Wherever your outdoor instructor work takes you, from city climbing walls to climbing the world’s highest peaks, Sports Financial Services will be happy to hear from you to discuss your needs.
There are a range of insurance options available for outdoor instructors and mountain guides who are looking to provide for a family, pay off a mortgage or provide income protection should an accident (or worse) happen whilst in the mountains.
If you work in outdoor instruction and are looking for a lump sum to be paid following an accident or natural death then you may want to consider life insurance. Alternatively, an accident or fall whilst guiding or instructing may leave you unable to work for a while and an income protection policy may be another choice for you.
Outdoor instructor or mountain guiding risks
There are many risks associated with the outdoors and this can result in instructors or guides being rated as being engaged in a hazardous occupation. This has traditionally meant that instructors or guides have had to pay more for their life insurance and receive restrictions or loadings for illness cover.
Risk in the mountain environment
From strapping on cold crampons in the high Himalayas to leading a coasteering group on a warm sunny day an outdoor instructor or mountain guide can find themselves in many different types of environments.
The work of outdoor instructors can involve many skills to manage risk in the environment, including:
- Navigation skills
- Mountain weather knowledge
- Group leadership
- First aid skills
Outdoor instructors may seek out different types of outdoor qualifications, such as:
- Mountain Leader (Summer) Award
- Mountain Leader (Winter) Award
- British Association of European Mountain Leaders
- Association of Mountain Instructors
- British Mountain Guides
Additionally, outdoor instructors may seek out qualifications associated with other aspects of outdoor sport such as canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering, skiing and sailing.
Specialist outdoor equipment
Those who instruct in the outdoors may seek to manage their safety through the use of specialist climbing equipment, personal equipment and group protection, such as:
Climbing equipment
- Rope
- Slings
- Wires, nuts & cams
- Belay device
- Descender
- Karabiners
- Harness
- Helmet
- Climbing shoes
Personal equipment
- Map
- Compass
- GPS
- Phone
- Whistle
- Rucksack
- Waterproof jacket & over trousers
- Boots
- Gloves
- Hat
- Goggles
- Head torch
- Spare clothing
- Food & drink
- First aid kit
Group protection
- Group shelter
- Group first aid kit
- Spare food and drink
Life insurance, health insurance and income protection cover for outdoor instructors
Sports Financial Services work hard to ensure that outdoor instructors and mountain guides can access life and health cover that has previously been subject to restrictions or exclusions because of the hazardous nature of the activity.
Outdoor instructors and guides can contact Sports Financial Services today to speak about their needs in relation to:
- Life insurance
- Mortgage protection
- Critical & serious illness cover
- Mortgage protection
- Income protection
Sports Financial Services are also happy to speak to those in related types of outdoor occupations such as BASI ski instructors, British Canoeing instructors, RYA sailing instructors or BSAC scuba diving instructors.
How to enquire about financial protection if you are an outdoor instructor
When applying for cover Sports Financial Services will take into consideration a number of factors that will determine the final premium paid.
A mix of typical life and lifestyle questions that may be asked, include:
- Your personal lifestyle (smoking, drinking and regular exercise)
- Your height
- Your weight
- Your age
- Your medical history
Typical occupational questions relating to guides and outdoor instructors could include:
- Membership of professional body (e.g. AMI, BMG)
- Professional training and qualifications
- Membership of sport governing body (e.g. BMC)
- Frequency of work in the outdoors
- Type of outdoor work
- Average working altitude
- Percentage of manual and office-based work
- National and international geographical locations of work
Finally, questions relating to the amount and duration of cover will be sought, such as:
- Amount of cover required (£)
- The term of the policy (years)
- The type of policy required and any mix of additional cover options
Information such as this will help determine the level of risk involved and the ultimately the premium paid for a policy.
The team at Sports Financial Services have many years of experience dealing with climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers. A personal adviser is allocated to each enquiry and will talk you through the specific questions that relate to you and your cover.
Business protection for outdoor instructors
For those who guide or instruct in the outdoors and operate a Limited Company or operate at Director level then you may want to speak to Sports Financial Services about options for life, health and business protection cover, including:
- Key Person insurance
- Relevant Life insurance
- Shareholder Protection
- Income Protection
- Individual and company Private Medical Insurance
Financial protection for those who work in the outdoors
Even if a guide or outdoor instructor has an existing policy in place elsewhere, Sports Financial Services will be happy to hear from them, even if only to provide them with peace of mind that their cover and premiums are comparable with current market products.
If you would like to find out more about the whole range of life insurance, health insurance and income protection cover available for guides and instructors please contact Sports Financial Services today on 0345 565 0935 or visit www.sports-fs.co.uk.