SMB College Group have recently embarked on an exciting new venture with the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR), forging a partnership that will serve to provide a wealth of industry-relevant knowledge and experience for students.
Students from the college’s Horticulture, Countryside Management, Uniformed Public Services, Animal Management and Equine departments will benefit from work placements, industry insight and enrichment with the DATR, which is located in Melton Mowbray – just 7 miles away from the college’s 850-acre Brooksby estate.
This new working agreement will also facilitate the sharing of industry knowledge, allowing both organisations to champion welfare, care and industry best practice.
When speaking of this exciting new partnership and the opportunities it will bring, the Commanding Officer of the Defence Animal Training Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Robinson, said ‘This Memorandum of Understanding recognises the significant benefits of our cooperative and reciprocal relationship, notably exploiting the land-based, animal care and public service parallels that exist between our two organisations.
‘We have identified opportunities that will strengthen both our organisations and allow for increased knowledge exchange, work placement opportunities and improvements to animal practice. The benefits are already being realised with partnering between the College, Defence Animal Training Regiment and The Dog Trust’s Animal Welfare Scheme as a triumvirate championing welfare, care and industry best-practice.
‘Furthermore, the College also provides an OFSTED-recommended Independent Advisory Panel to support the assurance of the duty of care to our trainees. The pastoral expertise of the College provides us with an independent, objective perspective, which is an invaluable source of advice, challenge and encouragement. It also supports our young soldiers under training and strengthens the Regiment’s continuous improvement programme.’
James Thorne, Assistant Principal at SMB College Group, added ‘SMB College Group – Brooksby Campus is delighted to be working with Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR – MOD). This partnership will bring so many new opportunities to both our Further Education learners and our Undergraduate students, including a valuable insight into a very professional and high performing working environment.
‘Students will be working on a range of projects including involvement in the Equine and Dog units, competitions, and welfare schemes, in addition to conservation and environment input for the campus base. Uniformed Public Services students will also have the opportunity to experience personal training sessions. We look forward to working with DATR through this long term collaborative partnership’.
One such opportunity, that is already underway, is an Animal Management degree project in which students are engaging with the DATR and Dogs Trust Animal Welfare Scheme. When asked about this project, Animal Management Lecturer, Beth Prior, said ‘This scheme has allowed our students to put their knowledge into practice, completing a range of animal welfare assessments during regular visits to DATR, and sharing knowledge of animal welfare, care and industry best practice between the three organisations.’
SMB College Group is a Further Education college based across three campuses in Leicestershire. The college’s Brooksby Campus is an 850-acre countryside estate that specialises in training students in the land-based industries, sport and uniformed public services, with opportunities ranging from Entry Level courses up to Undergraduate degree programmes.
The Defence Animal Training Regiment is a training establishment based in Melton Mowbray, which trains animals for all three armed forces. Its headquarters are also the principal base of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
