- What does this mean?
- Who benefits from this service?
- How does this fit into the bigger picture?
- What will EQUK be offering?
- What comes next?
EQUK is proud to partner with the UCAS Outreach Connection Service to improve access to equestrian education for students from underrepresented backgrounds. It means we can now showcase equestrian learning opportunities, making it easier for teachers and advisers to guide students toward relevant courses and careers. This collaboration ensures that equestrian education is visible alongside other higher education pathways, helping to break down barriers and create a more inclusive industry.
What does this mean?
The Outreach Connection Service facilitates outreach and engagement activities across the UK which means that the work EQUK does supporting learners from all backgrounds into equestrian education has been made even more accessible.
It is a time saving tool which offers UK teachers and advisers an efficient way to support disadvantaged and underrepresented students access education. For there to be an equestrian specific service provider listed is a huge step to breaking down systemic barriers that exist into the industry.
We will be using everything we learned during the research phase of developing EQUK to inform and shape these opportunities.
Who benefits from this service?
There are a number of different factors which mean students can benefit from specific opportunities listed on the Outreach Connection Service, which are listed in full here.
Examples of students who will benefit are those who experience socioeconomic disadvantage (such as being in receipt of free school meals); those with personal circumstances which create additional barriers to engagement in education (such as those with caring responsibilities or those who are care experienced themselves) and those who have identity, cultural, ethnicity or community factors which mean they are from groups under-represented in higher and further education. There are a number of other factors too, such as students from rural communities, those with special educational needs, and those who are captured by area based measures of disadvantage such as POLAR4, TUNDRA, IMD, SIMD and WIMD.
How does this fit into the bigger picture?
We know that the equestrian industry has employment gaps which are having a directly negative impact on both horse and human welfare. By facilitating access to equestrian education we are supporting the development of the future equestrian workforce, supporting the next generation of equestrian staff with the skills and knowledge they need to both succeed themselves and advocate for positive change within the wider industry.
EQUK believes that education is the key to ensuring the equestrian industry is able to modernize, diversify, and maintain its social license. By improving access to education in groups which are currently under-represented, we are helping to eliminate poor practice as a result of knowledge gaps. There is real opportunity for the industry to grow and change by promoting inclusion from these under-represented groups: by increasing collaboration, we create space for new ideas and solutions to take shape.
What will EQUK be offering?
For the remainder of the 2024/5 admissions and recruitment cycle EQUK will be offering its bespoke applicant and learner support service via the Outreach Connection Service, which will significantly increase our reach and impact.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 recruitment cycle, we will be working with providers to strategically offer workshops and activities at local riding schools to reach and support those learners who might otherwise not access or not feel supported to pursue equestrian education and careers, because we know that riding schools are the key to grassroots participation.
This is combined by our wraparound support we already offer that is freely available to anyone who needs it: CV development, interview coaching and support, one to one guidance, and many other exciting opportunities which are in development that support the development of equestrian businesses of all shapes and sizes.
What comes next?
The hard work really will begin, as EQUK starts working with education providers who will benefit from our widening participation work through targeted and strategic outreach.
Over the summer months, we will be developing an action plan for the year ahead, and identifying the riding schools across the country who will benefit from our work.
Do you work for an education provider who is interested in the widening participation work of EQUK? Email providers@equk.org to let us know what your goals are, and to arrange a call to find out how we can work together.
Do you run a riding school where you have young people that would benefit from support accessing equestrian education to start their equestrian careers, and are interested in hosting a workshop? We would also love to hear from you. Email hello@equk.org to get started.
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