Life Long Learning Puts Clare Ahead in her Field

A love for horses has led Clare Cannon on course for lifelong learning.  

The Bangor woman is director of Behind the Stable Door, a rural social enterprise which creates social and circular opportunities by collaborating with businesses.   They make and sell animal bedding from recyclable material, and also involve people with a range of identified social needs in the work, which is proving a win-win for participants and for the environment. 

Clare says, “This is a working farm, so early morning work revolves around tending to our animals: sheep poultry, horses.  At mid-morning, 4 or 5 people - identified by South Eastern Health Care Trust - arrive each day to help us with activities on the farm. Most of them are involved with us for half a day and no two days are the same.   Participants will help us finish off the work with the animals and then will be involved in activities such as horticulture, land management and recycling.   They are learning new skills, interacting, and  being out in the fresh air – it is all about wellbeing."  

“We make bedding suitable for any animal, from a gerbil right through to a horse.   We sell on eBay, all over Northern Ireland and the UK mainland. Customers might call in for bedding or we might deliver, or post, so it is busy keeping up with orders."

Clare, who moved to England to do a National Diploma in the Management of Horses, worked in horse care for several years and even travelled to the United States for short term contracts.   She says, “When I was younger, studying and learning weren't for me but as I have gotten older, I found that I loved to learn new things and would always be looking out for something that I could use for my business to improve systems.   I think I came along to an open day at SERC and have returned on several occasions to do short, part time courses including leadership and management, train the trainer, digital marketing and Sage. I have been able to avail of mentoring and support through the business service team and the entrepreneur club."

She adds, “My experience of the College has always been very positive.  I found the tutors exceptional and highly professional and was pleasantly surprised at what was available through SERC, and on my doorstep!   I loved the experience which kept me coming back for different courses which would help me progress my business and contacts."
 

Speaking about her current position she says, “One of the biggest challenges of what we are trying to do at Behind the Stable Door was navigating the red tape that we have experienced in terms of recycling.   As a community group, we are doing these things for the right reasons, but the agencies who you expect to help us were not helpful at all.   In the end, it took a lot of work, determination, and finance to get going – surprisingly, you are not allowed to work with waste without paying the Environment Agency."

 “I am now in the world of the self-employed.   My education before SERC didn’t help me learn to be a leader or how to do things on social media – it is these skills, along with mentoring support through SkillUp at the College, which have proved invaluable to my everyday work."

Clare concludes, “SERC is very accessible, offering online and in-person courses. I found part time study was designed for people who are working full time, whatever their role or lifestyle commitments.   I regularly tell people to get themselves along to SERC to find out what is on offer.   There are so many things our government gets wrong, but access to education is so important for everyone. Further Education is something they got right.”

Apply now for courses commencing September 2023 to unlock your future #BetterOffAtSERC.