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ABC Membership

There are four different types of membership available with the ABC. They are;

Associate – for organisations and companies with links to the climbing wall industry, who would like to work with us or our audience, or who would benefit from access to ABC updates and guidelines (e.g. Technical Advisors, Manufacturers).

Aspirant – this is for new members and newly established walls based within the UK and Ireland. This membership type is limited to one year, after which you will need to fill in a self-audit in order to become an Approved member.

Approved – full membership for commercial climbing and bouldering walls holding current Aspirant membership.

European Associate – an ‘information only’ membership for climbing walls within the EU but outside of the UK and Ireland.

Membership is open to all climbing walls that are able to commit to some simple safe operational procedures.

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 and in our newsletter to promote yourself, your business, a service, or a product.
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
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, but we make sure only to send newsletters when we have something useful to say).

Aspirant Member

£360 + VAT p.a.

Aspirant membership is valid for one year from the acceptance of your initial application. This membership gives you access to the ABC Guidelines and documents which should support you in ensuring the highest safety standards across all areas of your centre.

At the end of (or within, if you’re ready sooner) the year you will need to complete a self-audit of your operating procedures to ensure you are operating in line with the ABC guidelines.

Aspirant members have 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 Accident Reporting Database (ARD) and anonymous quarterly reports on the data compiled by the ARD.
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.
Notice and minutes of all general meetings of the association.
Voting rights at the AGM.
Personalised ABC Aspirant Member certificate.
Be displayed on the climber-focused ‘Find a Wall’ page.
Industry-relevant newsletters (roughly twice per month, but we make sure only to send newsletters when we have something useful to say).

Approved Member

£360 + VAT p.a

To become an Approved Member, you must first be an Aspirant Member (see above).

As an Approved Member, you will have access to everything that an Aspirant Member has, as well as:

ABC Approved Member certificate.
The ‘ABC Approved’ logo to display on your documentation.
The opportunity to have news and updates shared in the ABC newsletter and on socials (remember to tag us, @abc_walls / @abcwalls / #abcwalls).

To apply for Approved membership status you need to;

Become an Aspirant Member of the ABC.
Complete and submit your self-audit form (available in the downloads section) within 12 months of becoming an Aspirant Member. This self-audit form is a great opportunity to review all of your operating procedures, to make sure they are in line with the industry standard.
Have your audit form reviewed by our Membership Committee.

Provided your wall meets the required standard, you will be given Approved status.

If you operate more than one climbing wall you must complete this process for each location.

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.