About the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML)

In 1992 La Commission Européenne des Accompagnateurs en Montagne (CEAM), agreed upon an accepted European Standard which would provide a framework for a mountain walking leader qualification recognised by the signing countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK).
In order for the award to be recognised as a professional qualification each country had to establish an Association which would provide insurance, a Code of Conduct and a variety of other membership services.The British Association of European Mountain Leaders (BAEML) was established as the professional association for all UK nationals wishing to lead mountain walking or trekking parties abroad.
In 2004, CEAM was replaced by the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) due to the increasing interest of many countries in having an internationally recognised mountain leading qualification. The period between November 2004 and November 2005 was a busy one as BAEML transformed itself into BAIML.

We provide a range of services to our members, such as management services, liaising with the MLTUK, providing eNewsletters, journals, training days, and this website. There are four levels of membership, and you can apply for BAIML membership here. BAIML's role is to regulate the profession of the International Mountain Leader to ensure that members work to a professional code of conduct and are fully insured for all their activities. From January 2007, BAIML's members maintain CPD through a CPD scheme. It also ensures that members are kept up-to-date with the latest developments in mountain leadership, environmental concerns, legal and insurance details.

We send a representative to the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) to represent British interests, and attend other country's training and assessment courses to ensure that the qualification standards are the same across Europe. We also secure support for the Association and its members through regular contact with manufacturers. We are supported by Mountain Equipment and members receive generous discounts from them and other companies.

BAIML now has over 300 full members who hold the UIMLA Carnet. Our members live or work in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and France, and frequently lead treks in the mountains of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

A list of BAIML members available for freelance work is available here .

A regular journal "The Leader" and training days form part of BAIML's communication and circulation of information, and professional articles are regularly published through the journal, or on this website. Members are advised of news and other information, such as requests for leaders from trekking companies through regular email briefings. We also have links to other UIMLA Associations in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Spain and Switzerland and send observers to each others' training and assessment courses to ensure that the standard of an International Mountain Leader is maintained.

This website is also part of the professional service we offer to members, and is aimed at educating and informing other mountain users of our skills and qualifications. It also provides a list of those members who wish to be contacted through the Internet.If you wish to join BAIML, contact the Membership Secretary or you can download a membership application form by clicking the 'Download' links in the navigation bar at the left.