If you are after a jobs that requires you to teach people how to climb, either indoors on a purpose built climbing wall, or outside on crags, or if you want to lead groups of walkers, especially in a mountain environment, you need to get qualified with one or more of the main British Mountaineering Council qualifications.
Are you passionate about helping children build confidence through the experience of outdoor adventure? Would you like to work in 58 acres of beautiful enclosed woodland close to both London and the South Coast?
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We are looking for a Senior Instructor to lead, motivate and develop a team of high quality instructors and trainees, ensuring industry best-practice and excellence in activity training and delivery. Details & Apply..
Delphi Adventure Team now recruiting for 2024! Ready to take your outdoor instruction skills to Ireland's stunning west coast? Join our dynamic team, taking clients through thrilling activities amidst breath-taking landscapes, and make unforgettable new memories in an adventure setting like no other Details & Apply..
Wire and Sky is partnering with the Welsh Rugby Union to bring a new rooftop climb and zip wire attraction to the Principality Stadium. We are looking for an adventurous and enthusiastic team to help launch and deliver this attraction in early 2024 - come and join us! Details & Apply..
Adventure Beyond is recruiting qualified paddlesport and outdoor activities instructors for the 2023 season. We are based primarily on the West coast of Wales utilising the varied and beautiful, wildlife-rich and Instagram-worthy Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire & Ceredigion areas. Details & Apply..
Seasonal Instructors required for a fun filled season on the South Coast! Details & Apply..
Buzz Active are recruiting for an Activity Instructor for the 2024 season, we are looking for staff available to start from mid-March to the end of October. Buzz Active is a part of the East Sussex County Council’s learning outside the classroom portfolio with three outdoor centres in Sussex.
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We are looking for a Senior Instructor to lead, motivate and develop a team of high quality instructors and trainees, ensuring industry best-practice and excellence in activity training and delivery. Details & Apply..
We are seeking a skilled, driven, and well-qualified candidate who thrives in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. The ideal candidate should possess the ability to recognize and promptly address potential risks, with prior experience in inspections and equipment maintenance being a necessary asset Details & Apply..
Are you passionate about helping children build confidence through the experience of outdoor adventure? Would you like to work in 58 acres of beautiful enclosed woodland close to both London and the South Coast? Details & Apply..
Let's start with indoors on the climbing wall. It doesn't matter whether the wall is twenty feet high with a couple of routes, or whether it is a monster like the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, you need the Climbing Wall Award (CWA) or the older Single Pitch Award (SPA) as a minimum. Once you hold one of these you can take the Climbing Wall Leading Award (CWLA) which builds on your existing knowledge and allows you to teach lead climbing skills.
To qualify for the basic awards you will need to demonstrate knowledge of climbing venues and rope management. You will also need to show you can manage groups, teach climbing skills and undertake emergency procedures. The course itself usually lasts a couple of days and you will learn a great deal from it. You should also make sure your first aid certificate is up to date, as you will need this as part of the course assessment.
You may also be interested in the Walking Group Leader Award (WGL) which allows you to take groups of walkers in terrain that is upland, fells and moors. The North York Moors would be a good example. Slightly more challenging is the Mountain Leader Award (ML) and the Winter Mountain Leader Award (MLW) which is also designed for those leading hill walking groups, though in tougher mountain terrain, without ropes. And a step further would be the Mountaineering Instructor Award (MIA) and the Mountain Instructors Certificate (MIC). These two allow you to lead groups in more challenging conditions and environments. They will broaden your experience and improve your job prospects if you are aiming to teach at a level beyond basic climbing.
So once you are qualified to teach, what can you expect from a climbing instructor job? The main job requirements are going to mirror the information you learnt during the Single Pitch Award, namely being able to provide direct instruction to groups on various aspects of climbing. You'll be responsible for the health and safety of the people you are teaching. There will probably also be some paperwork involved.
Teaching climbing, you can expect to earn anywhere up to £300 per week for basic instruction. Once fully qualified, you can earn up to £12 per hour. If you are working at an activity centre, do take into account that your accommodation and food may be subsidised, so although the wage may be lower, so are your outgoings.
We spoke to Adam about his experiences as a Climbing Instructor in West Wales.
"I have been mad keen on climbing for years now. I went on an activity holiday in the Peak District as a kid and being allowed to climb all over these rocks without my Mum shouting at me to get down was fantastic. It all grew from there really. I found a local climbing wall and went there a lot to improve my skills. The staff there were really helpful and when I asked them about how to get more involved, they said I should do the single pitch award or the climbing wall award."
"I took that and started applying for jobs. There weren’t loads of jobs available so I did some more courses at college and I think it was that that helped me get my first job. I was an assistant climbing instructor with an outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District. I imagined myself somewhere like Wales or Scotland to be honest I thought the Lake District would be a bit flat. I was wrong. There is some of the best climbing in the country. It was ace being able to climb in my free time, and climb while I was at work too. Teaching groups of kids from the city who had probably never seen a mountain before is so rewarding. Making sure they are aware of all the safety procedures and how dangerous it can be, then getting them out on the rock. Teaching people to climb is the best job in the world!"
"Recently I moved to a new company in Wales and I have started to take my mountain leader award so that I can take groups out away from the purpose built wall at the centre."
