of learning centres across the country. Lifelong learning is vital for the life chances of employees but also for the health of business and the economy.
“We’re delighted that the minister was able to join us today to support the new facilities and the continued growth of union supported learning.”
New Astley Club Trustee, The Hon Peter Stanley, commented, “ We’re delighted that the Astley Club can now offer this facility to its members and are very grateful for the funding from unionlearn that has enabled us to install the IT Suite.”
NASS Chief Executive, George McGrath, said, “ We’re keen to support racing staff at all levels in their careers and we hope that this new facility at the Astley Club is the first of several around the UK. However, none of this would have been possible without the help of the Club, unionlearn and the team at City of Bristol College.”
