Role: Practical Instructor – Equine
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £27,717 and £32,515 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s Pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Practical Instructor in Equine to join our Animal Science department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Practical Instructor, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
- Practical Equine Teaching & Skills Development - Deliver engaging practical equine sessions, prepare learning materials and schemes of work, assess learner performance, and provide constructive feedback to help students develop vocational skills and achieve course objectives.
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Horse Care & Equine Centre Operations - Participate in the daily care, exercise, health monitoring and welfare of horses, while supporting the effective management of the equine centre, paddocks and practical work areas.
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Resource & FacilitiesManagement - Prepare horses, equipment and learning resources for practical activities, maintain inventories, source equipment in line with College procedures, and ensure facilities and resources are maintained to a high professional standard.
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Health, Safety & Student Support - Promote safe working practices, undertake risk assessments, maintain clean and hazard-free environments, manage student behaviour appropriately, and provide technical support across equine learning areas.
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Collaboration, Customer Service & Professional Standards - Work effectively with colleagues, customers and service providers, support marketing and recruitment activities, participate in College-wide events, and uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and continuous professional development requirements.
About you:
- Qualifications & Equine Industry Expertise - Holds a Level 3 qualification in Horse Management (or related subject) and BHS Level 2 Foundation Groom qualification, with recent practical equine industry experience, strong knowledge of current practices, horse care, yard management and safe working procedures.
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Teaching, Training & Learner Support - Experienced in working with young people in a training environment, delivering high-quality practical learning experiences, supporting student development, and creating a welcoming and supportive environment that promotes achievement and confidence.
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Horse Care, Communication & Teamwork - Demonstrates consistently high standards of horse care, can exercise horses safely and effectively, communicates confidently with students, colleagues and customers, and contributes positively to team success while respecting others’ expertise.
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Organisation, Professionalism & College Values - Able to manage workloads independently, meet deadlines and targets, work professionally and reliably, and embody the College values of Student Centred, Educational Excellence, Teamwork, Continuous Improvement, Caring and Inclusive practice.
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Safeguarding, Flexibility & Health & Safety - Committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, following health and safety requirements, working flexibly including weekends, maintaining a current driving licence, and pursuing ongoing professional and first aid development.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: TBC
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
- Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
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Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
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Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
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Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
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Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
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Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.
