Employing freelance instructors and race coaches
Everything you need to know from the RYA and insurance experts Gallagher
As an RYA affiliated club or recognised training centre, we know it can sometimes be difficult to find enough volunteer instructors or race coaches.
One alternative is to pay someone to help meet the demand for courses and coaching. In this article, we will explore what to consider before employing an instructor or coach.
Whilst there can be concerns about how a paid instructor will fit in alongside volunteers, clubs often report that it works much better than they imagined. Usually, it allows volunteers to focus on areas that they enjoy, and the paid team can fill in around them. If the volunteers understand that the paid instructors enable the club to run extra activities, they normally get on board.
How can we find a freelance instructor or race coach?
There are several Facebook groups that are good places to advertise for freelance instructors and race coaches. You can also ask your RYA Regional Manager for help with finding instructors or the RYA Race Coach Development team for help finding race coaches. Another option is to reach out to your local commercial RYA Recognised Training Centre to see if they can help.
What do we need to consider if we want to pay instructors or race coaches?
The club must be mindful of how the coach or instructor will be paid for their services, as this could create a tax liability for the club and additional legal obligations under employment and health and safety laws.
Will paid instructors who are not members of our club be covered under our insurance policy? How can we make sure they are covered?
Any clubs or training centres that purchase the Gallagher RYA-endorsed policy and ‘employ’ the services of instructors or race coaches to provide training or coaching are automatically provided with cover for public liability and employers’ liability, in line with the policy terms and conditions.
Individuals will be classed as ‘employees’ during the period of being paid by the affiliate to supply services, on the assumption that the club or training centre has made insurers aware that they do ‘employ’ individuals on a periodic basis. We would always recommend checking this with your insurance provider.
Do freelance instructors and/or race coaches need their own insurance policy?
If your club or training centre is insured with Gallagher, freelance instructors or race coaches working for you can be covered automatically in line with the policy terms and conditions. As per RYA guidelines, there is no requirement for each individual to carry their own insurance. We would recommend that, whether you are insured with Gallagher or any other provider, you should contact your insurance consultants to obtain confirmation of your own individual situation.
If you require any further information or you would like to let us know about your experiences of employing a freelance coach or instructor, email sport.development@rya.org.uk.
Club Insurance from Gallagher
Gallagher is the RYA’s official Club Insurance partner, providing tailored cover to RYA affiliates and recognised training centres for over 40 years. Read more on the dedicated Gallagher Club Insurance page.
For further assistance on how Gallagher can support your organisation with insurance matters, contact the specialist RYA Gallagher team.
Email: rya@ajg.com
Phone: 0800 0622309
The sole purpose of this article is to provide information on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited and Royal Yachting Association accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
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