New Mountain Training website and logo

Mountain Training and its Association are planning a new website for launch in March/April, and with that an update to the logo. For clarity, this is the Mountain Training website that hosts information about the qualifications, skills courses and membership details and resources, not tahdah/CMS (the Candidate Management System). And in relation to the logo, it is still Mountain Training, the five national awarding organisations and its Association, there will be no change to the name. The exact date for launch will be confirmed nearer the time.

Why a new website?

The aim is to better support people who want to know more about Mountain Training, the skills courses and qualifications. This is in relation to content, site navigation and digital accessibility. With regard to content, the current website works well when you know what you’re looking for, however it doesn’t do a great job of introducing who Mountain Training are and why someone might consider getting a qualification and therefore isn’t as helpful to those at the beginning of the pathway.

The Association’s members’ area also needs a refresh and reorganising to make the resources therein more accessible.

From an accessibility perspective, we’re aware that a significant number of Mountain Training candidates have dyslexia and while this can manifest differently in each person, there are design changes that can be made that are likely to have a positive impact on the majority. Mountain Training also want to make sure the website is optimised for screen readers and browser translation software.

Any links that members have in place will continue to direct people to the appropriate page on the new website so nothing should need updating. If you have any feedback about the current website that you’d like us to bear in mind ahead of launching the new one, please email as soon as possible: info@mountain-training.org – please remember this is about the Mountain Training website, not tahdah/CMS.

Why a new logo?

Mountain Training would like to distinguish itself as the collection of awarding organisations for qualifications in the UK and Ireland. At present, many activity provider logos utilise a similar mountain-scape alongside their company name, so the logo does not stand out as an official awarding body. Mountain Training qualifications and skills courses are well respected across the sector and around the world, and its 60th year felt like a fitting time to refresh the brand.

Mountain Training are not changing the name, just the icon element of the logo.

The growth in skills course participation has also prompted Mountain Training to think about the benefits of creating a sub-brand for skills courses which is slightly less formal and hopefully more appealing to new audiences.

When are things changing?

Mountain Training’s Association will let members know as soon as they can access the new logos and associated brand guidelines, which will be ahead of the public launch date. The website is due to go live in March or April, but we do not have a specific date just yet.

The logo will be updated on all Mountain Training digital assets (the new website, social media accounts, digital handbooks etc) in time for the launch, as well as qualification certificates. Other items such as timing cards, skills certificates and our books will be updated when the stock runs out. Association merchandise such buffs, badges and stickers as well as promotional materials will be available at the time of the website launch.

There will be a 12 month transition period from the date the new logo goes live, to update and retire the former logo. The former logo will feature in a news’ article on our website to ease confusion now or in the future.

If you have any questions about the new website and/or new logo, please contact us or your national Mountain Training board executive officer.

We will update on progress as the project continues.