WHO ARE TEAM SAM SYKES?

Experts passionate about adventure, DofE & developing people through experiential learning.

Sam Sykes

CEO & Founder

Sam Sykes, the founder, has been involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award from the moment he was born. His father Stuart Sykes MBE and the Sykes family have been delivering DofE for over half a century.

Download Sam’s e-book - ‘Why Have adventures’

Cat Steward

Administration Manager

Graeme Watt

Stores Manager


Chris Holdsworth

Operations Manager


Designated On Call - DOC

The DOC is contactable 24 hours a day whilst expeditions are live. The DOC is the backup for the customer and the Expedition Manager.

Expedition Manager

Expedition Managers are responsible for the effective delivery of your course as it happens – on the ground. An Expedition Manager may be one of the instructional staff working with a group, or be ‘floating’ on larger programmes where they can be more effective in dealing with the day to day challenges of your dynamic course.

All Expedition Managers are senior members of our instructional team with years of experience and judgement from which you can feel assured and relaxed.

Contracted Instructors

Our contracted instructors do the lions share of delivery when it comes to our courses. These exceptional people will have been selected to be highly qualified, professional, cool under pressure and most of all inspirational ambassadors of Sam Sykes.

Our contracted instructors have very high levels of qualifications, soft skills and experience to be part of the core Sam Sykes team. In addition to our rigorous requirements many of them will have pushed adventure at the highest levels and in some cases be sponsored athletes in their sport.

Freelance Instructors

Our freelance instructors work with us on a much more flexible basis than our contracted instructors but will still go through the same rigorous selection process before they deliver any of our courses.

Like all of our staff they are chosen on the merits of their capability, experience and professionalism to be offered a place on the Sam Sykes team.

Technical Advisors

We have a number of technical advisors with whom we develop our operating procedures and risk assessments.

Our perpetual drive to ensure the Sam Sykes systems continue to set the benchmark, means that we constantly review our approach and research current advice whenever possible. All of this hard work means that our customers can enjoy the peace of mind that Sam Sykes has it covered.