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STEP Equine Programme

Student gallops ahead with help from LEBP!

Blackpool student Gemma Kelly replaced her satchel with a saddle on a work experience initiative organised in association with Lancashire Education Business Partnership (LEBP).

The former year 11 pupil from Montgomery High School, Blackpool, completed the programme after spending one day a week on placement at the home stables of Mike Kidd Horse Power in Wrea Green where she achieved her British Horse Society’s Grooms Award Certificate.

“I’ve always wanted to work with horses, so this was been a perfect opportunity to get a head start in my chosen career.” said Gemma.

This is one of the many work experience programmes offered by LEBP that takes students out of school for up to three days per week and allows them to gain experience in a career or profession that interests them.

We work in partnership with Mike Kidd Horse Power Ltd of Wrea Green to secure opportunities with local stables and yards to support those learners who wish to progress through the British Horse Society’s Grooms Award as part of the Equine programme.

Sara Rigby, Equine Programme Project Officer from Lancashire Education Business Partnership said: “Gemma was a valued member of the team at the stables and has developed from strength to strength, both personally and professionally.

“She grew in confidence and developed an excellent attitude towards all areas of the Groom’s Award Certificate, always striving to better herself.”

Mike Kidd said: “Gemma has gone full circle since I first met her. Her eagerness to learn and work has been exceptional, qualities which are necessary and appreciated in this profession.”

“Gemma worked well through the syllabus. She put in extra hours doing reading and research to get a thorough understanding of the current qualification. All of this was been done voluntarily in her own time, which has been very beneficial to her development.”