Lead on expedition

Become a British Exploring Society Leader

View our Leader rolesLeader Recruitment Pack

Our volunteer Leaders come to us from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including medicine, engineering, the armed forces, science, the media, academia, youth work and adventure leadership. They are also mums, dads, students, enthusiasts, adventurers; the curious and the capable.

 

lead with us

Our Leaders are a diverse bunch but what they all share is a commitment to challenging and supporting our Young Explorers, to sensitively testing their boundaries and to helping them develop key life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability, which in turn allow self-confidence to flourish.

Each expedition is different, and some require certain skills or experience due to the terrain, the climate, the type of transport used and in some cases, the specific group of young people who are going on the expedition. In all roles, preference will be given to those with direct relevant experience although we will provide comprehensive training if you’re selected. If you have a love of nature and adventure, and the ability or potential to inspire, motivate and encourage young people, we’d love to hear from you.

"You can see the positive impact of your actions in a short period of time, something which you don’t usually get to see in the same way in the ‘real world’."

Keira, Social Leader

 

Which leader role best suits you?

Visit our Leader Roles page

why lead?

The fact that many of our Leaders return several times to volunteer tells us that the overall experience is really rewarding. More specifically, a survey of Leaders across the previous five years revealed the following statistics:

100%

of Leaders said they had acquired new skills

90%

said they were more confident after expedition

85%

said they were better at their day job as a result of volunteering

74%

said that volunteering with us had furthered their career

Before expedition

  • Friendly clued-up support throughout the application process
  • Full induction to the British Exploring Society
  • Full expedition training with travel expenses
  • Free 16-hour wilderness first aid course
  • Free branded expedition t-shirt
  • Membership discounts with equipment retailers
  • Access to the Leader CPD programme and discounted courses

During expedition

  • The chance to experience some of the world’s most awe-inspiring locations; places no other organisation can take you to
  • Senior leadership from world-class expedition professionals
  • Continued technical training and acclimatisation
  • All accommodation, food and equipment provided, including technical and safety equipment (e.g. ropes, helmets and harnesses)
  • Access to the latest communications technology (e.g. satellite phones, yellowbricks and VHF radios)
  • In-country agents providing localised expertise
  • A 24/7 UK-based support network
 

our Leadership roles

Explore more

Our approach

  • Involved: We like fluid and dynamic expedition itineraries and encourage Leaders to input, influence and help devise each expedition programme. We provide the framework, you expand it
  • Valued: We provide high-quality training and personal development opportunities for all leaders. Many return year-after-year and develop a long standing relationship with us
  • Wild: Our expeditions are ambitious and challenging, enabling you to visit truly wild locations and to experience rare and challenging environment
  • Noticed: Stand out by developing the skills and confidence that come with being truly tested – and by adding Explorer to your CV
  • Stretched: Add to your technical, leadership and facilitation skills with our high-quality Training Programme
  • Yourself: From academia to the military, education to medicine, social work to professional science; whatever your field, you can camp in ours
  • Rewarded: Receive exclusive discounts from outdoor equipment retailers, to feed your passion for exploration