Go Ape!, which has 34 activity sites across the UK, has been handed a prestigious award in recognition of its practices and achievements in managing managing risks at its sites.
The company has won the RoSPA Leisure Trophy, sponsored by Sportscover, which is part of the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, and which celebrates organisations that embrace and appropriately manage risks in leisure settings.
David Walker, RoSPA leisure safety manager, said: "Go Ape! demonstrated executive-level leadership and, importantly, engagement with risk. They were very clear about their appetite for risk with both staff and visitors, informing everyone of potential risks and their benefits, which is fundamental to this Leisure Safety Trophy win."
Established in 2001 by ex-Army tank commander Tristram Mayhew and wife Rebecca, Go Ape! has branched out across the country. It offers people the chance to take part in forest adventures, either high up among the trees or on woodland paths.
Linda Green, head of health and safety at Go Ape! said: "Winning this award is a huge achievement and demonstrates our clear commitment, and proven performance, in managing risks to our staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors.
"Go Ape! is a high-risk activity, and winning this award is testament to our incredibly robust health and safety management system."
As well as the competitive Leisure Safety Trophy, RoSPA also presents non-competitive leisure safety achievement awards, which recognise excellence in health and safety management among companies that primarily offer services direct to guests and visitors. This year, De Vere, Go Ape!,, K:A Leisure and Nottingham City Council - Sport and Leisure all picked up a Gold Award, while East Kilbride Shopping Centre, Gedling Borough Council - Leisure Services, Meadowhall Centre Ltd and Zoological Society of London all won Silver Awards.
The RoSPA Awards Scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.
The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the patron’s award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.
Julia Small, RoSPA's head of qualifications, awards and events, said: "The RoSPA Awards have come the key fixture in the health and safety calendar with new sponsors and new awards this year including the Leisure Safety Awards, the Safe@Work Safe@ Home Award and the Inspiration Awards. Highly-respected, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, RoSPA award winners benefit from the wide-ranging rewards of improved sector reputation.”
The majority of awards are noncompetitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the Patron’s Award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.
Competitive awards got to the best entries in 24 industry sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.
There are specialist awards for health at work, environmental management and fleet safety, and excellence trophies for the best international, new entry, workforce involvement and organisation operating or based in Scotland. RoSPA’s top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy.
Headline sponsor of the RoSPA Awards 2019 is NEBOSH – the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health – for the 14th consecutive year.
