The outdoor industry is one of the most exciting, rewarding, and life-changing sectors to work in. But for too long, it has been dominated by one demographic and women have been underrepresented at every level, from mountain leaders to surf instructors to outdoor education managers. At Land & Wave, we believe that needs to change. That’s why we’re launching the Land & Wave Female Adventure Grant: a new funding initiative designed to give women a supported, accessible route into a professional career in the outdoors.
If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your love of the outdoors into a career, this grant could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
The Outdoor Instructor Training Course is a 15-week programme designed to turn your passion for adventure into a career. Running from November to February, the course gives you the practical skills, experience and qualifications needed to start working as an outdoor instructor.
Across the 15 weeks, you’ll train in a range of outdoor activities including paddlesports, coasteering, climbing, mountain biking and bushcraft. You’ll gain 23 recognised qualifications and awards, including Paddle UK awards, Rock Climbing Instructor Training, MIAS Mountain Bike Leader qualifications, NCC Coasteering Training, Outdoor First Aid and Open Water Lifeguard.
The course is practical and hands-on, giving you the chance to develop your skills in real outdoor environments while learning how to lead groups safely and confidently. You’ll also build the experience and confidence needed to start your first season working in the outdoor industry.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong set of qualifications and practical experience to help you take your first steps towards a career in the outdoors. Whether you want to specialise in paddlesports, climbing or coasteering, or become a multi-activity instructor, the course gives you the foundation to build your career.
The statistics speak for themselves. Women make up a minority of qualified outdoor instructors in the UK, and the gender gap is even more pronounced at senior leadership levels within outdoor education organisations. The barriers are well-documented: financial cost, a perceived ‘boys’ club’ culture, lack of visible female role models, and limited access to mentoring and networks.
At Land & Wave, we’ve seen first-hand the incredible impact that skilled, passionate female instructors have on the young people and adults they work with. Representation matters. When a teenage girl goes on her first kayaking lesson and sees a confident, capable woman leading the session, something shifts. The message is clear:
you belong here too.
We created this grant because we want to be part of the solution. Not just talking about inclusion, but actively investing in it – removing financial barriers, creating a supported pathway, and welcoming women into the outdoor profession with open arms.
The full cost of the 15 week Outdoor Instructor Training Course is £11,490. This includes your training and assessments, food and accommodation, and a complete kit package worth £2,500. A £550 deposit secures your place on the course.
Your course fee is made up of three parts: £6,750 for training and assessment, £3,600 for food and accommodation, and £1,140 for your kit package, which is worth £2,500. Your package also includes assessment and certification fees worth over £350, three weeks of training trips to Dartmoor and the Peak District, a pre-course weekend and unlimited pre-course shadowing and outdoor experience worth £1,500.
You don’t have to pay the full course cost upfront. Land & Wave offers payment options, including paying in full or using an instalment plan. You can also apply for finance through Ideal4Finance, with repayment periods available from 1 to 5 years, subject to status and your personal circumstances. The course must be fully paid before you begin.
The Female Adventure Grant offers applicates with 50% off the £6,750 training and assessment fee. Successful applicants therefore pay £3,375 instead of £6,750 for their training and assessment. The grant does not cover food, accommodation or the kit package, so these costs remain payable.
Without the grant, the full course package is £11,490, covering training and assessment, food and accommodation, and the kit package. With the Female Adventure Grant, the training and assessment element falls from £6,750 to £3,375, making the overall cost £8,115 when food, accommodation and the kit package are added. The grant therefore saves you £3,375 from the overall course cost.
£1,140 (Kit Package worth £2500). Your kit is yours to keep after completing the course, giving you the equipment you need to continue your outdoor career beyond your training.
£3,600 (Food & Accommodation) . Fully catered accommodation at Kingston Country Courtyard, with shared rooms, social spaces, kit storage and drying facilities.
£6,750 (Training & Assessment) Includes 15 weeks of professional training, assessments and 23 qualifications across paddlesports, climbing, coasteering, mountain biking, bushcraft and first aid.
Before your course begins, take part in outdoor experiences designed to build your confidence, skills and knowledge before training starts.
Applying for the Land & Wave Female Adventure Grant is straightforward. You’ll need to complete an application form, which gives you the opportunity to tell us about yourself, your experience in the outdoors, and why you want to pursue a career as an outdoor instructor. The application also asks about your availability and commitment to joining the November 2026 cohort.
Places on the grant are limited, and we anticipate strong demand, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible. Our team will review all applications and may invite shortlisted candidates to an informal conversation before final decisions are made.
Key things to include in your application:
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