One Walsall Business Support grant will go to the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, where it will support the training of the next generation of saddle, bridle and leather goods makers.

The Leather Skills Centre was opened in 2020 and is operated by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers Charitable Fund, the Company’s principal charity.

A second grant has been awarded to The Equine Fitters Council to administer and operate a new directory of equine fitters, launched to improved standards.

This directory will provide listings for businesses which meet its newly developed occupational standards and code of conduct.

Lucy Atherton, Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, said: “The generous support of Walsall Business Support will contribute to ensuring our industry has the skilled saddlery professionals it needs, both to make and fit saddlery, well into the future. The Equine Fitters Directory will encourage higher standards of saddlery fitting through voluntary regulation.”

Source: Express & Star