Why did you decide to apply for the British Horseracing Development Programme?

“Appetite to work in the sports industry, and specifically horse racing as it was something different to your conventional sports (football, rugby, f1) that people want to work in.”

How did the programme benefit your career?

“The two-week induction course was a great experience for my career as I was exposed to learning about everything in the horseracing industry. As someone who didn’t grow up around horses, it was invaluable to gain practical knowledge and to hear from industry professionals, from thoroughbred agents to the Head of Social Impact at the BHA – I was able to appreciate the various experiences people have across the industry and understand the interconnected layers that keep the sport running.

During my time in the Diversity and Inclusion team, I was given the opportunity to sit in various board meetings, work on my own projects, and help set up a strategy development workshop! Taking on new tasks has enabled me to become more independent, flexible and motivated to take on new challenges that I will experience in my career.”

What did you learn from the Development Programme?

“One key element I learnt from the development programme was understanding the importance of working in a corporate environment. Improving my communication skills allowed me to meet professional expectations through presenting reports to members of staff, notetaking in meetings and contributing to key discussions. This has allowed me to adapt to workplace norms, which is a stark contrast to managing university deadlines.”

What was your overall highlight of the programme and your placement?

“My overall highlight so far was researching various sporting organisations EDI structure, and interviewing EDI senior staff members from LTA, FA, RFU, ECB, AGB. I complied a report evaluating on what worked well and where each organisation faced challenges and presented my findings to my manager and other staff members, where we discussed how we could apply certain insights into our own practices.”

Would you recommend the Development Programme and why?

“I would 100% recommend it, as when I started the programme, I thought I would be behind in the sense that I did not come from a horseracing background, however the two-week induction course gave me everything I needed to work in the industry, along with learning about the experiences of the other programme participants. So, in short, if you think you don’t know a lot about horseracing, don’t worry!”

Finally, what advice would you give to someone looking to apply for the Development Programme 2026?

“There is a plethora of placements to choose, make sure to pick one you know you’ll enjoy! This will help you make a stronger case for why you want the role , how it will benefit your skills and career development and what you can contribute towards the placement role.”

Feeling inspired? Check out the British Horseracing Development Programme now!