Racing Welfare launches new dedicated Careers Advice and Training Service website.
Racing Welfare launched the new website for Careers Advice & Training Service (CATS) at an event held at Chepstow racecourse today, 2nd March, coinciding with the start of National Careers Week.
Designed to underpin the delivery of CATS, the site offers a dedicated resource to facilitate professional development and aid progression within the British racing and breeding industry. Operated by Racing Welfare and funded by The Racing Foundation, CATS is part of Racing Welfare’s workforce wellbeing programme, which sets out an overarching agenda to enhance the wellbeing of people living and working in the industry.
CATS is able to provide support in four main areas that are regularly encountered by individuals when it comes to their career: professional development, returning to work, job seeking and changing career within the industry. From providing access to professional development plans, to sourcing and funding training opportunities, CATS is able to assist anyone working in the racing industry.
The website itself houses a range of online self-help advice containing practical, useful information on subjects such as writing a CV, constructing cover letters and managing your online profile. Featuring a live training directory, the site also offers the most up to date information on training available within the industry, in addition to courses outside of this which may be useful to people working in racing. This is coupled with a job board, powered by Careers in Racing, ensuring that users are able to find to the most up-to-date job opportunities.
CATS recognises the challenges faced by managers, and by small business owners in particular, in providing development opportunities for their employees, and as such the website features an employer’s section within its construct too. The service’s capacity to fund training is a huge advantage to employers and the uptake of this has grown steadily year on year since the inception of CATS in 2016. This growth resulted in £25k being paid out in grants to fund training last year.
Kay Boyden, Racing Welfare’s Programme Manager, expressed the importance of the service, saying: “CATS forms an integral part of our workforce wellbeing programme. Working in partnership with The Racing Foundation, it is a key part of our work to build a world-leading wellbeing provision for people employed within the British racing industry. It is important to note that CATS does not stand alone, but dovetails into our other programme projects such as Racing’s Occupational Health Service. This means that in addition to offering training advice and development opportunities to those currently working, we are also able to facilitate the same opportunities for people off work with injury or illness.
We are really excited about having the new website up and running and the potential that it has to enhance the delivery of CATS. Our approach remains focused on providing proactive, positive services and CATS is exactly that, harbouring the resources to enhance the career of anyone working in racing and breeding.”
Chief Executive of The Racing Foundation, Rob Hezel, commented: “At a time when we are struggling to recruit and retain staff, the wellbeing programme, which includes CATS, delivered by Racing Welfare is of critical importance. The Foundation are delighted to fund the programme and hope it not only benefits the individuals who engage with it but it is a catalyst for the industry to realise the importance of employee wellbeing and to unite to deliver the strategic change that is required to ensure we have the staff required to deliver our sport going forward.”
In addition to the website, which features an integrate live chat function, CATS can be accessed via Racing’s Support Line, with a text option also available.
The access routes for CATS are:
24hr 0800 6300 443
Text 07860 079 043
Follow CATS on social too:
Instagram @cats.rw
Facebook @cats_rw
Twitter @CATS_RW
