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  • Careers and Qualifications

Stage 4 Senior Management Syllabus

  • Last reviewed: 25th September 2024

Stage 4 Senior Management

Learning Outcomes Table
Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria Guidance on the Content to be Learnt During Training and Sampled During Assessment Assessment Method
1. Understand the importance of customer care 1.1 Compare different booking methods for equestrian businesses Booking methods:
  • Online systems including applications
  • Paper based
Trainer endorsement*
1.2 Justify the allocation of resources in a range of situations Range = 2 or more. Situations may include:
  • Riding lessons horse to client, workloads
  • Arenas
  • Staff workloads
  • Allocation of horses/coaches
  • Balancing liveries use and riding school clients
Trainer endorsement*
1.3 Evaluate a range of factors that contribute to successful customer care Range = 3 or more. Factors may include:
  • ‘Shop front’ process - outward facing customer care
  • Helpful language
  • Time to help
  • Making the client feel important
  • How to handle challenging and emergency situations
  • Maintaining the need for confidentiality and client contact
Trainer endorsement*
1.4 Compare the benefits of different membership schemes for clients Membership schemes to include:
  • BHS membership options
  • Discipline – Member Bodies
  • Pony Club
  • Other
Trainer endorsement*
2. Be able to use interpersonal skills 2.1 Evaluate own interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills to include:
  • Setting realistic objectives, priorities and standards
  • Reflect on own learning and progress
  • Use of both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication
  • Listening as an aid to meaningful communication, a two-way process
Discussion and trainer/employer endorsement*
2.2 Demonstrate effective verbal communication in a range of situations Verbal communication to include tone and volume of voice. Range = 2 or more. Situations may include:
  • Communication between different individuals and groups for example; co-workers, managers, junior staff, employees, customers, clients, visiting coaches/trainers, speakers
  • Different contexts including training sessions, presentations, group meetings, performance appraisals, one-on-one discussions, interviews, disciplinary sessions
Observation and trainer/employer endorsement*
2.3 Demonstrate effective non-verbal communication in a range of situations Range = 2 or more. Non-verbal communication to include:
  • Gestures displayed through body language and physical distance between the communicators
  • Body movements for example; hand gestures, nodding or shaking the head
  • Posture for example; how you stand or sit, whether your arms are crossed
  • Eye contact
  • Closeness or personal space
  • Facial expressions (smiling, frowning, blinking)
Situations may include:
  • Communication between different individuals and groups for example; co-workers, managers, junior staff, employees, customers, clients, visiting coaches/trainers, speakers
  • Different contexts including training sessions, presentations, group meetings, performance appraisals, one-on-one discussions, interviews, disciplinary sessions
Observation and trainer/employer endorsement*
2.4 Demonstrate effective listening skills Listening skills may include:
  • Informational Listening (listening to learn)
  • Critical Listening (listening to evaluate and analyse)
  • Empathetic Listening (listening to understand feeling and emotion), with consideration and awareness of mental health
Observation and trainer/employer endorsement*
2.5 Demonstrate effective negotiation skills Negotiation skills to include:
  • Listening actively to the other party - involving the ability to read body language as well as verbal communication
  • Respond appropriately
  • Ability to influence others
  • Ability to compromise
Observation and trainer/employer endorsement*
2.6 Demonstrate effective decision making skills May include:
  • Goals - working to achieve set objectives
  • Problem solving
  • Learning to make correct choices from seeing, listening and doing
Observation and trainer/employer endorsement*
3. Be able to manage staff 3.1 Evaluate different ways of employing staff Include contracts of employment and their content, including social media clauses. Ways of employing staff to include:
  • Sub-contractors
  • Part time/full time/volunteers
  • Visiting lecturers
  • Zero hours
  • Apprentices
  • Self-employed
Trainer endorsement*
3.2 Explain the purpose and process of staff development Staff development to include:
  • Use of appraisals
  • Criteria for assessment
  • Performance review
  • Action plans
  • Continual Professional Development (CPD)
  • Dealing with concerns, for example; grievance, disciplinary
Trainer endorsement*
3.3 Produce training plans to develop staff Training plans to include:
  • Target setting
  • Identifying training needs against job role
  • Short (one month), medium (six months) and long term (one year) aims
Trainer endorsement*
4. Understand requirements for self-employment 4.1 Explain the specific requirements of a self-employed coach Requirements to include:
  • Insurance
  • Vehicles
  • Riding school license if using your own horses
  • Planning permission if on your own premises
  • Health and safety
Trainer endorsement*
4.2 Compare the benefits of different membership schemes for self-employed coaches Membership schemes may include:
  • BHS Accredited Professional Coach
  • Discipline – British Equestrian Member Bodies
  • British Grooms Association
  • Other
Trainer endorsement*
4.3 Explain the benefits of Continued Professional Development for a self-employed coach To include:
  • Assessing own performance
  • Target setting
  • Identifying need against job role
  • Type of CPD available
Trainer endorsement*
5. Understand the roles and responsibilities of a yard manager 5.1 Explain the requirements of relevant legislation and your responsibilities Relevant legislation to include:
  • Animal Welfare license
  • Planning permission regulations for business use
  • Stable yard risk assessment
  • Fire risk assessment requirements
  • Data protection legislation
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  • Safeguarding
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Health and safety legislation
Responsibilities to include:
  • Horse welfare
  • Social License to operate
  • Promote equestrianism in a positive way
  • Management and training of employees
Trainer endorsement*
5.2 Explain the purpose of different types of insurance Types of Insurance:
  • Public liability
  • Employers liability
  • Horse insurance
  • Vehicles and buildings
Trainer endorsement*
6. Understand financial requirements for an equestrian business 6.1 Evaluate pricing methods Pricing methods to include:
  • Different pricing structures
  • Peak/off peak
  • Pricing of services such as liveries, facility hire, competition
  • Special rates
  • Importance of overheads
Discussion
6.2 Evaluate a range of methods of payment Range = 2 or more. To include:
  • Debit and credit cards
  • Cash
  • Cheque
  • Automatic bank transfers
  • Online payment
  • Recording payment
  • Advance payments
  • Cancellation policy
Discussion
6.3 Explain a range of accounting requirements Range = 2 or more. Accounting requirements to include:
  • Information an accountant needs
  • Invoices
  • Receipts
  • Profit and loss
  • Business viability
  • Business plans
  • Financial year
  • Accountant interaction
  • Online tax payments
  • Personal/business allowance
Discussion
6.4 Explain how to manage business costs Costs to include management of both fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs (largely unmanageable)
  • Rent
  • Business Rates
  • Licences
  • Insurance
  • Depreciation
Variable costs (manageable)
  • Utilities (gas, water, electric, sewage etc.)
  • Stock
  • Feed
  • Professionals
  • Wages and salaries
  • Tack
  • Maintenance
  • Equipment
  • Expenses
Discussion
6.5 Explain pay requirements for a business Pay requirements to include:
  • Minimum/living wage
  • Apprenticeship wage
  • Maternity
  • Sick pay
  • Pension
  • Redundancy
Discussion
7. Understand record keeping requirements for an equestrian business 7.1 Explain records kept Records may include:
  • Horse health records
  • Client records
  • Riding records/progress/review
Trainer endorsement*
7.2 Explain how business information is stored Information may include:
  • Health and Safety (risk assessments, accident reporting, first aiders)
  • Employee records (contracts, bank details, emergency details, appraisals)
  • Financial records
  • Client records
  • Conflict of interest paperwork
Storage requirements may include:
  • Filing requirements
  • Hard copy versus electronic
  • Confidentiality
  • Data protection legislation
Trainer endorsement*
8. Understand different marketing opportunities 8.1 Evaluate different types of marketing Types of marketing to include:
  • Using market research
  • Advertising (digital, press)
  • Electronic communication
  • Social media
  • Open days
Discussion
8.2 Justify different marketing campaigns Different = at least 2 to be justified. Justification to include:
  • Choices of marketing types
  • How to record success
Discussion
9. Understand how to manage a yard 9.1 Compare the benefits of different types of approval schemes for businesses Types of approval schemes to include reference to quality assurance systems provided by scheme. To include:
  • The British Horse Society (BHS)
  • The Association of British Riding Schools, Livery Yards and Equestrian Centres (ABRS+)
  • The Pony Club (PCUK)
  • Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)
  • Others
Trainer endorsement*
9.2 Explain working relationships with a range of associated professionals Range = 3 or more. Associated professionals to include qualified and licensed:
  • Farrier
  • Vet
  • Feed/Forage merchants
  • Equine dental technician
  • Physiotherapist
  • Saddle fitter
Trainer endorsement*
9.3 Explain how to maintain facilities Facilities may include:
  • Yards
  • Stables
  • Arenas
  • Store and ancillary building
  • Fencing
  • Cross country course
Trainer endorsement*
9.4 Evaluate a range of security procedures on the yard Range = 3 or more. Security procedures may include:
  • Alarms
  • CCTV
  • Sensor lights
  • Security patrol
  • Effective access security
Trainer endorsement*
10. Understand how to manage grassland 10.1 Analyse annual grassland maintenance programmes Grassland maintenance programmes to include:
  • Topping
  • Harrowing
  • Rolling
  • Fertilizing
  • Spraying
  • Over sowing
  • Weed control
  • Fencing including electric
  • Shelter
  • Water
  • Gateways
  • Stocking rate
  • Removal of droppings
  • Soil analysis
  • Drainage
Discussion