The BMC has published the findings of a review into the management of its competition climbing program. The report identifies 'a number of issues with the processes, the culture and the approach within GB Climbing.' A list of recommendations to address these issues has also been released. 

GB Climbing is the internal business unit of the BMC in charge of competition climbing.  The Competition Climbing Performance Group (CCPG) oversees the BMC's work in managing competitions and GB Climbing squads.

A CCPG Review Board was elected to report on the performance of the CCPG since its inception on 9th April 2020 through to 29th September 2022. 

A statement on the BMC website reads:

"The Board fully accepts that changes are required and has, since receiving the report, been working on implementing changes."

The CCPG Review identified broad areas of concern and areas for improvement across seven themes:

1) Safeguarding and risk;

'Regarding Safeguarding, the BMC has seen many staffing and operational changes since the establishment of GBC [GB Climbing]. However, at the time of reporting, the published BMC Safeguarding policies are out of date (Child policy - last modified 13th January 2015, Adult policy - last modified 24th December 2019).

We were concerned that, during the period of the review, the CCPG was not consistently considering Risks and Safeguarding.'

2) Financial Management;

'We have evidence of poor reporting of the financial situation of GBC to CCPG. Consequently, CCPG was not able to provide a proper oversight. It is reported that GBC has significantly overspent its budget for 2022.'

3) Communication;

'In respect of communications we consider that there has been a consistent lack of timely information flowing between: • CCPG and GBC; • CCPG and the BoD [Board of Directors]; • GBC and athletes; • GBC and parents of athletes; • GBC and key stakeholders including coaches, climbing walls and other persons involved in activities associated to competition climbing.'

4) Commercial Contract Management;

'CCPG and GB Climbing would benefit from the BMC introducing a higher standard of Contract Management, where its processes ensure a high degree of transparency; effective control of "Conflict of Interest"; the proper curation of Tenders, communications with interested parties, bids and decision-making meeting minutes.'

5) Governance;

'We investigated the governance of CCPG and have concluded that, there are a number of areas of significant concern.

Whilst most of CCPG meetings have been quorate, there has rarely been an Athlete representative in attendance.

− There is no evidence of internal reviews as required by the ToR [Terms of Reference].

− The production of the Minutes has been slow; in some cases, they are circulated only hours prior to the next meeting's start time. Similarly, most meeting papers are circulated only hours before the meeting, in direct contradiction with the ToR.

− At the meetings there is little discussion of GBC programmes and policies.

− The ToR are unclear about which matters must receive consent from CCPG and which matters are provided for discussion and agreement.

− There has been consistent failure to provide reports to the BoD.

Key points to note:

• The BoD itself could be considered accountable for not insisting on those reports.

• The BoD also allowed CCPG to effectively cease operations between April 22nd and September 29th 2022, thus compounding the lack of oversight and direction provided to GBC.'

6) Partners; 

'We are concerned that there has been no consistent engagement with the athletes in a manner that allows for a suitable Athlete representative to fully participate in CCPG. This lack represents a risk to both CCPG and GBC.

We suggest that there would be benefit in considering the addition of one or more partner organisations to CCPG.

We note that GBC are not collaborating effectively with Partners in developing coaching schemes. A significant recent example is the lack of discussion with partners regarding the Performance Pathway prior to amending it.'

7) GB Climbing and the CCPG

'We are concerned that competition climbing at the grass roots level has not been addressed by CCPG, and question how the stated performance objectives of GBC can be met unless all levels of the participation and talent pathway are properly addressed.

We have documented instances of poor planning and forward thinking by GBC that have created travel and accommodation difficulties for athletes, parents and staff both in the UK and abroad.

Arrangements made by GBC for athletes in respect of travel and accommodation are generally regarded as providing poor value for money by athletes and parents. In some recorded cases, the costs were prohibitive to athletes, with little or no financial assistance available.

We recorded at least one instance of an athlete being asked to travel across Europe to attend a short training session in the UK. We regard this as incompatible with the BMC's Climate Declaration, and by creating what is essentially a financial barrier for many athletes, GBC cannot be compliant with BMC Equity and Diversity policies.

We would have expected these issues to be discussed at CCPG and that there would be corresponding changes in practice by GBC to meet those criticisms.'

Report Conclusion

The report states that the panel have not seen any evidence that the criteria outlining the CCPG's purpose have been met. The conclusion reads:

'This is clearly a breach of the operating mandate which CCPG and GB Climbing were duty bound to deliver, and a failure to comply with the Terms of Reference which were set out and agreed by the BoD and for which they are accountable.'

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The report's publication comes amid an ongoing management and financial crisis at the BMC, following announcements this summer of redundancies, overspending and a projected 2023 deficit of over £275K without suggested 'course corrections.'

The BMC has outlined its progress in these areas in an article following the presentation of the report to the Board Chair in December 2022. Acknowledging the issues, they concluded:

'We are, however, committed to working together with the community on this shared journey, to continue to develop our athlete-focussed performance infrastructure, to support our athletes.'

Read the full CCPG Report and the recommendations from the Review Board below:

Read our recent interview with BMC CEO Paul Davies on the state of BMC/GB Climbing:

For more background about the BMC redundancies and a broader picture of what's happening at the organisation: