How One Company Adventures Beyond Business to Enrich Cardigan

Adventure  Beyond, an activity company based in Cardigan, has been operating in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire for over 25 years. Managing Director, Jet Moore, grew up kayaking in Llandysul, eventually competing at an international level.

“Being from the area – knowing how beautiful and special the area is, I take real pride in responsibly showing the area to everyone,” Jet explains. “Adventure Beyond works with tourists, schools, and in TV. In all the areas we operate, we employ local young people to lead activities”!

Adventure Beyond looks to enrich Cardigan by employing and training local youth to become outdoor instructors. It’s also important to the company to give back – offering experiences to several local not-for-profits and shaping how activities can and should be run to ensure the highest levels of safety and lowest levels of human intrusion into environments as possible.

For the last two years, Adventure Beyond has partnered with the Jobcentre and Coleg Ceredigion through their Kickstart programme. The Kickstart programme (now finished) was a government initiative to create new jobs for 16-24-year-olds receiving Universal Credit. In 2021, Adventure Beyond employed six local youths through the scheme, with five graduating to full-time instructors this year. In 2022, Adventure Beyond employed seven additional people through the Kickstart programme. In 2022 alone, this partnership has created roles paying around £100,000 in wages to local participating young adults! More importantly, Adventure Beyond is opening doors for its new instructors to continue developing their knowledge and gain qualifications leading to employment anywhere in the world where adventure is to be had!

Creating exciting jobs for youths is only one area where Adventure Beyond gives back. Every year, the company invites not-for-profit groups to experience an adventure. Scouts, Girl Guides, and local schools all have an opportunity to go on exciting activities, including multi-day activities with overnight camps! Many of these are free or heavily discounted, with Adventure Beyond donating time or staff to these groups equivalent to £50,000 annually. “The Scout Group and Adventure Beyond have always been involved assuring that our youth groups get the best adventures,”  says Yve O’Neill, Group Scout Leader of the 3rd Cardigan Sea Scout Group. “Jet [Moore], who was himself a Scout, and his team has always given back to the community and encouraged the young people within it to make the best of our fantastic river and surrounding areas. They take us on the water so that our young people can gain the experience and knowledge to achieve awards and do their absolute best.”

The company has covered the costs of a new roof for the Scout Boat House ensuring the scouts stay covered and warm when having fun! “We have the same goals, working hard to give to our local community and enabling our young people to be the best they can be all whilst having amazing fun too.”

Adventure Beyond’s staff and equipment can be seen at many local events, which are donated so the community can enjoy the outdoors more.

Outside of running Adventure Beyond’s day-to-day, Jet Moore is looked to throughout the adventure community in the UK as a voice for safety and responsible tourism practices. He sits on several committees steering policy development. “Adventure Beyond have been operating for more than 25 years. We have run activities in more than a few different places around the world and have come to learn about thresholds. We want to ensure everyone on the water – companies, instructors, or clients – enjoys their experience safely and use our vast experience to ensure that’s the case.”

Adventure Beyond have always had a focus on the community. Where possible, the company has created new, exciting opportunities to employ young adults – giving them employment in a global and exciting industry! The company has also looked at how to manage their activities so customers stay safe, enjoy, and the environments people are going out into can still remain wild!