NATIONAL FARRIER TRAINING AGENCY - NFTA

Training and Developing Farriers of Tomorrow, Today

The National Farrier Training Agency (NFTA) is a Managing Agency established by the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) to oversee the training of farriery apprentices in Great Britain. The FTA does, however, welcome applications from potential apprentices worldwide.

Anybody with previous farriery experience should contact the FRC directly

www.farrierytraining.co.uk

Sefton House Newsletter has been incorporated in to Forge Magazine
Keeping ATFs and Apprentices Informed.

The FTA Training Advisory Committee (TAC) is an invaluable source of sage advice and wise counsel to the FTA, representing the views of ATFs and Apprentices, such that the quality of the Farriery Apprenticeship is maintained at the highest levels.

Farriery Training Agency - Sefton House NewsMore exciting news for Forge Magazine - The FTA Sefton House News will be incorporated from now on within Forge Magazine. This has been done to ensure the widest circulation of events and information and to consolidate costs. The FTA will remain the point of contact for all matters relating to FTA issues and general enquiries.

moreLATEST NEWS FROM THE NFTA - SEFTON HOUSE

The National Farrier Training Agency Contact Details

The National Farrier Training Agency
Sefton House
Adam Court
Newark Road 
Peterborough 
PE1 5PP
Tel: 01733 319770
Local Rate: 0845 1188387
Fax: 01733 319771

Robert Gregory is ATF of the Year

This year’s ATF of the Year Award was presented to Mr Robert Gregory as part of the WCF presentation ceremony on February 25, at the Honourable Artillery Company in London. The National Farrier Training Agency holds this award because it feels that it is important to acknowledge and reward the ATF who consistently delivers good training and support to his apprentices, but who also has been found to go that ‘extra mile’, by providing an exceptional level of training and commitment.
The colleges were asked to nominate two ATFs who had apprentices completing their diploma in 2009. The previous apprentices submitted nomination forms for their individual ATFs. The Field Officers for each ATF also had a significant input.
Mr Gregory was described by the judges as ‘showing an outstanding amount of commitment to his apprentice’ throughout the apprenticeship. He was praised by the College, the Field Officer and his previous apprentice for being ‘always there when I needed help, always treating me as one of his own, and providing all the support and encouragement I needed – in and out of the workplace – to get me where I am today’. Mr Gregory was said to be ever ready to put in that extra bit of effort and always to have the safety and welfare of his apprentices foremost in priority; furthermore, he has always given 100 per cent to his apprentices’.
Stromsholm kindly donated his prize, a dead leg specimen, which will no doubt prove to be an invaluable training tool for Mr Gregory and his future apprentices. Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the farriery industry, also provided a £200 Handmade Shoes voucher.

 

The Annual ATF Conference & Farriery Trade Fair

*** POSTPONED ***

17th & 18th April 2010
Following the success of the first Annual ATF Conference on 10th May 2009 at Lantra House we are now looking forward to the 2010 ATF Conference which will be held at Myerscough College.
Following suggestions and feedback from this year we will be having more workshops and there will be more time for discussion.
A number of ATFs have mentioned that it would be great to have a dedicated Farriery Trade Fair. We too believe this would be a good idea and so are planning to run a Farriery Trade Fair alongside the ATF Conference which will be open to all farriers and apprentices. We aim to include exhibitors from all areas of farriery - from shoe suppliers to safety equipment and from van outfitters to business software!
If you are interested in being part of the Farriery Trade Fair or in Sponsorship Opportunities please contact: Vicki Davitt on 01733 319770.

Latest News

Fantastic news, the Government commitment to Apprenticeships in action!
Farrier apprentices aged 19 or over recently received some fantastic news from the National Farrier Training Agency, the National Apprentice Service has confirmed their support for the next two intakes:
● 33L July 2009.
There are 25, 19+ apprentices
● 34S January 2010.
There are 34, 19+ apprentices
Additionally, in the case of all 19+ apprentices, the ATF will provide the Employers Contribution of £3,500 payable in installments over the four-year Apprenticeship.

Vicki Davitt, NFTA Recruitment and CPD Manager spent many long hours talking to the affected apprentices and ATFs who were delighted with the news that they would be funded by the National Apprentice Service

Improving Communications

Deployment of Field Officers

Peter Ablett, Chief Executive, Farrier Training Agency.
As an outcome of the FTA Financial Review 2009, the cost of Field Officer Operations came under the spotlight. When I came into post the, then called FTA was only achieving a 53% Field Officer Timely Visit Rate; this is now somewhere around 90%, which is a massive improvement, but has consequently increased costs significantly.
Initially, it was suggested that the FTA could achieve hefty savings by directly employing two full-time Field Officers. However, that would not work because it would mean that each Field officer would have to make something like 450 visits, aside from dealing with problem cases.
One way to reduce costs is to lessen the amount of travelling Field Officers have to do and to try to make trips achieve as many visits as possible. Discussions at an FTA Board Meeting indicated that we could move to a new model of Field Officers visiting Apprentices within a given radius of where they live, and also increase the number of Field Officers available, if we moved away from the requirement for them to hold the AWCF.
After discussions, we have looked at all areas currently covered, and some areas will be reallocated as from March 2010 in order to cut down on travelling costs; these new regions and areas of responsibility can be clearly seen on the map. I accept there are issues of Apprentice trust and rapport to address as we shift from one model to another, but together we must strive to deliver a quality service to Apprentices and ATFs at the lowest cost that we are able to.

New Field Officers

We advertised for Field Officers in Forge magazine, to which we received a healthy response leading to the recruitment of four further Field Officers to cover the South West of the country.
These new Field Officers are:
Mr Trevor Male AFCL Hons - Cornwall and Devon
Mr Nigel Pike RSS - Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire
Mr Graham Fox BEM RSS BII - Sussex and Hampshire
Mr Tom Burch RSS - Essex, Kent and Surrey

Equine hoofcare plans lead the way to best practice

Equine hoofcare plans help apprentice farriers to adopt best practice when approaching any horse for shoeing or trimming. This is an assessment phase, prior to shoeing. Apprentices need to learn to observe the static horse and then assess it dynamically; they must look at its overall conformation (and note any conformational problems); examine the wear and tear on the shoes; note any problems with the feet and get a history from the owner as well as asking what they are doing with their horse and what they want to do with their horse.
College tutors and the National Farrier Training Agency have devised a set of hoofcare plans for the front and hind feet to guide apprentices through the shoeing process. The plans act as a reminder of the information apprentices need before they start work on a horse.

First meeting for strategic partners

As an organisation that facilitates the training of would-be young farriers coming into the profession, the Farriery Training Agency (FTA*) inevitably relies on a number of so called strategic partners.
Perhaps oddly, because the way day to day business is done, the FTA tends to deal with those partners individually. Recognising that there was potentially a lot of value to be gained by bringing those partners together to share their thoughts. Peter Ablett, FTA Chief Executive, arranged such a get together at the end of November 2009.
He was joined by colleagues from upstream and downstream of the training supply chain, including Sector Skills Council, LANTRA, the National Apprenticeship Service, the Worshipful Company of Farriers and Warwickshire, Myerscough and Herefordshire Colleges. Key industry stakeholders were also represented including the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust, the National Association NAFBAE, Forge Magazine and the Farriers Registration Council, FTA’s parent.
After a welcome and introduction by Howard Cooper, Chairman of the FTA Management Board, Peter Ablett gave the meeting a detailed brief on the work of the FTA and a review of the last year, with a summary of the key issues going forward.
With the scene suitably set, a lively discussion ensued, variously focusing on apprentices, Approved Training Farriers (ATFs) and the process of learning delivery. There was a recurring theme, however, that of quality. To that end, an early word by Richard Bridges, Chairman of the Farriery CPDSG (Continuing Professional Development Steering Group), seemed rather appropriate.
CPD is not compulsory for practising farriers so it is a credit to the work of the steering group that in a little over two years well over half of them have registered CPD points. Some discussion followed on the wide variety of ways for farriers to engage in CPD and how those who are disinclined to do so could be encouraged to have a look.
Reg Howe, Master of the WCF, said that that there was a huge mountain to climb in the education of the horse owning public and explained that the ‘Gold Standard’ series of articles in Forge Magazine was part of an ongoing WCF campaign in this regard. The raising of the understanding and hence expectations of the horse owner would in itself progressively help farriery CPD become driven by demand.
The entry standards of apprentices stimulated a particularly lively debate about the extent to which candidates should be assisted.
Howard Cooper was one who felt that if standards were to be maintained and problems avoided later on after qualification, then it should be accepted that those falling short of the entry criteria were not suitable.
With around 30% of apprentices identified as having additional learning needs, for which the FTA provides support, there was an equally vocal view from the meeting that the method of assessment should not in itself present a barrier to entry.
The ATFs also came in for some scrutiny, given their essential role in the training and development of the apprentice. The quality and delivery of the training and hence the ability of the ATF as a trainer, rather than a practitioner per se achieved a degree of consensus. Further increasing the list of requirements to become an ATF, as well as changes to ongoing licensing criteria was also discussed.
At this point one could be forgiven for wondering if there was a big problem with under-performing ATFs. In fact, having checked with FTA staff after the meeting, the numbers are relatively small and well known to FTA Field Officers. It would seem that bringing the few up to the standard of the many ought to be the priority rather than necessarily raising the bar even higher for everybody.
After some further discussion around learning delivery, Professor Ron Jones, FRC Chairman Elect brought the day’s proceedings to a close, describing it as a first opportunity for a useful exchange of views and information. In his closing remarks he endorsed to development of CPD and encouraged ATFs to take part and for all farriers to aspire to the higher diploma.
* The FTA has now been renamed the National Farrier Training Agency (NFTA), as published in Forge Magazine December 2009. This event pre-dates that change, hence the use of the former name in this report.

Improving Communications

‘Sefton House News’ will now form part of Forge magazine. 
Here, Peter Ablett, Chief Executive of the Farriery Training Agency  tells us why. 

The FTA is improving communications

‘We want to communicate FTA news and information as effectively and as professionally as possible. As Forge is sent to all registered farriers and apprentices, we shall “speak” to a much wider audience and I very much hope that this will bring about greater understanding and the sharing of best practice’, Peter said.

‘I am delighted that the FTA Management Board has decided that Sefton House News will become an integral part of Forge, and I am even more pleased that NAFBAE colleagues have welcomed the move’

Revised Farriery National Occupational Standards

The Farriery National Occupational Standards (NOS), which underpin the NVQ in farriery (a key element of the farriery advanced apprenticeship) have been revised. After consultation, the farriery industry grasped this opportunity to undertake a full review of the current national occupational standards.
There were many sound reasons for undertaking the review, rather than just to extend the current NVQ NOS. The main ones included:
The uses to which NOS are now applied have increased, and the current standards do not reflect all the skills required by the modern farrier;
Apprenticeship frameworks will change in 2010 and we need to ensure that our framework continues to meet the requirements of the apprenticeship blueprint and continues to attract funding;
The Government has requested that all current qualifications are moved to the newly formed Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), which provides flexible, ‘bite-sized’ qualifications.
New legislation has been introduced and needs to be included with the NOS; and
The FRC, the FTA and Lantra are aware of the need to work closely with barefoot trimmers, and are keen to unite the equine hoofcare professions.
Following the hugely successful first ATF conference held at Lantra House in May, all attending farriers were consulted on the way forward. As a result, FTA Training Programme Manager, Nicky Butcher, redrafted the proposed outline for the new NOS.
The NOS working party comprises of: Howard Cooper, chairman of the Training Agency Management Board (TAMB; Cecil Swan, chairman of Training Advisory Committee and an ATF; Kevin Willard, BHEST technical external verifier and an ATF; Dan Guerrera, bare hoof strategy educator; Donovan Howden, FTA internal verifier and college tutor, Warwickshire College; Steve Lloyd, senior tutor at the School of Farriery, Hereford; Wayne Preece, senior tutor at Myerscough College and an ATF; Brian Saunders, Know Foot Know Horse.com; Nigel Gateshead, farrier specialising in barefoot performance horses; Jenny Smith, Lantra, project manager, standards and qualifications, Lisa Jarvis, Lantra, Industry Partnership Manager and Nicky Butcher FTA, Training Programme Manager.
‘The new National Occupational Standards were submitted for approval before the end of August. The review provided an ideal opportunity for farriery training to be updated and to reflect the true professionalism of the industry, acknowledge the good work undertaken in barefoot trimming and unite the groups for the benefit of all’
If you have any questions on the review or would like to make any comments regarding the content of the Farriery National Occupations Standards please contact either Nicky on 01733 319770 or email nickybutcher@farrierytraining.co.uk or
Jenny Smith on 02476 858433 or email Jenny.Smith@lantra.co.uk.

Why are field officer visits important?

Recent experiences of field officers having difficulty making arrangements to visit apprentices with the ATF present, has prompted the need to for a greater explanation of the role of the FTA. All Government funded apprenticeship programmes place a legal obligation on the learning provider (the FTA) to ensure that the progress of the apprentice is reviewed every 13 weeks throughout the programme.

‘There have been a growing number of occasions when our field officer has arrived to find that the ATF is not present. In order for us to fulfil a contractual obligation, it is absolutely essential that the ATF is present to give advice and feedback on the progress of their apprentice. We strive to make appointments that are convenient for all concerned and we respect the fact that ATFs and apprentices are very busy. There will always be emergencies, but it is vitally important for ATFs to understand that field officer visits are, in part, about tax payers being reassured that their money is being well spent on the apprentice, and that progress is as it should be.’

Here’s what you need to have handy

The FTA’s busy field officers visit apprentices to make sure the practical section of their apprenticeship is on target. This is a list of what they are looking for, to help to ensure everyone knows what to expect.

Apprentice action plan. They want to see that work has been completed and that the Action Plan has been signed and checked by their ATF.

The coke fire is lit and working.

There is adequate lighting and ventilation in the forge.

Personal Protective Equipment is available for the apprentice’s use.

There is a current Certificate of Employers Liability. A copy of the certificate of insurance must be displayed where your employees can easily read it (usually by displaying the document on the wall). However, since 1 October 2008 you have been allowed to display your certificate electronically. Employers choosing this method need to ensure their employees know how and where to find the certificate and have reasonable access to it.

Current insurance policy schedule showing the inclusion of public liability as well as insurance covering injury to horses.

Health and safety law poster displayed and completed

Wage slips – please arrange for each apprentice to have their last three payslips with them.

Record of electrical inspection/testing for fixed and portable equipment.

Record of regular inspection of fire extinguishers (in forge and in van[s])

Portfolio of evidence/college workbook (if available).

The van(s) used for mobile work.

Motor vehicle insurance certificate/policy schedule for all vehicles used for work including apprentice’s own vehicle if applicable.

MOT certificate for all vehicles used for work including apprentice’s own vehicle if applicable.

Hand tools.

A supply of steel and coke.

Anvil and fire for each apprentice in training.

First aid kit in the forge and van.

The field officers may also wish to see samples of the apprentice(s) practical work, so some apprentice(s) shoes/forging exercises should be available during each visit.

Farriery Training Agency Field Officer Conference 2009

Following a successful conference for FTA field officers in 2008, it was decided to make this an annual event, and the second event was held in June at Sacrewell Farm, near Peterborough.

To make the meeting as valuable as possible, FTA college administrators and learning support coordinators also came along and this enabled all those involved in reviewing/visiting apprentices and their approved training farriers to share areas of best practice, thereby increasing communication between all parties.

The conference was held over a two days and covered various topics and briefings, including: Interview technique, and ‘making conversation work’; Health and safety ; The review of the National Occupational Standards; An update on employment relations

The feedback shows that the event is worthwhile, providing useful information for the field officers when they are carrying out visits in order to best assist and support apprentices and ATFs.

The FTA reminds apprentices and ATFs that the field officers and FTA staff are there to help; if there is anything that they would like to see addressed they should contact their individual field officer or the FTA, telephone 01733 319770.

The role of a learning support coordinator

Of the 450 apprentices currently on the FTA apprenticeship programme, 32 per cent have additional learning needs. The FTA supports the learning and development of these apprentices through two learning support coordinators – Janet Kitto and Sue Charters – whose help is appreciated by apprentices and ATFs. Here, Sue describes her role.
“Although I have been in post for over a year now, I still think of myself as the new learning support coordinator. My area is the South East and the north, the rest of the country is covered by Janet Kitto.
“Modern apprenticeships provide a wonderful opportunity to gain experience and qualifications in the work place. Many highly successful people start out on this route frequently called the ‘university of life’. Stakeholders that have a part to play in the apprenticeship are the ATFs, the colleges, the FTA, and, under the FTA ‘umbrella’, the field officers and myself.
“The purpose of my visiting apprentices is to make sure they are on target for their next college attendance with regard to the theory portion of the course. Checking practical skills is the role of experienced field officers.
“I will help in any way I can to ensure apprentices have the right materials for their particular needs, and that they stay on target with the training programme; it does no one any good to be back-blocked.
Sometimes I need to teach, sometimes to explain, sometimes to congratulate (I enjoy that bit), and sometimes to nag, if I think they are slipping (I hate that bit).
“My role is to help you achieve your goal – the diploma. This is achieved through discussion, suggestions, goal setting, action planning, and overcoming obstacles together. I am just one of the links that FTA has put into place, along with the field officers to smooth that process.”

Safe Transport of LPG in Closed Vehicles

A recent accident – A recent national newspaper article highlighted the danger of the carriage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in closed vehicles with no ventilation. To summarise the accident, a driver – who had been unaware that there had been a gas leak in his vehicle – opened the loading door while attempting to light a cigarette. The cigarette lighter ignited the leaked gas causing an explosion. The driver suffered extensive facial burns.
Safety first – Legislation concerning the carriage of LPG is covered under The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007. If the amount of LPG carried does not exceed 330 kg, there is exemption from part of these regulations. Furthermore, if a farrier carries LPG and a gas forge (at the same time) in his work van, the regulations do not apply.
Best practice However good practice should always be considered. Drivers should be trained in the potential hazards and dangers of LPG, the safe handling of gas cylinders, emergency procedures and use of fire fighting appliances. Cylinders should be securely stored in the vehicle.
A 2 kg powder fire extinguisher must be carried in the cab of the vehicle.
Consideration should be given to ventilation of the vehicle. However, if this is not possible then the following warning sign may be affixed to the loading door (in letters no smaller than 25 mm).
WARNING, NO VENTILATION, OPEN WITH CAUTION
Closed vehicles carrying LPG may display three hazard diamonds of an approved pattern, one on the rear and one on each side of the vehicle.
(If you remove the LPG, remember to remove the hazard diamonds as signage should only be used when LPG is onboard).
If you need further help or advice regarding the carriage of LPG in a closed vehicle, please do not hesitate to contact the FTA, or alternatively, the Department of Transport on 0207 944 8300.

Public Liability Insurance for Horse Owners

Picture the scene: You are at a client’s yard shoeing a horse and the horse kicks out and causes you a serious injury, which means you cannot carry on your business for a certain period. Do you sue the owner for damages? Is the owner insured? If a claim is upheld, will this cause the owner financial hardship?

Horse owners are sometimes unaware of the ramifications should their horse cause an accident/injury to another person or damage to property. Claims can have devastating financial consequences for the uninsured.

Public liability insurance is available from insurance brokers or through membership of certain societies, for example, ‘gold members’ of the British Horse Society receive liability for accidental third party bodily injury and property damage.

The FTA is trying to raise awareness of the importance of owners to consider public liability insurance and perhaps when visiting clients this subject is one that you may wish to discuss with clients.

New Health and Safety PosterIn April, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a new version of its approved health and safety law poster. The new poster updates the previous one, which was published in April 1999. To accompany the poster, a leaflet, now in a more convenient format as a pocket card, updates the old leaflet that was also published in 1999.
Why is the law poster changing?
Research showed that the previous versions of poster and leaflet were visually unappealing and rarely read. The new versions have been redesigned to be more readable and engaging.
The poster and pocket card reflect recent changes in the law, and employers no longer need to provide written information on the poster or hand it to an employee with the pocket card. Instead, if advice is needed or a problem arises, employees are advised to phone the HSE Infoline to be put in touch with the health and safety enforcing authority for their workplace, or with HSE for employment medical advice.
Do the current posters have to be replaced?
Good news! To avoid unnecessary burdens on businesses, the HSE Board has set a five-year transition period. Although the current poster must be replaced with the new one (and the current leaflets replaced by the pocket cards) this should be achieved by 5 April 2014.
However, if you decide to keep the old poster up until the end of the transition period, you must keep the written information up-to-date.
The written information that employers have to provide in writing, is inserted in the appropriate boxes on the current poster, or given it to employees with the current leaflet. The required information is:
The name and address of the enforcing authority.
The address of the office of HSE’s Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS) for the premises concerned. (These addresses can be obtained by phoning HSE’s Infoline on 0845 345 0055.)
Competent person’s name and address.
Where can you get a copy of the new poster and how much will it cost?
You can order the new poster from the HSE website or from HSE books (telephone 01787 881165) or through booksellers. At the current VAT rate (15 per cent) the standard English or Welsh version costs £7.34. The semi-rigid version costs £11.75. A pack of pocket cards (25 cards) costs £5. All the new law posters will have a uniquely numbered hologram to prove authenticity.
Further details regarding the new poster can be found at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/lawposter.htm