Building a Better Future for Racing’s Workforce: Julia Tyson on the Industry People Strategy

Julia Tyson brings a wealth of human resources experience from the corporate world to her current role of guiding a three-year workforce strategy addressing racing’s recruitment, training and development, employment practices, inclusion and wellbeing. She reveals more to Racing Together.

My role as Chair of Horseracing Industry People board has given me a wonderful opportunity to be part of the thoroughbred sector. It’s a chance for me to give something back by applying my career-gained knowledge and skills to the people challenges faced by racing.

I feel very privileged and have a strong sense of responsibility to make a difference, as do the People Board. The people challenges are not unique at first look but are complicated by the core skills required in working with horses, which are not easy to acquire and are easily undervalued.

Publishing a first Industry People Strategy

I was delighted to finally publish the strategy in February. We held a major consultation across the industry in early 2025 to test out our understanding and potential solutions and had originally intended to publish in the middle of last year. After assuming the role of Chair in August, we undertook a major re-write, leading to further consultation with the stakeholder boards to gain acceptance and finally BHA Board approval in October. What then followed was getting the document ready for publication which was held over until the new year at the request of the industry.

In parallel, we were defining our implementation plan and securing both resources and funding to start what we consider the real work. We also had to ensure that our sponsors: the British Horseracing Authority, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and Racing Foundation were all aligned to our plans, and to set ourselves up for success. It all takes time, which is racing’s way, but it does ensure everyone is aligned and supportive. I’m pleased to say that we have now secured the funding for 2025, and the implementation plan was published mid-April.

New pilots will lead the way

Our initial focus is on the training landscape with a new Rider Competency framework and quality assessment approach for providers. We are also supporting the National Trainers Federation and Thoroughbred Breeders Association in piloting a drug and alcohol testing regime to create safer conditions for both rider and horse. There is also a wellbeing proposition across racing with Racing Welfare and other providers.

We will also be piloting a means of recruiting career changers from other equine disciplines, ensuring they acquire the right skills using the working of the new competency framework. Further work is also underway to support a safer working environment especially for the more vulnerable, and on inclusion for ethnic minorities working within the industry.

The aim is to run these pilots to test out concepts, as well as establishing quality standards, so that we raise the whole industry up over time. We’ve avoided trying to intervene in initiatives that are already well-developed and established – our focus is on new systemic changes. We can’t change everything at once, so the challenge is how to make each step count as we build better foundations for racing people.

The best part of my role has been meeting all the people who work in racing and breeding and seeing the passion for the horse that brings people into the industry.  I look forward to meeting and working with many more of you.