This is where we keep you informed about all the latest developments at D-J Adventure & Consulting.

2009. D-J Adventure and Consulting launched in September and we were pleased to be asked to create and run the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) Gold Standard Award Scheme within weeks. Gold Standard was to be awarded only to AHOEC centres who were offering the highest quality service across the board in instruction, accommodation, catering and administration.

Gold Standard quickly attracted applicants with 16 completing the process by the end of 2010.

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2012. On 1 January we became a limited company. We changed our name to D-JAC Limited and our website was changed to reflect that. At the same time, we registered for VAT.

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Our Expert Witness work continues to grow and we were pleased when, in one high profile case where we were instructed by the Defendants, the Judge said in his Judgment that Doug Jones “gave his evidence in a moderate, well-reasoned and demonstrably objective manner, being prepared to criticize the defendants where appropriate”. In this instance, the Judgment went in favour of the Defendants.

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2013. Gold Standard has grown to a point where we need to start to build up a team of qualified inspectors and the first – Teresa Thorp – has just joined the D-JAC team.

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2015. We have added another inspector – Paul Airey – to the Gold Standard pool as the number of applicants for the award increase. With centre inspections taking place every other year, we need to ensure that those who have been Gold Standard holders longest are being seen by different inspectors.

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The technical advisor service that we offer continues to grow. This gives us the opportunity to provide excellent support to local authorities, independent schools etc. It’s always good to work with people whose aim is to offer well managed outdoor and adventure activities and build on that over time.

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2018. We have decided to look for an additional inspector for our Gold Standard team as the number of applicants and holders continues to grow. We are pleased that Erica Caswell has agreed to join us.

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2019. Paul Airey has decided to retire from inspecting. He has done an excellent job and we are sorry to lose him.

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2019. Our ten year Agreement to create and run the Gold Standard Scheme on behalf of AHOEC comes to an end in November and AHOEC is putting the contract out to tender. After due consideration, we have decided that this is an excellent opportunity for us to explore new directions so we are not going to tender to continue to run the scheme. It has been a privilege to help so many centres achieve Gold Standard and then see them continue to run at that level year after year. Although some centres have sadly closed it is a testament to the value the centres themselves place on the scheme that only one has left and not returned.