NATIONAL HORSERACING COLLEGE - Key Persons

Aimee Collins

Job Titles:

Member of the Admin Team
Course Admin Assistant

Aimee completed her degree in Media and Management at Leeds University. She then lived in Australia and New Zealand for 3 years working and travelling. When she returned Aimee started working in recruitment. She was an external recruiter for around 3 years for a number of different roles and then moved into internal recruitment for a large academy chain which she did for 5 years. After that Aimee started working for the National Horseracing College processing all the information and new learners for the Level 1 Foundation Course.

Amanda Butler

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Equine Studies Lecturer ( DEC )

Amanda has also competed on her own Connemara stallion, as well as training others to the highest level in the show ring. She has sat several assessments to become a Listed Panel Judge on several Affiliated showing societies also representing the UK in Ireland at many shows. Amanda is passionate about learning and her aim is to continue to pass on her knowledge and experience to others and help map the future for young people.

Amelia Williams

Job Titles:

Member of the Marketing Team
Digital Marketing

Anna Kirkland

Job Titles:

Roving Tutor

After following racing from being small Anna started her career in the horseracing industry working for a small breeder/prep yard before moving to Newmarket and completing the National Stud Diploma. From there Anna worked for Peter Player of Whatton Manor Stud before working down in Shropshire for Heather Dalton for several seasons riding out every morning and going racing. She continued her love of the sport back at home riding out point to pointers before moving up north where she has now been for many years, to an event and pre training/rehab yard, grooming in the UK and abroad. Also prepping several of her own horses for Doncaster Bloodstock sales with some success along with retraining horses retiring from the track and rehabilitation for horses with long term injuries.

Beverley Harris

Job Titles:

Member of the Residential Team
Residential Worker

Beverley joined NHC in July 2021. Whilst continuing her full-time career in the Ministry of Justice, Beverley works occasional shifts at NHC as part of the Residential Team. She brings to the team over 40 years' work experience, the last 21 of which have been in the Civil Service including working with young people in a residential setting. Beverley is keen to ensure that Learners who come to NHC have a safe, secure and enjoyable experience and feel supported as they enhance their learning and development.

Bronwynn Slater

Job Titles:

Member of the Residential Team
Lead Residential Supervisor

Bronwynn has worked with young people in a variety of settings for 21 years the last 5 years have been here at the NHC. Prior to joining the team at NHC she worked for 10 years in Public Health and 11 years with youth services. Qualifications include a Post Graduate Certificate in Systemic Family Therapy, BA in Health & Social Care Management , Diplomas in Applied Health Promotion and Advice and Guidance and a Certificate in Education. Bronwynn has also completed a number of counselling courses and holds various health and safety and first aid certificates.

Callum Helliwell

Job Titles:

Trustee
Researcher at Sky Sports Racing

Callum is a researcher at Sky Sports Racing. He is a graduate of the British Horseracing Development Programme which included a three-month placement at Great British Racing, racing's official marketing and promotional body. Callum has been riding since the age of five and has also worked at Goffs UK as a Bid Spotter whilst also spending time at studs in both Newmarket and New Zealand. In May 2021 he was featured in the Sky documentary ‘The Uncomfortable Race' where he voiced concerns about racing being inaccessible to people from ethnic-minority backgrounds. Callum became a Trustee of the NHC in 2021.

Claire Edmunds

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Senior Training Instructor

Claire's career in the horseracing industry began in 1986 when she attended the 12-week foundation course at National Horseracing College (previously known as the South Yorkshire Training Trust), however, her passion and love for racehorses and the sport began much sooner. Claire was brought up around racehorses; both her Grandfather and Father were jockeys before becoming racehorse trainers when their riding careers ended, so horses and racing were always going to be in her blood. In 1989 Claire became an Apprentice Jockey and was fortunate enough to ride 17 winners and many placed horses, which at that time was a good achievement for female apprentice jockeys, as they were few and far between at the time. Racing took Claire to Ireland for 2 months where she rode out for John Oxx, and she enjoyed a winter in Italy where she rode in half a dozen races, with no winners but it was a great experience. After Claire decided to hang her race riding boots up in 1996 she then became more interested in the daily running, organising and training of racehorses, and she became Head Girl and then Assistant Trainer for her father John Balding, during this role she continued to develop her knowledge and skills and achieved the Level 3 Diploma in Racehorse Care and Riding. In 2009 Claire began to do part-time work at the NHC, this was mainly covering the evening stables sessions, however, Claire was soon put through in-house training and also attended external courses which developed her skill set, and she soon became one of the qualified members of the Instructor team. The qualifications Claire has achieved whilst at the NHC include:-

Clare Walker

cl..@thenhc.co.uk

Job Titles:

Key Staff Member
College Counsellor
Counsellor for Open Minds Doncaster

Clare joined the NHC in September 2021 as the College Counsellor. She has worked with young people and families for almost 20 years in a variety of roles at Doncaster Youth Offending Service. A team that sits within the Social Care Services and is governed by the Youth Justice Board. Her previous role was a Restorative Justice Practitioner which involved bringing the victims of crime and young people responsible into communication, which enabled everyone affected by the incident to play a part in repairing the harm done and finding a positive way to move forward. Clare is also a counsellor for Open Minds Doncaster, working with children, young people and adults presenting with a diverse range of mental health issues. Her qualifications are Level 4 in Therapeutic Counselling and BA Hons in Counselling Solutions. She is fully insured and a Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Colonel Stephen Padgett - CEO

Job Titles:

Chief Executive
Key Staff Member

Colonel Stephen Padgett OBE became Chief Executive of The National Horseracing College in July 2015 after a fulfilling 36 year career in the British Army. A desire to pursue a second career in an exciting, interesting environment with people who are passionate about what they do, led him to his current role. The Colonel relishes his responsibility for ensuring the success of the College as a training provider which requires also that it thrives as a business and continues to develop. He believes passionately in the importance of the role the NHC plays in providing life-changing opportunities for people joining or progressing their careers in horseracing and in other equine environments also. He is very proud of and considers it a privilege to lead the College's talented, highly motivated team, adding tremendous value locally, nationally and with international partners. He is deeply committed also to working closely with other key industry stakeholders on strategic efforts to continue to develop and progress racing as a whole. In addition to his role at the NHC, he is chairman or trustee of several charities.

David Fernandez

Job Titles:

Lead Skills for Life Tutor

David Griffiths

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Training Instructor

Dr Helen McCarthy

Job Titles:

Trustee

Helen joined the Board in 2021 to give challenge and share expertise from an educational perspective, functions that were known to be missing from the Board previously. Helen is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science and Anatomy at Cardiff University and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She has a significant background in horses both professionally and personally; she gained her PhD from Liverpool Veterinary School and was subsequently a post-doctoral researcher at Cardiff University investigating a novel method of treating damaged cartilage in the horse. Helen has also worked in the racehorse industry and currently owns an ex-racehorse herself.

Emma Cassidy

Job Titles:

Key Staff Member
Work Based Learning Manager

Emma worked in racing from the age of 16 where she started in a pre-training yard just outside Newmarket. After learning the basics of racehorse care and riding she then worked for various trainers in the UK and in Greece and Australia. Emma loved going racing and worked with some very nice horses throughout her time in racing. Emma held an Arabian Racing Organization license for 3 seasons and rode 1 winner and several placed horses in this time. Emma left racing to work as an instructor and taught at the NHC for 3 years before changing roles and working as a Roving Tutor for 8 years throughout the UK. She then left the NHC to gain management experience but returned in 2020 as the Work Based Learning Manager where she now manages the team of Roving Tutors in apprenticeship delivery. Emma has 6 horses of her own at home in Caerphilly, South Wales and enjoys competing and hacking out with her young daughter.

Francis Stephenson

Job Titles:

Trustee

Gemma Morris

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Assistant Yard Supervisor

Gerry Sutcliffe - Chairman

Job Titles:

Chairman
Trustee

Gerry was a member of Bradford City Council from 1982 to 1994, serving as the council's leader from 1992 to 1994. He represented Bradford South as its MP from 1994 to 2015, during which time he served as Minister for Sport and Tourism under the leadership of Gordon Brown from 2007 to 2010. He joined the NHC Board of Trustees as Chairman in April 2017.

Haydn Cahill

Job Titles:

Member of the Marketing Team
Engagement Assistant

Haydn comes from a sporting background, but not one surrounding the horseracing industry. Haydn's background is football, and in 2012 he moved to the United States of America on a football scholarship after being picked up at a semi-professional level that involved playing and studying in States New Jersey, and California. Haydn returned to England to focus his attention on teaching his subject specialism, as he attained both his BA (Hons), and PGCE qualifications focused on Physical Education teaching. Alongside teaching, Haydn formed both a BUCS, and AoC football academy at the University Centre of Doncaster, where he was the academy manager for 4-years and achieved his FA Level 2 in Coaching Football and other related certificates, became a Personal Trainer, and even a football scout, to further enhance the people's lives around him. Haydn was seeking a new challenge and is now our Engagement Assistant, travelling around the UK offering young people a supported route to full-time employment in a regulated industry.

Heather Oliver

Job Titles:

Roving Tutor

Heather joined the National Horseracing College as a Roving Tutor, working in the Midlands and Cheshire, in 2020. Heather is a qualified Level 2 Racing Coach and particularly enjoys coaching young people as well as potential Pony Racing candidates. In addition, she also works with Racing to School. Heather has a long and illustrious career in the horseracing industry spanning over 20 years. As well as successfully training over 100 winners under the Rules of Racing, she has also trained Point-to-Point winners and has a wealth of experience breaking in and educating all types of horses from yearlings to sport horses. In 2016 she partnered her own horse, Yazdi, to a gallant second in the Greatwood Charity Race at Newbury Racecourse. Heather has a huge passion for all sports and particularly enjoys running and going to the gym. Away from work she relishes spending time with her family and her growing ‘herd' of animals, which includes her favourite racehorse, Yorgonnahearmeroar, or Simba as he is affectionately known, who she trained to win two races. He is now the most expensive lawnmower she has ever purchased!

Heidi Wilburn

Job Titles:

Kitchen Assistant
Member of the Catering Team

Howard Wright

Job Titles:

Trustee
Vice Chairman

Howard is a well-respected, international racing journalist. Over a long and distinguished career, he developed an invaluable knowledge of horseracing and an extensive network of connections in the UK and overseas.

Jackie Sidroy-King

Job Titles:

Key Staff Member
MIS & Compliance Manager

Jackie worked in education and training for 15 Years. Extensive knowledge and experience in Government Funding and Management Information Systems (MIS) within the training industry. Jackie previously worked for an Independent Training Provider for 14 years as a MIS and Contracts Manager.

Jacquline Swailes

Job Titles:

Member of the Domestic Team
Domestic Team Lead

Jacquline joined the Domestic team in 2008. Before joining the National Horseracing College team, she previously worked at a Doctor's Surgery for seven years. Jacquline enjoys the "rapport with the learners, seeing them every day and watching them develop and grow into independent, confident individuals".

Jade Taylor

Job Titles:

Member of the Marketing Team
Marketing and Digital Marketing Assistant

James Hetherton

Job Titles:

Trainer
Trustee

James is a retired racehorse trainer who maintains an extensive network of contacts across the industry and provides wise counsel on employers' perspectives and requirements.

Jason Edmunds

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Training Instructor

Jeff Ennis - Chairman

Job Titles:

Chairman
Trustee

Jeff was a teacher for 20 years before being elected to serve as MP for Barnsley East from 1996 to 2010. During that time, he chaired the House of Commons All Party Racing Group. Active in the trade union movement and local politics for many years, he is a Councillor on Barnsley MBC and was Mayor of Barnsley 2017/18.

Joanne Ellis - COO

Job Titles:

Key Staff Member
Operations Director

Joanne joined the NHC in 1994 as a part-time instructor, in 1999 she was employed to deliver key skills and theory lectures, being promoted to Chief Education and Training Officer in 2005 and then to Quality Manager in May 2009. Prior to the NHC Joanne was a freelance riding instructor, ran a livery yard and competed in a number of disciplines primarily showjumping, qualifying as BHS Intermediate Instructor in 1996. She also holds a Certificate in Education and NVQ Level 3 in Horse Care and Management. As Operations Director, she now oversees the delivery of foundation training, work based learning, funding and MIS reporting. She manages the preparation and implementation of college wide quality assurance processes and is the lead during Ofsted inspections. Her main goal is to deliver high quality learning opportunities to young people to help enable them to grow, develop and become contributing members of society.

Joanne Wrighton

Job Titles:

Member of the Instructor Team
Equine Studies Lecturer ( DEC )

Julia Kajtar

Job Titles:

Member of the Admin Team
Foundation Course and Work Based Learning Administrator

Julie Edwards

Job Titles:

Member of the Residential Team
Residential Supervisor

Julie joined the NHC in 2015 after a long career in the hair and beauty industry and for the later 12 years as a trainer/educator in schools and colleges. She took a short break from the hairdressing industry in the early days to work as a stable Jockey for several trainers within the industry, therefore, she had the experience of what the young people at the NHC are aspiring for. Julie loves working with young people and endeavors to support them as much as she can in their journey into the working world or change of career. She has met young people from all over the country and overseas where each student has brought different personalities/challenges. Her "role as a residential supervisor has been most rewarding".