CONSULTANCY SERVICES

• Climbing Walls
  • Business plan development
  • Concept design consultancy
  • Operational management advice, risks assessments and procedures
  • Instructor, route setter and staff training
• Expert Witness Services
• Personal and Team Development Training
• Extreme Sports and Adventurous Activities
  • Risk assessments and safety reviews
  • Safety services for the TV & film industry
  • Event planning and management

Our consultancy services are delivered by a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals who draw on over 18 years experience of running extreme sports and adventure activities from the Bristol Climbing Centre. As a company, we have unparalleled operational experience in relation to artificial climbing walls and summer mountain adventure activities and we combine this with individual expertise in rock and mountain sports, education and training and occupational health & safety.

The UCR consultancy service uses the considerable combined experience of its team members:

Julian Walker Founder and Director of UCR, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with expertise in rock climbing, caving, cave diving, kayaking and mountain biking. As an Engineer, Julian held spent 5 years as an HSE Specialist Inspector before moving to WS Atkins to become Chief Engineer and Head of Nuclear and Advanced Technology in Bristol.

Steve Richardson Managing Director of UCR, Mountaineering Instructor, Teacher and Electronics Engineer with expertise in rock climbing, mountaineering and caving. Steve held the chair of the ABC for many years and gives advice on the operational management of climbing walls.

Guy Jarvis Chief Instructor at UCR and Mountaineering Instructor with personal expertise in rock climbing, mountaineering and adventurous expeditions, Guy is the Chair of NICAS, sits on the board of MLTE and advises on training and instruction.

Jo McCready Teacher and Management Development trainer. Jo advises on all development training issues.

We also have a network of Technical Advisors to help you in your local area if you need ongoing support away from Bristol. We have advised and supported a diverse range of clients, including:

• Acting as Technical Advisors for the development and operation of climbing walls.
• Assisting with the recruitment, development and training of key personnel at climbing walls in the public and private sector.
• Providing route setting services and training.
• Carrying out and documenting a wide range of adventure activity risk assessments for a major holiday company.
• Producing risk assessments and operating manuals for overseas multi-activity adventure holiday operators.
• Providing technical advice to the film and TV industry.
• Acting as expert witnesses in relation to climbing accidents.

DEVELOPMENT COURSES

As part of our consultancy service we regularly design and run specific courses for clients in any of the following fields:

Coaching Skills for Instructors

This practical course introduces the techniques and principles of coaching movement skills to climbers. We will look at coaching principles as well as a variety of games and techniques that can be used on any climbing wall.

Communication Skills for Instructors

We focus on the core skills of communication to make your instructing more effective. Drawing on ideas from NLP we will look at presentation skills etablishing rapport and clarity of communication.

Expedition leader training

We run a variety of courses for expedition leaders, teachers and youth leaders to help them lead and inspire groups of young people. We look at management issues, teambuilding techniques, communication skills and the nature of leadership.

Team Dynamics

These courses, often used for expeditions, are designed to increase the effectiveness of a team by exploring the roles of each individual and the inter-personal relationships between them. It allows team members to understand their role within the team through a task-based approach and appraise individual strengths and limitations.

Instructor training

Please see the Qualifications section

"Really good week again. Good mix of learning, lectures and practical sessions". Medical Expeditions - Providers of the Diploma In Mountain Medicine