MEMBERS of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers have visited White Rose Saddlery in Norton.

The Worshipful Company, which is one of the very oldest City of London Livery companies, an ancient trade association, works to promote the British saddlery industry and maintain high standards through its support of saddlery trainees and apprentices.

White Rose Saddlery was one of the few premises visited by the group as they toured the country to meet with business owners and gain an insight into the way saddlery businesses operate in a challenging market place.

Business owner Wendy Hoggard, a master saddler and an executive member of the Society of Master Saddlers, gave a short presentation to the group asking them to consider the needs of training facilities and opportunities in the North of England and emphasised the importance of apprenticeships in this sector through early involvement at school and college level.

The group toured the saddlery workshop and took the opportunity to meet staff and look at goods being manufactured for the racing industry.

White Rose Saddlery is unique among many of the other members because of their specialisation in bespoke racing products, something the visitors found particularly interesting.

Wendy said: “I was very proud that the group chose to come to see us on their tour of the North. The visit will help key people within our industry get an important insight into how we operate at and what we need in training and support to secure the future of this industry which continues to produce some of the finest saddlery in the world."