Governance

The Board is the ultimate decision-making body of the BMC, and is responsible for overall operation of the organisation, as well as setting and implementing organisational strategy in consultation with Members' Council. The Board meets sufficiently regularly to ensure they discharge their duties effectively.  The Board is supported by a number of standard and specialist committees.  Information on the standard committees is set out below.

The Council is comprised of representatives from the BMC Areas, BMC Specialist Committees, organisations which work closely with the BMC and members of the Board. It acts as a representative body of the members, consulting with and constructively challenging the Board, and holding the Board to account on behalf of the members. The Council meets at least four times a year.

The BMC divides England and Wales into ten geographical areas: Cymru North Wales; Cymru South Wales; Lakes; London & SE; Midlands; North East; North West; Peak; South West; Yorkshire. BMC Areas provide a focus for local activities and are instrumental in driving national policy. Each BMC Area holds five meetings a year, and each precedes a meeting of the Council, to enable members to make their views known and be communicated to the Council.

The BMC relies on a well-established structure of voluntary committees, supported by staff, to develop and oversee much of the organisation’s technical work for members. We classify our Board committees into two categories 'standard' and 'specialist'. The work of the Specialist Committees covers: Access & Conservation, Safeguarding, Clubs, Equity, Hill Walking, Huts, International Mountaineering, Land Management, Technical Equipment, Training, Youth & Walls

The CCPG is a Board committee formed of a group of experts who work with, advise and plan the future of GB Climbing. with the responsibility for the strategic and operational oversight of GB Climbing. It also ensures strong management of risk and resources for GB Climbing.

The FAC is a Board committee which monitors the BMC's financial position regularly on behalf of the Board to ensure that the BMC has appropriate accounting and financial policies and controls in place and that its auditing arrangements are properly coordinated and work effectively.  It also provides reassurance to the Board on the BMC's financial viability and performance in line with budget expectations. The FAC meets four times a year.

RemCom is a Board committee which was established at a Board meeting on 25 November 2020 as a result of the need to recruit a new CEO and bolster the senior management team.  It has responsibility for ensuring that the remuneration policy and practices of the BMC reward fairly and responsibly with a clear link to organisation and individual performance, having regard to statutory and regulatory requirements.  Its members are three directors of the Board, one of whom is the Chair.

NomCom is a Board committee which has the responsibility for leading the process for Director appointments and making recommendations to the Board. NomCom meets as and when necessary to ensure effective succession planning for the organisation.  Its members are the three Independent Directors, the Chair, the President and a representative of Members' Council.

The HSG is a Board committee.  It consists of various staff members and a number of volunteers with a wealth of experience within the health and safety world. It has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing health and safety practices, risk assessments and improvements to be made to health and safety policies/procedures in relation to the BMC Office and any BMC Events.  It also has authority to raise any health and safety matters with the Board as and when required. The HSG meets twice a year and reports to the Board twice a year.

The Pwygllor Cymru is a Board committee with the responsibility for addressing issues that are relevant to the BMC’s Welsh members and members who visit Wales and also for developing proposals for future governance arrangements for the BMC’s work in Wales, including in the context of gaining recognition and participating in funding opportunities.

The ISG is a Board committee established in November 2022. It's role is to ensure that the BMC provides a co-ordinated approach to international representation both in ensuring the BMC is appropriately represented on UIAA, IFSC, ISMF and any other international bodies involved in the BMC's activities. It is comprised of the President and BMC staff or volunteers who have formal roles within the international bodies. The ISG meets at least four times a year aligning with the General Assemblies of the international bodies.