Unsustainable Newton Rigg Equestrian to close.
Weds 27th March 2024
Newton Rigg Limited, the educational charity established in the wake of the sad demise of Newton Rigg College in 2021, has today announced the disappointing news that Newton Rigg Equestrian Centre will be closing at the end of April 2024.
Despite working closely with the landlord and the equine team for the last year to turnaround a financially unviable part of Newton Rigg, it is with heavy hearts that the board cannot see a sustainable future for this aspect of the charity.
A representative said, ‘Newton Rigg simply cannot afford to underwrite an unprofitable and long-term unsustainable part of the organisation which is not a core part of the educational remit of the charity”.
All other key educational activities remain and continue to grow including the horticultural courses, advanced dairy management, nature journaling, training for land-based employees, wellbeing, digital skills, ecology, conservation, soil management and towards a zero carbon environment for farmers and growers courses.
The board expressed their sincere thanks to Debbie Wicks and the equine team for their work during this uncertain and difficult time.
Support the Best Land Based Skills Training Provider 2023 - North West
What better way would there be to start the new financial year, than by saying you are backing the Best Land Based Skills Training Provider 2023 - North West?
Newton Rigg Ltd is continuing to Survive, Revive and Thrive as it develops new land-based training opportunities in Cumbria and we would love your organisation to join us at this exciting time.
You can view our sponsorship booklet via this link.
If you wish to discuss any of the opportunities available, then please do not hesitate to get in touch via support@nrtraining.co.uk
Horticulture learner - employment case study
Read Richard’s experience of obtaining work upon completion of training with NR Training School of Horticulture. Read more here.
New year, new opportunities for NR Training
2024 is shaping up to be another exciting year for NR Training.
As part of a consortium of local colleges and training providers, Newton Rigg Ltd has been successful in being awarded a proportion of the £2.5 million Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) made available to Cumbria to develop training in low carbon, land based and logistics, digital, and catering and hospitality.
Suzanne Caldwell, Managing Director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s great that Cumbrian partners now have the funding confirmed to implement their LSIF projects. These will enable further important steps in implementing the Cumbrian Local Skills Improvement Plan, impacting positively on both employers and learners.”
The focus of delivery by NR Training will be on ‘Carbon Literacy and Land Use’, supported by feasibility study and course development for low carbon opportunities in the horticultural and land sector.
Courses will be run from mid March 2024, and beyond.
As 2023 came to a close NR Training’s first cohort of learners on the Gateway to Rural Employment programme, successfully completed their Open College Network qualification gaining Level 1 Award in Skills for Professions in Horticulture, Environmental and Animal Care. Learners will be receiving their Certificates shortly and have gone on to further study and to support local parish council initiatives with the knowledge and skills gained.
As one door closes, another opens. To enable the team to focus on its strengths, and to support the success of the LSIF programme, the Metal Shed delivery site at Appleby Heritage Centre has closed, but NR Training will hopefully continue to support the community of the Eden Valley if successful in gaining Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register status, in time for September 2024.
Since NR Training started in 2021, it has been a privilege to have the horticultural base at Lowther Castle and Gardens and NR Training is very grateful to Lowther for the support, which has enabled over 150 Horticultural learners to gain new skills and knowledge.
As plans develop for the start of the 2024/25 academic year Newton Rigg is delighted to be able to announce the return to the roots on the Newton Rigg Estate with a new horticultural educational teaching facility. Within this facility Newton Rigg plans to offer not only the successful Certificate and Diploma courses but also develop courses in Agronomy.
During the last few years, strong links with a number of gardens, horticultural groups and growers have been built which Newton Rigg intends to continue working with in the future. They include:
· Askham Hall Gardens
· Acorn Bank Gardens
· Dalefoot Composts
· North Cumbria Orchard Group
· Dalemain Gardens
· Home Grown Cumbria
· Larch Cottage Nurseries
· Holehird Gardens
Newton Rigg intends to continue the link with Lowther Castle & Gardens.
The Newton Rigg Equestrian Training & Events Centre, continues to grow with new opportunities for 2024 being offered from the Newton Rigg Estate including a Thoroughbred Club and Cobs Can Club. The Livery packages available enables users to either go for anything from full livery to overnight stabling depending on need. Contact events@newtonriggequestrian.co.uk for more information.
To find out more about how NR Trainings offer develops throughout 2024 then keep an eye on the website www.nrtraining.co.uk, and social media www.facebook.com/newtonriggnrtraining
If you want to help on this exciting journey by volunteering your expertise or time; by fundraising for the education charity or by sponsoring Newton Rigg, then get in touch and see what opportunities there are to work together.
Email Support@nrtraining.co.uk or call 07940151563
NEW Horticulture course launched
Don't miss out - we have a NEW course offering from our magnificent Horticulture team.
Picture Perfect Plants: will enable you to capture the beauty of gardens on our smartphone photography course.
Learn the tips, tricks, and skills to take stunning flower and garden photos with your 'always at hand' smartphone camera.
These 1 day courses are available from both Lowther Castle, Penrith and Holehird Gardens, Windermere.
Courses start in April, so book early not to miss out.
We are winners
What a way to start 2024. We have been awarded Best Land-Based Skills Training Provider 2023 - North West. Find out more below http://tinyurl.com/4mh599tx
Short Courses coming soon
NR Training is pleased to announce that it’s short course offer is coming soon.
We hope to be able to offer Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cut, Hedge Cutter, Pesticide, Rodenticide & Trimmer & Brush cutter courses initially. To express an interest in the course, please complete the contact us form detailing your course of choice and we will contact you once details are available.
NR Training is now the newest member of GTA England
It's official!
NR Training is now the newest member of GTA England, the national representative organisation of group training associations which deliver high quality workforce development training, including Apprenticeships, designed and delivered for employers.
Mark Maudsley, CEO of GTA England, said 'We are delighted to welcome NR Training into membership in 2022. We look forward to supporting NR Training in their exciting and ambitious plans to establish employer responsive learning in the land based engineering and associated sectors across Cumbria.'
We are excited to be working on our first project with GTA England as part of the group creating new contextualised engineering online learning content.
Re-opening of Newton Rigg’s equestrian centre is pivotal moment for Cumbria
Newton Rigg Ltd and NR Training are delighted to announce the re-opening of the equestrian facilities at Newton Rigg, thanks to the support and collaboration of the site’s new owners.
Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events - part of community organisation Newton Rigg Ltd - will provide training courses and facility hire for events from showjumping and dressage to mounted archery.
Newton Rigg Ltd say that this is a historic first step in the rejuvenation of activity and education at the Newton Rigg site, thanks to the generous support of the site’s new owners who share their commitment to re-building land-based education in Cumbria. Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events will not only enable the continued use of the sites outstanding facilities, but provide revenue to underpin wider educational plans. The business will operate alongside NR Training - also part of Newton Rigg Ltd - which launched last year to rebuild land-based education in Cumbria.
Professor Andy Cobb, Chairman of Newton Rigg Ltd, said “The re-opening of Newton Rigg’s fantastic equine facilities marks a pivotal moment for Cumbria. We are holding very exciting discussions about re-opening of other parts of the site for education, and believe that this step will be the first of many as our rural community works together to restore the educational provision at Newton Rigg for Cumbria and beyond.”
Newton Rigg Ltd Director Andrew Counsell, a previous Head of Equine Studies and Land-Based College Principal, has spearheaded the development of Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events along with a highly experienced and passionate management team.
Andrew said, "Newton Rigg’s equestrian facilities are exceptional, and we are very proud to see them re-opened, in such a way that will support and underpin our wider ambitions for land-based education in Cumbria and at Newton Rigg. We are very fortunate to have such an experienced and passionate team driving the equestrian offer and the business is already gathering pace at incredible speed with the first bookings and events taking place from 14th February.”
Managing the services on offer at Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events, on behalf of Newton Rigg Ltd, is Debbie Wicks (nee Cowdery) who combines her experience as an equestrian competitor of over 40 years, her passion for business development, sales & marketing and, as an Eden Councillor, her focus on the people and communities of Cumbria.
Debbie said, “I am thrilled to be able to help develop the Equestrian facilities back at Newton Rigg, and am happy to speak with anyone wishing to hire the facilities - or partner with us to provide sponsorship, advertising and equipment on site. Our aim is to provide a top class facility - and we have the team to do that. The response to date, on our social media, has been phenomenal!”
Having undergone major improvements between 2014-2015, Newton Rigg’s equestrian centre provided top class facilities for both events and education. The centre offers a large outdoor school and modern stabling, as well as an indoor school with large seated viewing gallery and arena fit for competitions and events at national level. The Equestrian centre had been out of use since Newton Rigg College was closed by previous owners Askham Bryan College. Since, Newton Rigg Ltd has been campaigning to retain use of the site and facilities for education, while also working to rebuild land-based education by offering a growing range of courses as NR Training.
A new website is in the pipeline for Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events, but the team are already taking bookings via Facebook and directly. To enquire, email events@newtonriggequestrian.co.uk. Bookings can also be made via the Newton Rigg Equestrian Training and Events page on Facebook.
UK Rural Skills Provider
We are now an approved provider for UK Rural Skills. We will be advertising courses here too and seeking accreditation for some of our rural skills programmes. Watch this space!
High Sheriff officiates official opening of the NR Training School of Horticulture at Lowther Castle & Gardens
“Today we are seeing a new entity emerging with a bright new future” (David Beeby, The High Sheriff of Cumbria)
There was excitement on Friday 3rd of September as the official opening of NR Training’s School of Horticulture took place at Lowther Castle & Gardens, where new courses in horticulture and garden design will be delivered - starting this month.
A crowd gathered to celebrate the opening which was officiated by David Beeby, The High Sheriff of Cumbria, whose partner has recently enrolled on one of NR Training’s new horticulture courses at Lowther.
In his address, the High Sheriff celebrated that “We are starting to see the Phoenix rise from the ashes of Newton Rigg College. Newton Rigg College was first established in 1896. Today we are seeing a new entity emerging with a bright new future.”
The High Sheriff thanked the directors of Newton Rigg Ltd for their huge efforts in creating the new future, as well as Andrew Counsell and Dr Jane Sullivan, the “driving forces behind NR Training”. He also thanked the NR Training School of Horticulture team - Shelagh Todd (Head of Horticulture) and tutors Louise Stoddart, Lyn Brunette and Jay Barker for their work in establishing the new range of courses in Horticulture and Garden Design.
School of Horticulture Open Day-Aug 24th 10-4pm
We will be hosting an Open Day for applicants and prospective applicants to visit our facilities at Lowther Castle on Tue August 24th, 10am-4pm.
Shelagh and the team will be available to chat about the various courses and answer any questions you may have.
Join us for ‘Tour and talk’ and see the gardens- your classroom for the year!
Tour and talk times : 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 3pm.
No need to book- just meet at The Old Shop in the courtyard of Lowther Castle.
Newton Rigg Ltd launch ‘NR Training’ to rebuild land-based education in Cumbria with first new courses announced for September start
Community organisation Newton Rigg Ltd, who vowed to rebuild land-based education in Cumbria following the controversial closure of Newton Rigg College, have today launched ‘NR Training' - a new land-based training provider set to deliver a growing range of courses from September this year.
Pivotal to the launch is an exciting collaboration with Lowther Estate that will see the expert-led NR Training School of Horticulture begin running courses in the inspiring surroundings of Lowther Castle and Gardens this September. A new course in Advanced Dairy Management is also now accepting applications as the first of numerous courses planned as part of NR Training’s Rural Business School vision.
Alongside their ongoing campaign to preserve the use of Newton Rigg’s campus and Sewborwens Farm for education and training, Newton Rigg Ltd say the move is the first step towards a bright and sustainable future for land-based education in Cumbria and new fully incorporated college.
Dr Jane Sullivan (educational consultant and Director of Newton Rigg College 2015-18) has played a key role in NR Training’s development along with Newton Rigg Ltd Director Andrew Counsell (former principal of Duchy College, Vice Chair of Landex).
Dr Sullivan said, “The NR Training initiative has been in development for some time and we are now delighted to offer our first courses starting this September in Horticulture and Advanced Dairy Management.
“Thanks to a fantastic collaboration with Lowther Estate the NR Training School of Horticulture is able to offer adult education in horticulture and garden design in the inspiring surroundings of Lowther Castle and Gardens, starting this September. In addition, NR Training’s Advanced Dairy Management course is now open for applications and is the first of a number courses planned to launch over coming months as part of our wider Rural Business School vision.”
David Bliss, CEO Lowther Estate, said “We are delighted to support NR Training and offer our estate to train the next generation of horticulturalists as part of this important drive to rebuild land-based education in Cumbria. Lowther Castle and Garden Trust, in collaboration with Ernest Cook Trust, already offer learning opportunities on its estate and we are excited to be able to extend this further”
“With 130 acres of gardens, each unique in its own right, the estate is truly inspiring and as part of the learning opportunities, students will help to maintain and create the gardens of this historic landmark and be part of the 20-year masterplan to restore them.”
General Manager of Lowther Castle and Gardens and Head Gardener, Martin Ogle said “I trained at Newton Rigg College, as did most of my team, so it is fitting that we now collaborate together to secure a future for horticulture education in Cumbria, whilst continuing our long-term efforts to reimagine the gardens at Lowther Castle”.
The team behind the NR Training School of Horticulture are familiar faces in Cumbria and have an established record of delivering high quality courses leading to employment in the horticultural industry. With over 100 years of experience between them, the team, led by Shelagh Todd, formery Head of Horticulture, Forestry and Floristry at Newton Rigg Campus, are ready to utilise the extensive gardens at Lowther to teach their students up to date skills in practical horticulture and garden design.
NR Training is a trading name of Newton Rigg Ltd, a local, independent organisation formed to protect the future of specialist land-based education in Cumbria for the benefit of generations to come. Led by Andrew Counsell, a director of NR Ltd and former principal of Duchy College, and Dr Jane Sullivan, former Director of Newton Rigg Campus and education consultant, NR Training is the first step of Newton Rigg Ltd’s plan to bring back a dedicated land-based college to the county.
Newton Rigg Ltd says Cumbria’s local and busines community has really come together in the fight to preserve Newton Rigg and to rebuild land-based education in the county. The organisation has received support from numerous donors and major employers including Westmorland Ltd and the Carr’s Group.
Newton Rigg Ltd Director Chris Crewdson said, “With the launch of NR Training we are on the path to a sustainable solution for Cumbria and we are so grateful to the individuals and organisations who have supported us financially and with their advice and expertise. This is a community effort and we believe our county will look back with pride in future. We hope that any others who want to be part of this drive to rebuild land-based education in Cumbria will get in touch to offer their support or donate via our GoFundMe crowdfunding page – all help is welcome to accelerate our growth at this pivotal time.”
Newton Rigg Ltd ‘’ready to hit the ground running” land-based training provider
As Cumbrians continue to call on government to protect Newton Rigg for educational use, Newton Rigg Ltd’s action plan to rebuild land-based education with training and apprenticeships is pushing forward with widespread community support.
Newton Rigg Ltd is finalising plans to launch ‘Newton Rigg Training’ as an industry-led training provider and begin offering training courses later this year, and apprenticeships in 2022, followed by the incorporation of a new Newton Rigg College for 2025.
Driving plans for Newton Rigg Training are NRL Director Andrew Counsel (former principal of Duchy College Cornwall, 10-year Vice Chair of Landex, and a member of the IFA Route panel for land-based) and Dr Jane Sullivan, an educational consultant and former Director of Newton Rigg College who knows the college, and understands the issues that have affected it over the years,
“Most people probably don’t know how much work went in to Newton Rigg Ltd’s bid to the Further Education Commissioner, which set out an important community-backed vision for land-based education in Cumbria, or how much work is being done ‘on the ground’ right now to develop Newton Rigg Training.” said Dr Sullivan.
“We want people to know that while the fight over Newton Rigg’s assets continues, there is a huge about of work going on in the background to rebuild training opportunities in land-based education and establish ourselves as the safe pair of hands ready to take land-based education forward, and there is still hope that we can do this at Newton Rigg”
“Newton Rigg Training will be a not-for-profit training organisation that has at its very heart, the needs of Cumbrian businesses, employers and the future workforce. We are in the midst of developing our curriculum and securing a talented staffing team to deliver it to the highest standards. The road ahead is challenging, but we are confident that with enough investment to get started we can commence plugging the education and training gaps that have been left in our county by Newton Rigg campus’ closure.
Newton Rigg Ltd’s training plans are partly driven by collaboration with local organisations and businesses supporting the cause.
Adam Day, Managing Director of the Farmer Network, said,
“In future Cumbria's farmers will be required to increase food production and manage the natural environment to the highest level. It is a great challenge which will be enhanced by the right learning and development. The Farmer Network will be working with Newton Rigg Ltd and others to ensure that as much support as possible can be given to farmers of all ages in order to achieve these public benefits.”
“All we need is to raise enough funds to employ our first staff and we’ll be running our first land-based training courses in Cumbria this September”
Newton Rigg Ltd is relying on the support of local donors and businesses who are backing the cause, and have launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign so that members of the public can also contribute.
Chris Crewdson, Newton Rigg Ltd Deputy Chairman and former MD of Gilkes, Kendal, is liaising with businesses large and small, as well as individuals who are keen to support the effort.
“All we need is to raise enough funds to employ our first staff, and Newton Rigg Training will begin offering courses this September. After that we will be generating income and become eligible for funding.
“Of course, we along with many stakeholders are continuing to pressure Government to ensure that Newton Rigg will remain in educational use and as such will be at the heart of our plans, and we assure you that fight is not over, but we’re not hanging about when there are young people in Cumbria worrying about their futures. We’re ready to hit the ground running.”
“The support for Newton Rigg Ltd from the local community has been incredible. The fact that such respected and experienced businesses as Westmorland Ltd and Carrs Group have contributed to our campaign so far is testament to Cumbria’s determination to fix this mess and look after our future generations. We encourage everyone to chip in so that we can kick-start this absolutely vital training organisation for our rural communities and young people, and hit the ground running this September.”
