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Become a Member

The ABC’s mission is to drive the professionalism, safety, growth and diversity of the indoor climbing industry, on behalf of our 250+ members.

Membership types

Full ABC membership is open to all climbing walls in the UK and Ireland. By joining the ABC, you gain access to a vibrant and growing community of wall owners and operators, operational and safety support, discounts, and more.

We also offer Associate Membership, for organisations and businesses with links to the climbing wall industry who would like to work with our members, or who would benefit from access to ABC Operational Guidelines, updates and events.

For climbing walls within the EU but outside of the UK and Ireland, we offer European Associate membership – an information-only membership which offers you access to our sector-leading guidelines documents and events.

ABC Accreditation and Approved Membership

Alongside our membership offer, the ABC runs an industry-leading climbing wall accreditation programme. Prior to the launch of the programme, climbing walls would move from Aspirant to Approved membership status via a self-audit process. This scheme is no longer available and all new walls will be classed as ‘ABC Member’. Walls seeking Approved membership should apply instead for ABC Accreditation.

Existing ABC Approved members are encouraged to start the Accreditation process by 1st May 2026 and will be able to retain their ABC Approved badge until this date.

Climbing Wall Member

Price based on wall size*

Our core membership is for climbing walls in the UK and Ireland. As your trade association, we provide you with expert advice, access to legal services, industry standard operational guidelines as well as a range of other resources, events and discounts. We also lobby on behalf of the industry at a national level.

ABC members gain access to:

Industry standard ABC Operational Guidelines. These are based on BS-EN standards and developed in consultation with our board and industry experts
Member downloads, which include; boulder safety and safe belaying posters, risk assessment templates, acknowledgment of risk forms, accident procedure form templates, and more
Free HR, Employment Law, and H&S support from leading solicitors
The ABC boulder safety video
The Incident Reporting Database (IRD), a full incident reporting system, reports and national data benmchmarking
Support from ABC officers on any industry-specific challenges you may face
Free ABC and WorkNest workshops and seminars
Discounted tickets to the annual ABC Conference & AGM
Discounted copy of our bi-annual national market research on the UK indoor climbing industry (or participate and get a copy for free)
Notice and minutes of all general meetings of the association
Voting rights at the AGM
Personalised ABC Aspirant Member certificate
A listing on the climber-focused ‘Find a Wall’ page
Industry-relevant newsletters (roughly twice per month) and safety alerts

*Pricing

Small: under 100 boulder and/or 25 lines	£380 + VAT
Medium: 100-175 boulder and/or 25-99 lines	£395 + VAT
Large: 175-249 boulder and/or 25-99 lines	£450 + VAT
XL: 250+ boulder and/or 100+ lines	£490 + VAT
Per additional site where largest site pays fee as above	£190 + VAT

A discounted membership rate is available for extra-small walls operating not-for-profit and not open to the general public. Please contact us for details.

Associate Member

£360 + VAT p.a.

Associate Membership is for organisations or individuals that do not operate a climbing wall but have, or would like to have, links with the climbing wall industry. This level of membership commits your organisation to promoting the ABC Guidelines and ABC membership in the climbing wall industry.

Associate membership will give you:

The opportunity to promote your business, product or service to ABC members. This includes an annual spot on our socials, our ABC member newsletter and the Route Setting Development newsletter
Be recommended by the ABC on inbound enquiries relating to services you deliver
Access to the industry standard ABC Operational Guidelines. These are based on BS-EN standards and developed in consultation with our board and industry experts
Discounted tickets to the annual ABC Conference & AGM
Discounted copy of our bi-annual national market research on the UK indoor climbing industry
Invites to all general meetings. (You will not have the right to vote or to be nominated as an officer of the Association)
Notice and minutes of all general meetings of the association
Free access to ABC and WorkNest seminars and workshops
Free HR, Employment Law, and H&S support from leading solicitors
The opportunity to use the ABC logo (clearly identifying Associate membership) on your company’s documentation
Invitations to working groups
Industry-relevant newsletters (roughly twice per month) and safety alerts

European Associate Member

€540 p.a.*

This Membership is for climbing walls based outside of the UK but who wish to use the ABC standard guidelines to inform their good practice. The European Associate membership is ‘information’ only: we do not offer any advice to walls outside of the UK laws and the ABC does not take responsibility for any regional differences in regulation or other matters.

European Associate membership will give you:

Access to the industry standard ABC Operational Guidelines. These are based on BS-EN standards and developed in consultation with our board and industry experts
Discounted tickets to the annual ABC Conference & AGM
Opportunity to attend relevant online seminars
Invitations to working groups (subjects range from auto belay safety to panel strength assessment)
Industry-relevant newsletters (roughly twice per month, but we make sure only to send newsletters when we have something useful to say)
Safety self audit form
Member downloads, which include; boulder safety and safe belaying posters (some member downloads may be less relevant to international members due to variances in regulations e.g. risk assessment templates, acknowledgment of risk forms, accident procedure form templates. Use of these would be at the member’s discretion)

* You must supply your VAT number to qualify for this price and then account for VAT via the reverse charge obligation in your own country. If you are not registered for VAT in your country, then we will need to add UK VAT (20%) to the membership fee. Payment is required by bank transfer.