British Canoeing Awarding Body announces NEW Stand Up Paddleboard Leadership Awards
Ben Hamilton • 5 November 2024

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British Canoeing Awarding Body announces NEW Stand Up Paddleboard Leadership Awards

BCAB is delighted to announce the NEW SUP Sheltered Water Leader and the NEW SUP Tidal Leader, which will be available from January 2025. These new awards complement the existing SUP Leadership Awards, which include the SUP White Water Leader, SUP Coastal Leader and SUP Inland Open Water Leader. 

All of our awards support leaders to run safe, quality, enjoyable trips, based on their group’s needs and aspirations.

SUP Sheltered Water Leader - this is aimed at paddleboarders who wish to lead others on journeys in sheltered waters (both wind affected and slow moving water).


SUP Tidal Leader - this is suitable for those leading trips in simple areas of coastline, which includes defined beaches and sheltered bays where the group could easily land and in winds not above Beaufort force 3, as well as in estuarine/tidal (flowing water) environments.


The journey to become a SUP Leader is personalised to suit your own development. You can choose optional BCAB Leadership Training or you may wish to opt for more bespoke training opportunities. For example, private tuition, in-house training through your workplace, working alongside/shadowing other Leaders, or conference/symposium workshops. Your individualised development journey is concluded by an assessment which is run over 1–2 days. 


‘It is vital that we design programmes that the Stand Up Paddleboarding industry needs. We have worked with leading figures within the SUP and outdoor industry to develop our awards aimed at those wanting to lead stand up paddleboard journeys. Choosing the right programme is so important. At British Canoeing Awarding Body, we want paddlers to have choice, as well as have the assurance that, as an organisation regulated by Ofqual/CCEA/Qualification Wales and CIMSPA, you will receive the highest quality, recognised qualification’.

Lee Pooley, Paddle UK Director of Recreation and Development


From 2025, the SUP Inland Open Water Leader qualification remit will change, and will specifically support you to lead others on journeys on inland open water. This includes large areas of open water that exceed the sheltered water definition, where the paddlers are no more than 500 metres offshore and in wind strengths that do not exceed Beaufort force 4. The change in remit and assessment undertaken for this award will be from the 3rd January 2025.


The NEW Awards will be available from January 2025. Find out more on the BCAB website here or visit your Delivery Centre website.

  • Canoe Wales
  • Paddle Northern Ireland
  • Paddle Scotland
  • Paddles Up Training (England and International)


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