Here at Harper Adams University College we offer a range of National Governing Body Awards for the aspiring Outdoor professional. The courses listed are either infill on to an existing course or as a bespoke provision to an individual or group.    In the case of bespoke group provision, there is the possibility of the course being delivered at a location to suit you.

Land-based Courses Offered

Registration with National Governing Body

Please note that for Single Pitch Award Training and Assessment registration with the relevant Mountain Training Board is required. The board you register with depends on where you live in the UK. For further details visit the Mountain Leader Training website:  www.mltuk.org/

Single Pitch Award (Training)

This two-day course covers the safe management of groups on single pitch climbs and abseils. After completion of this training course, candidates are required to undertake a consolidation period (usually a minimum of three months duration) prior to assessment. Candidates will be given a debrief and action plan for progression towards assessment.

Single Pitch Award (Assessment)

For those who have completed a SPA Training course, and are in possession of a suitable First Aid certificate.

Mountain Leader Award (Summer) Pre-assessment Preparation

An intensive two-day course covering the aspects of the Mountain Leader syllabus that typically cause candidates the most problems. The programme can be tailored to meet the needs of the group, but will probably include night and micro-navigation, ropework and steep ground.

Water-based Courses Offered

Registration with National Governing Body

BCU (British Canoe Union) awards have recently undergone a substantial revision- we can offer the most up to date specification awards here at Harper Adams University College. For BCU Star awards and rescue certificate, it is not necessary to register with the BCU. However successful candidates will be required to pay a nominal fee to the BCU to receive the relevant certificate.

BCU 2-Star Award (New Syllabus) Training

The new 2 Star Award represents the entry-level qualification to kayaking and canoeing, and is an essential prerequisite for anyone seeking to pursue an instructing qualification. If you have had some basic paddling experience, this training session will develop your skills so that you will be in a position to go forward to assessment.  The instructor will give each participant an action plan where appropriate, to ensure your success at assessment.

This new award involves both open canoe and closed cockpit kayak skills. During the two days you will have the opportunity to practice techniques needed for both craft.

BCU 2 Star Award (New Syllabus) Assessment

This one-day assessment is open those with basic kayak and canoe skills; attendance at the training course is not compulsory but advantageous.

BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Test

This one-day course replaces the former Canoe Safety Test, and is an essential prerequisite for anyone seeking to embark upon the BCU coaching scheme. The course looks at a range of deep water and land-based rescues, such as Eskimo rescue, the use of throwbags, and open canoe rescue techniques.

Prerequisites: The candidate must possess the BCU 2 Star Award

For further information regarding any outdoor courses or bespoke programmes please contact Karl Smith on 01952 815306
E-mail: kjsmith@harper-adams.ac.uk

Equipment Required

For Single Pitch Award training all equipment other than personal clothing will be provided. We accept that some candidates will prefer to use their own equipment.  At assessment it is expected that candidates will provide all their own equipment, other than ropes and guidebooks to the local area which we will provide.

For Mountain Leader pre-assessment, an important part of the process is checking candidates’ preparedness to lead groups on the hill. Therefore you are expected to provide all necessary equipment including group shelter.

For British Canoe Union Awards all equipment will be provided, but candidates are requested to bring a change of clothing, footwear suitable for getting wet and a suitably warm hat.

(Some of the NGB courses are obliged to have a minimum number of participants to be valid.)

Contact Us

Emma Welch
Short Course Officer
Email: Click here to contact Emma Welch
Telephone: +44 (0)1952 815300