Context – from 1st April 2020 HSE had contracted Adventure RMS to provide an inspection service only. This was significantly different to the arrangements previously in place because Adventure RMS were not contracted to provide any pro-active or public facing services. Following a public and competitive tender process Adventure RMS have again been awarded the contract to provide these services from 1st April 2025.
We are required to undertake the review of applications forwarded by the AALA (HSE) and provide them with a report, including a decision on the licence application. All other functions (fee handling, administration, complaint handling, public information and sector liaison) continue to be completed by the AALA itself. Adventure RMS has a role in supporting the AALA (when requested) with technical expertise and advice in relation to enquiries, complaints, and questions.
Changes – in August 2024 the HSE announced proposals to change the way they intended to operate the AALA licensing scheme from 1 April 2025, following a survey of the views of licence holders, they have now announced that these policies will come into effect on 1st April 2025.
These changes relate to:
- The method of calculating licence duration
- The options available to inspectors when reviewing applications for a licence
If you currently hold a licence, you do not need to do anything different, as these changes will not affect your licence. Any licence (new or renewal) with a start date from the 1st April onwards will be issued using the HSEs new licence duration policy.
Inspectors undertaking application reviews from the 1st April onwards may decide to use a broader range of remote and/or in-person inspection methods during their review of your application.
Additional information – in relation to each of these changes has been emailed to existing licence holders by the AALA/HSE this includes responses to FAQs.
This information is also openly available in the ‘Guidance’ section of the Adventure RMS website under the ‘AALA’ tab.
The Adventure RMS process used to consider applications for a licence has been updated and amended to reflect these changes. You can learn more about what we (Adventure RMS) do with applications sent to us by AALA, the order in which we do these things and the timescales we work to in doing so by reading the ‘The Adventure RMS Application Review Process 01/04/25’ available in the ‘Guidance’ section of our website under the ‘AALA’ tab.
