Course Directors  

Paul Platt began climbing in 1987. Since then he has climbed in South and North America (including Alaska, Yosemite and Utah), Borneo, New Zealand, Greenland, Nepal and much of Europe. His first caving experience was in 1988 in the Mendips, since then he has explored many of the major systems in England. He has been delivering the MLTUK courses since the early 1990's. As well as running Apex Training Paul also directs Ascent Training which delivers training to mountaineers and cavers and with the company having an AALS license outdoor education courses for young peope. He holds both the MIC and CIC awards. 

Neil Mathews a local lad, has been working in outdoor education for over 15 years. He holds many instructional certificates including skiing, canoeing, kayaking, caving and windsurfing but primarily now works as a freelance mountaineering instructor holding the Mountain Instructor Certificate (M.I.C.). He has worked on many Apex courses since the company began. Previous to this Neil has worked in a wide range of outdoor centres and is a qualified secondary school science teacher.

Simon McCabe has been climbing since 1987 and instructing since 1994. A freelance climbing and caving instructor based near Ingleton, North Yorkshire. His qualifications include the MIA, Winter ML, IML and CIC. He has climbed extensively throughout Europe and in Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. An extremely competent caver and caving instructor who has had a number of trips to the Vercors, Simon and Paul regularly cave together in Yorkshire on winter evenings and climb on summer evenings. He is a well-travelled wanderer who takes too many holidays.

 Stuart Halford has been a climber, skier, caver and canoeist for over twenty years and holds a range of instructional qualifications including the MIC. He has traveled widely to climb in the UK and abroad, visiting Continental Europe, North and South America, the Middle and Far East, and Australia and has a number of first ascents to his name. Based in the Lake District, Stuart works in the experiential development training industry and as an ML and SPA course director for Apex Training.

Philip Poole has been climbing, canoeing, caving and skiing for over 30 years and has instructional qualifications in all those disciplines. He has been an IFMGA Mountain Guide for 15 years, running Alpine ski tours, climbs and treks. He was a member of the British Mountain Guides Training Committee from 1986 - 2003 and was responsible for the summer training scheme for new candidates to the Association during that time. He has worked for Apex Training since 2000, course directing some of the ML and SPA courses. 

  Tony Flanagan who previously directed Apex Training has been an MLTE course director for over 16 years and worked on ML courses for over 20 years.

Ben Reinch often directs our SPA training and assessment courses. Ben is also a holder of the MIC award.

  Regular Instructional Staff

Julie Cunningham is part-time deputy head at Ghyll Head OEC and works on a few of the Apex Training ML courses each year. Julie has climbed around the world including Nepal. Julie holds the MIA and winter ML certificates amounst others. 

Also pictured is Julie's husband Pete who runs Adventure Learning and Active Aid. Active Aid run first aid courses and other discounts to Apex Training clients.

 Originally from Lancashire, now masquerading as a true Cumbrian, Jon Sykes has been a climber and mountaineer for over 17 years, climbing all over the UK as well as in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. Nowadays Jon divides his work time between working for Apex Training as a qualified Mountain Instructor and dressing more smartly as a corporate development trainer. When not working, this one-time paddler and caver now prefers just to climb, swim and attempt to ride his mountain bike.

Samantha Shelley [Mountain Instructor Award, Winter Mountain Leader]

Dominic Hoare [Mountain Instructor Award, Winter Mountain Leader]