The Trainee Course 2012
The training course will start at 10:00 on Monday 16th April 2012
Please arrive anytime on Sunday 15thth April to set up your tent and meet the others. If you wish to travel up the day before, please give Andy Camis a call.
Outline
The training course has been designed to work on two levels. Firstly, to give you the necessary skills to work for us, gaining invaluable group experience while doing so; secondly to further your personal skills. In charge of the Training course is Andy Camis. You should speak to Andy about day-to-day matters relating to your training. He will organise the schedule for your course in conjunction with Steve Ranger.
When you arrive we’ll ask you to sign a contract of employment. This lays out the terms of work, the notice you have to give and so on.
On arrival you can put up your tent and be shown around Blackland Farm. Many of you will already be familiar with the basic layout, having attended selection day.
On Monday morning Steve Ranger will introduce the company and go over the essentials. Training will start that day, and we will also during the first week:
· Complete the Staff Information Form including your bank account details, National Insurance number, etc. – please bring these details with you.
· Complete your CRB check
· Apply for registration for Mountain Leader Training if you haven’t already done so (you pay the fees for this)
· Apply for insurance for the Alps trip, including BMC Membership (you pay the fees for this)
During the course we will be staying at various locations, training in different activities. You will have a permanent base at Blackland Farm where you can leave any kit you’re not using.
To get the most out of the course you will need to be physically fit. There is a very good reason for this - it is a physically demanding job! We’re not talking marathon fit, but the fitter you are, the more you will get out of working in this environment.
You can expect:
- Intensive training to enable you to operate our high wire elements.
- Training and assessment for the Southern Sandstone Award. (A climbing award similar to the SPA operated by County Councils for working in the southeast.)
- An introduction to lead climbing.
- Significant training towards your SPA.
- SPA Training if we feel you are ready.
- Food Hygiene Certificate
- TrekCo in house Mountain Bike Certificate
- If ready you will have the opportunity to take your SPA assessment.
- You will have the chance to go multi-pitch climbing and mountain scrambling.
- Training in mountain leadership. Navigation, route planning, mountain safety
- A trip to the French Alps. Activities include Canyoning, via ferrata, glacier walks, climbing, and rafting.
Trek Co covers the costs of this course. This includes Transport to and from venues on compulsory trips, campsite fees (while at BF), instruction, specialist gear etc. While working on residential courses food will be provided. (An outside caterer brings in enough food for all clients and staff working on that course) There is one set of additional costs; for weekends away we will ask you to provide your own food and campsite fees. These costs are small.
When we are away you will be expected to pay for your own camping and food. (Campsite fees are normally £4-5pp/pn). At BF there are basic cooking facilities; microwave, fridge. While away on training trips some places will have basic cooking facilities and some will not. A small gas stove is the easiest and cheapest solution. (See kit list.)
Trek Co Staff Facilities
Below is a list of facilities available at Blackland Farm where you will be based. This should give you a rough idea of what to expect.
Internet: We have installed wifi in our office at Blackland Farm for staff use. We hope that there will be wifi on the campsite for the 2012 season. This is free; the network is called ‘TrekCo Free Network’ – no password needed. There is another network at Deers Leap Bikes, our mountain bike park up the lane.
Phone / Post: Mobile signal is usually good at Blackland Farm. There is a telephone box in the yard for outgoing calls only. The letterbox is by the main entrance. Any post to you should be directed to:Your Name, Trek Co Staff, Blackland Farm, Grinstead Lane, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4HP.
Washing / drying clothes: There is a washing machine and tumble dryer in the staff toilet block. Free, of course.
Toilets / showers: There is a staff toilet block, 10 metres from the campsite. Showers / toilets and washbasins: there’s permanent hot water available in the toilet blocks.
Living arrangements: You will need to bring a tent big enough for you and your stuff. This is the part most people worry about. Don’t! You won’t be on you own; mid season there will be up to 40 staff on the staff campsite. Camping on the staff campsite is free.
Visitors: Visitors to the campsite (boyfriends / girlfriends) can’t unfortunately stay overnight on the staff campsite when there is a school course running. This is for two reasons – child safety, and school staff concerns. This is regrettable, but obviously from the point of view of a school, strange adults are not ideal anywhere that school children are staying.
Staff Deals
Trekco has an online gear shop; www.gearshack.co.uk with a shop in Lewes. All employees Through Gearshack we can get all of the kit essential for an outdoor enthusiast. We also have deals with some of the top outdoor brands such as Patagonia, Mountain Equipment and Salomon. These deals mean we can get heavily discounted price goods for staff, and very cheap clearance offers. There is no ‘catch’ with these deals, the companies are happy as long as our instructors are seen wearing their gear; which is why they do it. The only stipulation is that the gear is for your personal use only, and not for friends. Check out the web site or pop in.
Staff uniform
At the Trekking Company you are not required to wear a staff uniform, as in many situations it would be impractical. You are expected to wear appropriate clothing for the activities you are doing. When you start work you will be given a Trekco t-shirt and fleece. Every season there is an optional item of uniform that is heavily subsidised by us. (Down jackets, mountain packs, fleeces etc.)
We will give you guidance on whether we think your clothing is appropriate for working with schools and other clients – basically, don’t be too scruffy and always present a clean appearance. The only solid rule is that we don’t permit wearing flip flops whilst working, you must wear shoes in which you can run in an emergency.
Kit List
Please ensure you turn up on Day 1 of the course with all the correct kit or with the intention of getting it soon. If you have ANY problems with the kit list, please let us know, as we may be able to help.
Paperwork
· Originals of your outdoor qualifications (not other qualifications like GCSEs etc.)
· National Insurance number and P45 if you have one
· EHIC form (replacing the E111) for travel to Europe
· Passport and Driving Licence if owned (provisional OK)
· Birth Certificate
· Bank statement or utility bill from the last 3 months – must be for the same address
(Please note these must be originals and some of them are to enable us to process your Criminal Records Bureau application, EHIC is for travel to the French Alps)
Kit
In general you will be living and working in the outdoors. You MUST be appropriately equipped to operate in a professional capacity in this environment. Below is a list of essentials an aspiring outdoor professional will need.
It doesn’t have to be expensive to do the job. (As an example; our work Jackets are £30 and are great for the outdoors. If you were looking for gore-tex or e-vent they would be £200 - £400. Instead of buying a thermarest for £50+, get some foam sleeping mats, £3)
During training week we will look at kit. If you’re unsure what to get you can wait until then.
Some of this kit is ESSENTIAL. Some is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Tent - Big enough for you and your stuff at
Blackland Farm
Rucksack / day sac - 35 / 45L
Sleeping bag & mat - It can be cold in April and can be warm in July! Think carefully.
Waterproof jacket and trousers - We will be out whatever the weather.
Warm Hat and gloves - Very important.
Headtorch - absolutely essential.
Climbing harness, helmet, belay device,
Slings and a couple of screw gate karabiners - You will need these! If you don’t have these already or are not sure what to get, wait.
Rock boots
Walking boots - Very important. You must have a pair that fits you and is comfortable.
Clothing for the cold - Down jacket, fleece trousers, thick socks etc. (or lots of fleeces or jumpers!)
Mountain tent - For use on training trips / Alps
Larger pack for overnight exped’s and bivis - 65L +
Stove and Pans - Not essential as you can share.
Bivi Bag - Not orange plastic. Can be picked up from army surplus for £15 (must be breathable)
You will also need clothing you can wear on a day-to-day basis.