Mountain Training releases updated guidance for site-specific climbing wall training schemes

Mountain Training continues to support indoor climbing walls through this latest release of its guidance for site-specific training schemes, which has been updated to reflect developments in good practice.

Site-specific training schemes are used by some indoor climbing walls and other artificial climbing walls to ensure the competency of their staff. In some instances it can be a more tailored and accessible route to demonstrating competence than requiring staff hold a national climbing instructor qualification, such as Climbing Wall Instructor.

The guidance is designed to be used by competent persons/technical advisors and climbing walls to develop and deliver unique site-specific training schemes and it has been endorsed by the Association of British Climbing Walls, BMC (British Mountaineering Council), Mountaineering Ireland and Mountaineering Scotland.

Guy Jarvis, Executive Officer for Mountain Training England said, “Mountain Training recognises the important role of site-specific endorsement and we hope this refreshed guidance provides support to those designing and delivering bespoke training to wall and centre staff, that is fit for purpose."

“We know many people who receive site-specific training often go on to complete a national qualification and we’re currently finalising the details of a Bouldering Wall Instructor qualification which will be launched in October. This will provide an additional option for the sector and has been developed in response to demand from walls and the individuals who work in them.”

Kath Hipwell, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of British Climbing Walls said, “We welcome this updated guidance from Mountain Training to support climbing walls in delivering high quality training that is both standardised and specifically relevant to their own centre and how it is used.”