Meet James, our Activities Leader, who completed his Instructor Training Course in winter 2021/2022. Before retraining, James spent four years working in motorsport, building and maintaining Formula 4 cars and travelling to racetracks across the UK and Europe. It was a fast-paced, demanding career, but when he saw an advert for the Instructor Training Course, he decided it could be the perfect opportunity to take a break, learn how to professionally lead the activities he already loved, and develop new skills in the outdoors.
What began as a change of direction quickly became much more. James fell in love with the outdoor industry and has never looked back. He chose Active because of its setting in the Scottish Highlands, where access to world-class outdoor venues and Scotland’s access rights create an unbeatable training environment. For James, the Highlands offered the reset he was looking for: a complete change from motorsport and the chance to build a career around the activities and landscapes he enjoyed most.
During the course, James found himself surrounded by like-minded people who shared his enthusiasm for the outdoors. One of his lasting memories is the simple joy of stopping for lunch in incredible places. The running joke was always, “What a great spot for lunch” — a reminder that the outdoor classroom really does offer the best staff canteen.
After completing the Instructor Training Course in spring 2022, James was offered several jobs across the UK. He chose to stay with Active on the Instructor Development Programme because he felt it was the best step for his career progression. Over the summer, he was able to complete qualifications he had started during the course and gain new ones, building both confidence and experience.
When his contract ended in October, James took the opportunity to work in northern Finland for five months, guiding snowmobile tours to see the northern lights and leading activities such as ice fishing and snowshoeing. From there, his outdoor career took him even further, with seasonal work in places including Cornwall, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Spain and Portugal.
In August 2024, James returned to Active as a Senior Instructor. He has since taken on more responsibility and now leads the instruction team as Activities Leader, passing on his knowledge and experience to junior staff and current Instructor Training Course students.
Training Highlights and Challenges
James’s first impression of the course was how positive it felt to meet people who shared his interests. Coming from a background where few of his friends were involved in outdoor activities, being part of a group with the same enthusiasm made the experience even more rewarding.
The biggest challenge was the cold. Training through winter meant getting changed at the roadside with snow around, but it also made the warmer summer months feel even more appreciated. For James, the practical, hands-on nature of the course helped confirm that the outdoor industry was where he wanted to be.
Retraining did not take James away from the outdoors — it made the outdoors part of both his work and his spare time. When he is not instructing, he is often still outside, enjoying the same environment that inspired his career change.
James’s Advice
For anyone thinking about joining the outdoor industry, James’s advice is simple: “Just do it. There’s no better time than now. I have loved every single day of my outdoor career.”
Find our more on our next Instructor Training Course.
