About SHACADEMY

SHACADEMY grew from more than three decades spent running outdoor venues, developing events, coaching people and solving operational problems around water and the outdoors.

Some projects need one experienced person. Others need a wider team. SHACADEMY leads the work and brings in people Skip knows and trusts when their expertise is needed.

The approach is straightforward: understand the situation, say what we think and help turn a workable idea into something that can be delivered safely.

Experience from both sides of the operation

Skip has worked as a lifeguard, swimming instructor, outdoor leader, venue developer, event operator and business founder. He has also built booking, enquiry and operational systems for the businesses he has run.

That mix matters because the practical, commercial and technical parts of a project rarely sit separately. SHACADEMY considers how a service will work for customers, staff and the organisation behind it.

This experience includes The SHAC, GLAGLA UK, open-water events, venue operations and the development of Ask Matt.

When an existing system does the job, we use it. When there is a genuine gap, we look at what needs to be built.

Alongside client work, Skip stays involved in how the outdoor sector develops — through consultancy, operational delivery, coaching and input into sector standards.

That includes ongoing input into the review and development of the STA Open Water Lifeguard qualification, and the creation of one of the UK’s first structured e-foil coach training programmes to reach insurable status, giving commercial coaching in an emerging discipline a workable framework.

The work is supported by recognised coaching, safety and leadership qualifications, kept current as part of day-to-day practice rather than presented as credentials.