Jeremy Wilson, founder and CEO of The Lakeland Climbing Centre (LCC) Ltd, and a Director of UKClimbing Ltd, has been awarded an MBE in the 2025 King's Honours List for services to indoor climbing and community sport.
When UKC become an Employee Owned Trust (EOT) in 2023 Jeremy became a Non-Executive Director, a role to which he has brought great insight.
Jeremy opened KendalWall with Kate Phillips in 1995, seeking to serve the needs of the Cumbrian climbing community. The centre has subsequently undergone numerous developments, including a complete refurbishment in 2024, alongside the opening of 'Unit 34', which significantly expanded the bouldering available. Even by today's standards, it's 26m lead wall is an impressive sight - and a seriously pumpy proposition to climb!
For many years KendalWall was LCC's sole focus of attention, but that changed in 2014 when they opened VauxWall. This represented a significant shift on two fronts, not least because it was in London - not Cumbria - but also because it was a bouldering wall. Whilst there were other bouldering walls in London around at this time, they were few and far between. Over the next few years that was set to change significantly. LCC subsequently opened VauxWall East, HarroWall, RavensWall, CroyWall, CanaryWall, EustonWall and BethWall, further adding to both the quality and quantity of bouldering facilities in London. They also opened PrestonWall and LancasterWall, further cementing their status up north. Jeremy is also a partner in The Depot Group and was an investor within their recent flagship centre - Big Depot Manchester.
© Mark Glaister
In response to the MBE, Jeremy had this to say:
"I haven't fully had a chance to take this news in—it's been a busy day of meetings—but I want to say how proud and honoured I am to receive this recognition. That said, I see it not so much as a personal accolade, but as a reflection of the incredible work done by so many people I've had the privilege to work with over the past 30 years at The Lakeland Climbing Centre and across our other centres around the country.
"In particular, I'd like to acknowledge Kate Phillips, who was instrumental in establishing Kendal Wall in its early days, and Tom Hull, who has led our London walls with dedication and vision for the past 12 years.
"Climbing has been a lifelong passion of mine—something I've always wanted to share with as many people as possible. It's an incredible sport in so many ways, and my most treasured memories are of time spent on the wall or out on the crags with good friends, going right back to my teenage years.
"Today, I'm proud to say that through our 16 centres, along with the fantastic work being done at The Depot Climbing Walls—where I'm a partner and supporter—we welcome more than 8,000 people every day who are discovering or deepening their love of climbing. That, to me, is the greatest reward."
Staff at UKClimbing Ltd would like to thank Jeremy for his invaluable input throughout his time with us, as we've steered a new course as an EOT. Not only have his professionalism and advice been a great benefit to the business, but so too have his levels of enthusiasm for climbing itself - just get him onto the topic of Lake District trad and you'll see what we mean!
Comments
This man made his millions working for a highly controversial oil company and JP Morgan. He’s now involved in buying up climbing walls left right and centre churning out more McDonalds walls than ever. Really the exact opposite of everything climbing should stand for.
Or a possibly alternative is -
This man made his millions but stepped away from a city career to set up and run climbing walls that support a large workforce, have introduced thousands to the pleasures of climbing, enabled many existing climbers to get more from their pastime and provided largely inclusive hubs for the climbing community in many areas.
Everything climbing should be about.
There is probably a greater and lesser amount of truth in both of these - all in the eye of the beholder - but on a very personal level my life has been improved immeasurably by one of his walls.
I'll declare an interest as I work at one of LCC's walls, but that also gives me some first hand experience. From the start they have supported me and other small, local, businesses, very generously, to get started and now also provides a base for CAC. They didn't need to do that. They certainly don't make any profit out of me and the others.
Kendal ran at a loss for over 20 years. He kept it going anyway because he's a climber who loves climbing.
I'd much rather have Jeremy investing in climbing than what is happening with another chain who seem to have taken an aggressive approach of putting other walls out of business on purpose.
He has chosen to make his money in/out of the climbing world. But he's gone about it in a way that is a million miles away from a cut throat banker and supports the community of climbing.
I'm not saying your opinion isn't valid, but like Exile I'm just trying to point out that these things are often more grey areas than black and white.
If Manchester Depot is a 'MacDonalds' then I'll have another Big Mac.
Alan
The honours system has always been a meaningless farce which frequently, at best, “rewards” those simply doing their job, often gives awards to others on the basis of political donations, and not infrequently brings itself into disrepute by giving gongs to outright criminals or other nefarious individuals.
As David Bowie wrote after refusing both a CBE and knighthood, "I seriously don't know what it's for. It's not what I spent my life working for.”
(Edited for spelling errors)