Our People

HR Director

One of my great passions is helping people to progress upwards through the business. I am very lucky that in my position I am able to ensure this happens. The Board invest a significant sum into staff training and there are a number of ways that we achieve our aims beyond achieving basic and health and safety compliance for our employees and customers.

Firstly, we are an apprenticeship levy paying employer which means we put a lot of focus on using these funds throughout all the areas of our business; we have a number of apprentices now working in our grounds and estates teams, finance teams, as well as customer facing roles.

Secondly, we support staff with relevant qualifications through part-funding, full-funding and paid time off to study and take exams. This is particularly relevant to employees working on their accounting or HR qualifications as well as our Clerks of the Course. In the last 3 years I am delighted to say that we have fully funded the training and accreditation for six new Clerks who are working around the business.

Thirdly, we offer any member of staff the opportunity for a personal development programme. This could involve basic skills training on things like excel or word, personal coaching sessions, or access to funding for external courses or qualifications.

Something I am extremely proud of is that we also run two internal development programmes for our ‘Rising Stars’. ‘Under Starters Orders’ is aimed at colleagues who are looking to take on their first Line Management position within the next 12-24 months. ‘The Final Furlong’ is for existing Line Managers who are seeking a Department Head, Executive or Senior Management Team position. We are inundated with applications each year and people who have completed these programmes come out with enhanced knowledge of the business, the industry and themselves. Whilst not everyone who secures a place is looking for promotion, it is recognised that over a third of those who complete the course have gone on to be promoted.

I am so delighted to be a part of seeing people develop through their employment with us; long may it continue!

The People

Helen Lees

Events Sales Manager, Wolverhampton Racecourse

ARC really is a fantastic company to work for. You spend more of your life at work than at home –it’s like an extended family. If you want a job look elsewhere if you want a career choose ARC.

Paula Jones

Commercial Manager Wolverhampton Racecourse

I was so very impressed with the way my whole recruitment process was handled. From the first fairly informal chat to completing the psychometric survey at the final stages everything was totally professional and gave me a real sense of being offered a role in an organisation that does things properly.

Caroline Williams

Deputy General Manager – Chepstow Racecourse

I have always enjoyed working for the business. I love the challenge and the variety that each day brings. When I left a few years ago for a three-year period, I missed the team ethic, product and the sales focus that I had been used to working in. I have always felt that the Company has rewarded me for what I have achieved and more recently have supported me over the last twelve months whilst on maternity leave to enjoy my time off with my little girl.

David Leyden Dunbar

Group Director of Partnerships

ARC offers an extremely fast moving working environment and the variety which each day brings is the part of the job I enjoy most. At Head Office we’re a small but incredibly dynamic team and we work collaboratively with all our colleagues on the racecourses to deliver the results that are expected. As part of this, my primary role is developing, implementing and taking full ownership of the group’s overarching commercial partnership strategy aimed at the delivery of our long term business objectives and working with the commercial teams at each course to exploit every one of our assets to its full potential.

Michael Bloomer

Group Management Accountant, Head Office (Millbank)

ARC is a phenomenal company to work for, being within the Racing, Events & Hospitality industry is a great experience in itself, plus you have the best, supportive colleagues surrounding you. One of the great qualities of the business is how it drives to develop, whatever department you may be in. I have personally been given numerous opportunities to progress from first starting out as a Finance Assistant, developing through the ranks to a racecourse accountant, then to a Financial controller and finally achieving a Head Office position as the Group Management Accountant.

Megan Prout

Racing Sales Executive

I took part in the Junior Development programme (now known as Under Starter’s Orders) in 2017-2018, I found this a very rewarding programme to be on. I learned about all the different areas within ARC and got an insight to what it was like in each department. This has enabled me to further progress as I can now incorporate these areas & knowledge within my day to day job. For example; when selling hospitality packages, I now know which package is more profitable, and also how all the catering costs work. My Favourite Module was Catering.

Steven Riley

2nd Chef Sunderland Greyhound Stadium

I have worked at the stadium for 11 months and have found that there are benefits to be had for example passes to the other racecourses within the group and also discounts at hotels and golf clubs and even the pub at Newcastle race course offers discount to employees!

Charlotte Caple

Sales Manager Chepstow Racecourse

I have been at Chepstow for 6 years. In this time, I have grown from being a Sales Executive to a Sales Manager. I take pride each day in knowing that I work for one of the biggest organisations within British Racing.

Working for ARC has certainly helped me through the years gain confidence, experience and much more. They offer support where it’s needed and praise where its due.

Having a busy competition life outside of work, ARC has certainly helped with this by having flexible working hours, supportive line managers and a dedicated team.

Sam Blount

Front Office Manager, Wolverhampton hotel

ARC has given me more confidence in being a manager. I feel valued by the company and have been rewarded with a place on the ‘Under Starters Orders’ development programme. I have only been on the development program for just over a month, but the support I am feeling from other members of senior management is amazing. ARC encourage me to progress in my career.

Stella Goodwin

Events Development Executive at Bath Racecourse

Naomi Turnbull

Food & Beverage Assistant - Sunderland Greyhound Stadium

I have worked for ARC since the take over at the stadium. The ethos of the company is reflected by the multitude of the employee benefits we receive. It is also demonstrated in the support we get to push customer service to keep ARC superior and at the top of their field.

Lauren Beresford

Events Executive at Uttoxeter Racecourse

I am proud to say that I completed the Junior Development Programme for Arena Racing in 2018. The programme enabled me to explore and learn about all aspects of the ARC business by the various modules which were organised throughout the year. It was great to have the chance to visit other courses and share best practice ideas with other colleagues. I truly believe that by completing the programme it has helped me gain a better understanding of the wider areas of the business and this has been key for my personal development.

Hark Thandi

Group CRM Manager, Central Marketing

It’s the people that I work with on a daily basis that makes ARC such an attractive place to work. When I joined in September 2017, I was able to adapt and fit straight in due to how welcoming everyone made me feel, and this was not only staff in my office but all members of staff across each racecourse and head office. The flexible office hours and being able to travel around keeps things very interesting and exciting. The work is challenging but I have amazing support and work with genuine people which brings out the best in me.

Jayne Greenman

HR Director

I am so delighted to be a part of seeing people develop through their employment with us; long may it continue!

Ben Stores

Sales and Marketing Executive

The opportunities within ARC are endless, with the racecourses up and down the country and a strong preference to promote within, there is always opportunities to further your career in any walk of the business.

I was recently selected onto the Under Starters Orders development course and although in its early stages, I can already see it is a fantastic opportunity to grow. Having met other ARC employees from all over the country, making valuable connections with people and visiting other venues it’s an experience like no other. As an employee it makes you feel extremely valued that such faith has been put into you and your work.

Kim Crump

Regional HR Manager Arena Racing Company

As an employee who has recently returned from maternity leave I was especially pleased to have had my flexible working application approved. Having a baby is such a life milestone so naturally I was apprehensive and nervous about returning to work but to be able to balance my work and personal life has made the transition back into work a lot easier than I originally thought. Having family friendly policies within the Company really make a difference and it’s reassuring to know that the Company appreciates this.

Jo-Anna Burn

Bar & Catering Assistant - Sunderland Greyhound Stadium

I have been here for 7 years now and really enjoy my job. I have learnt many new skills and made some lifelong friends. I believe the management at the stadium have time for the staff and value our opinions and are always on hand and communicate company values and the benefits we get being part of ARC.

David Gath

Head of Digital

Here in the ARC Digital team we are busy transforming our entire digital estate, which is huge! We’re responsible for the design and technical development of all of our digital properties which includes individual websites for all of our racing venues plus a number of brand and subsidiary sites, around 30 websites in total. We also develop all of our own web management tools in-house to give our racecourse and business colleagues maximum flexibility in communicating their unique brands and customer offers.

We are a friendly and enthusiastic team with a real diversity of skills and experience. We work in an ‘Agile’ manner which enables us to be responsive and hugely flexible. There is a real ‘can-do’ attitude in the team and we always rise to the many challenges that come our way from around the business. We pride ourselves in embracing new technologies, digital trends and working practices so we are constantly evolving the way we work and how we do things. In addition to all of that we regularly get to watch afternoon racing from our office window, which looks directly out onto the finishing straight at Wolverhampton Racecourse!

Hayley Plimley

Senior Development Programme

Back in 2016 I undertook the ARC Senior Development Programme. Following a successful application, a bespoke plan was written for me by ARC Senior Management to ensure that I had the tools to drive my career forward.

As part of the course I gained funding to complete a level 7 in Strategic Leadership & Management via the Racing Management Academy at the British Racing School in Newmarket. The course lasted 7 months and explored all aspects of management and the tools necessary to become a successful leader. The course also provided the opportunity to experience numerous aspects of the racing industry with visits to the Tattersall Horse Sales, the gallops of Newmarket, a tour of an equine hospital and Darley Stud, plus guest speaker sessions with racing industry leaders. This really opened my eyes to the industry that I am fortunate to work in.

The programme also allowed me to work on the awarding-winning Silk Series project alongside ARC Group Directors, exposing me to the Senior Team and raising my profile. The support and opportunity has been fantastic. My skills have developed, I have received a promotion and I am now leading a high performing team of 9 great people.

Fun Wall

Arena Racing Company is a lively, fun, yet professional place to work. A range of activities is organised throughout the year, giving staff an opportunity to mix in a relaxed environment.