Go Ape Joins Industry Leading Health and Safety Scheme, LEAPS

The UK’s leading outdoor activity attraction, Go Ape, is delighted to announce that they have signed their 36 locations up to LEAPS (the Leisure Equipment and Asset Protection Scheme) to certify and assure their robust inspection process.

LEAPS is a unique UK-based safety organisation that helps leisure industry operators to validate their operations, maintenance, and inspection within one scheme. LEAPS certifies a broad range of leisure attractions from theme parks to outdoor activities, aqua parks, FECs, trampoline parks and more.

Go Ape is committed to offering fun and adventurous experiences, whilst managing risks for all staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors to ensure that everyone’s Go Ape experience is positive and inspires them to continue living life adventurously. Some Go Ape safety measures include:

• Thorough instructor training and development opportunities.
• Clear and detailed safety briefings are delivered to customers before any adventure.
• High-quality safety equipment for all users.
• Considered and intuitive course designs.
• Regular participant monitoring.

In addition to these safety measures, Go Ape has a comprehensive risk management plan in place that is regularly reviewed and updated. They also conduct regular safety audits and inspections to ensure their courses are safe for all users.

By signing up to join this scheme, they have chosen to go one leap further and become a member of the only safety scheme that certifies all types of leisure attractions as safe to use.

Some additional benefits of Go Ape becoming a LEAPS member include independent assurance, validation of operations/maintenance/inspection, reputational enhancement, and demonstrating investment in their attractions.

Go Ape’s Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing and former Environmental Health Officer, Linda Green, said, “The LEAPS scheme offers a unique and cutting-edge service for the leisure industry. Their comprehensive ‘3-star assessment’ focuses on the three main causes of accidents: having a competent operator, a safe asset, and a competent inspector. To be certified, high standards must be achieved in each category: the ‘stars need to align’.

Go Ape is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of health and safety operations and procedures. Becoming a part of LEAPS is another positive step, which further provides assurance that we are market leaders within the Leisure Industry.”

Jon Ruddock the LEAPS General Manager said on receiving the good news that Go Ape were joining the scheme:

“Go Ape was my very first meeting when I joined LEAPS back in 2021 and their thorough due diligence of LEAPS has kept me on my toes. We have agreed on a specific set of terms for them to join, including operational assurance visits of each site on a rotational basis. They are a safety-minded golden organisation, and with LEAPS assistance we will help elevate them to the platinum level and set the bar for the safety of outdoor adventure activities within the UK.”