The CHARACTER of EAST MIDLANDS EQUESTRIANISM in the 21st CENTURY July 2004 A survey of the equestrian sector in the East Midlands with an assessment of wider linkages and recommendations on future policy Authors Bob Wood Richard Newbold Wolfson School of Mechanical and External Relations Office Manufacturing Engineering Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough Loughborough Leicestershire Leicestershire LE11 3TU LE11 3TU T: +44 1509 227632 T: +44 1509 228692 F: +44 1509 227648 F: +44 1509 211516 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Summary This study of the equestrian sector in the East Midlands has been prompted by growing interest from several quarters. The British Equestrian Federation has developed a number of national programmes to assist talented competition riders. More recently, DEFRA and the British Horse Industry Confederation have encouraged the UK horse industry to develop a 10-year strategic plan for its sustained development. With Sport England, the British Equestrian Federation is developing an equestrian Facilities Strategy in association with the Olympic and non-Olympic equestrian sport disciplines. At the time of writing, the future of hunting in England remains uncertain. Within the region, Leicestershire County Council launched its Equestrian Strategy and Action Plan in 1999. This has prompted investigation of various aspects of equestrianism and has led to a number of new initiatives aimed promoting business development and wider engagement. This study has extended the approach adopted by Leicestershire County Council to take a snap shot of the equestrian sector within the region and to assess opportunities for future developments. This has been done by various means, including a survey of equestrian stakeholders within the region and a number of stakeholder meetings. Observations As a widespread economic sector, diverse sporting activity and informal recreation opportunity, equestrianism is a significant element of the East Midlands economy, impacting on rural and semi-rural communities. As an industry, the equestrian sector also generates a wide range of activity in academic institutions, supporting educational and training provision, as well as offering an increasing variety of research opportunities. Clearly identified activities in this study span equestrian business, recreation, sporting competition, vocational training and research. Commercially, equestrianism is delivered by a highly fragmented collection of SMEs and micro-businesses which, collectively, punch far below their weight. While reflecting the economic breadth and diverse traditions of the sector, this fragmentation of interests presents a major challenge for the sector moving forward as it: • Limits equestrian sector stakeholders’ structural and time horizons, mitigating against sound planning for business growth and engagement with wider policy debates • Encourages many stakeholders in the industry to align equestrianism with ‘living heritage’ rather than identification and exploitation of modern business, sporting and recreational opportunities • Reinforces itself by promoting suspicion and perceptions of adversity, both within equestrianism and outside it, among policy makers or from other economic sectors • Assumes a passive response to events and policies which impacts greatly on equestrian stakeholders, businesses and rural communities, with the resulting expectation that nothing can be done The East Midlands is home to a significant number of HE and FE institutions, lecturers and researchers who are engaged in equestrian related activities. These reflect the fragmentation of the sector while standing largely apart from the industry itself. East Midlands Equestrianism i Opportunities There are opportunities to develop the East Midlands as a vibrant centre of the multi-faceted equestrian industry through capacity building. There is scope to reverse the effects of fragmentation through networking between industry stakeholders to establish awareness of clustering processes by promoting a common industry identity. Key networking issues are: • Integration of organisational infrastructure, industrial stakeholders and/or various user groups at sub-regional and local levels (e.g. LEEP, WESRRA and BRRA in Leicestershire, Bolsover Riders’ Forum in Nottinghamshire and local Riders’ Groups in Derbyshire), the basis for these networks being to identify and address common concerns and opportunities • Recognition of a cumulative clustering dynamic and wider economic value of the sector, as well as the diversity of local experience by promoting co-ordination and ‘join up’ across the region, an activity not currently recognised formally by emda policy on clusters • Co-ordination of equestrian related academics’ activities in the HE and FE sectors across the region, initially to form a common opinion on synergies that have been identified within this work. There is scope for elements of the regional network to become established as a recognisable entity, such as the East Midlands Equestrian Research Group (EMERG). • A ‘pull’ by regional government to establish a (perhaps the National) Centre of Equestrian Excellence would markedly raise the international profile of the East Midlands. This would complement the region’s equestrian infrastructure and promote unfolding developments in the policy frameworks of DEFRA, Sport England and the British Equestrian Federation. Assessment Building on developing networks and enhanced clustering processes within the sector, it will then be possible for the industry to improve its wider economic and organisational infrastructure, while identifying the scope to promote change in the sector’s policy environment. Examples of these potential outcomes include ways in which activities of EMERG may promote sustainable businesses by encouraging innovation or reviewing insurance issues as a way of securing value for money or controlling costs. Recommendations GOEM, emda, EMUA and Local Authorities can all contribute to generation of a vibrant and healthy equestrian sector in the East Midlands: GOEM has an opportunity to develop equestrianism by raising its profile and that of the region by encouraging “cross-cutting” and innovation in a range of government policies and wider thinking, for example: • Engaging with DEFRA and BHIC's encouragement of the industry to create a 10 year development plan. • Acting on behalf of DEFRA, encouraging stakeholders in the region to engage with the 10 year development plan. • Promoting within DCMS, DoH and HO consideration of the potential benefits of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, linking with the unfolding international base for research and practice, examples of UK best practice and emerging activities of EMERG. • Promoting within DfES and DCMS greater use of horse riding as part of the school curriculum in association with the British Horse Society. East Midlands Equestrianism ii • Assisting applications for DTI funding of research collaborations between industry stakeholders and the HE/FE sector. emda can provide strong encouragement by formally recognising in its policies that the Region’s equestrian sector is a “cluster” and provide direction through funding for: • The promotion of network development and initiatives to promote recognition within the equestrian sector of its collective business identity, responsibilities and opportunities. • Encouraging the development of EMERG by providing funding to support projects that encourage innovation in the industry and the development of networking with businesses. • Pilot- and case studies that bring EMERG and equestrian sectors together to explore modern business management practices. Additionally, emda should: • Lead on establishing regional links to key national stakeholders – e.g. Sport England, UK Sport, the BEF and national governing bodies of the individual equestrian disciplines, to further the profile of East Midlands equestrianism on the national scene. • Work with the sector and business support agencies, building on the findings of this report to better support commercial equestrian activity in the region, through adopting a formal ‘cluster’ approach to the sector. • Together with GOEM and representative organisations of the equestrian sector, explore the wider benefits of establishing a Centre of Equestrian Excellence in the region and better coordination of proposals. • Encourage and facilitate productive networking of the equestrian sector in its engagement with stakeholders in the rural business agenda. • Consider the potential for developing equestrianism as a driver for increased tourism in the region. • Facilitate proactive dialogue within the equestrian sector and with local partners concerning development of tourism products. • Build on the best practice and experience in Leicestershire, to develop a regional strategy for continued development of the equestrian sector. EMUA now has an opportunity to: • Explore with other stakeholders the possibility of establishing a Rural Economies special interest group. • Explore and learn from the EMERG initiative in developing a modern rural agenda within the educational sector. Local Authorities are encouraged to: • Engage more positively with the equestrian sector, recognising its widespread links into the rural economy and its potential for growth. • Explore a new enabling role in relation to activities of the sector, of course recognising the importance of existing statutory functions. • Explore examples of best practice among various