Health & Safety
Health & Safety
The health and safety of our groups is our primary concern. We promote safety awareness to our suppliers and staff through our Safety Management System.
Download our Health and Safety Booklet
Safety Management System (SMS)
Our SMS document sets out the standards required for each component of our tours. Audits are completed annually to guarantee that our hotel and transport suppliers meet all safety regulations and have appropriate documentation. If you would like to read in more detail, please click the following link.
In addition, we understand the challenges party leaders face when organising trips, so in order to help you ensure the tour is as safe as possible, we are happy to assist with risk assessments and any other safety planning.
School Travel Forum (STF)
Equity Student Travel is a full member of the School Travel Forum. This is a group of leading school tour operators who promote good practice and safety in school travel.
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC)
Equity Ltd., is accredited by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom and are proud to have been awarded their Quality Badge. The Quality Badge is awarded to providers who have pledged to engage in an ongoing process to sustain high-quality learning outside the classroom.
Please click here for further information about our STF and LOtC accreditation or visit the STF website
Air Tours
The air tours in our programme are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This is done through our ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) which is granted to us by the CAA.
ATOL protects you from losing your money or being stranded abroad. It does this by carrying out checks on the tour operators and travel organisers it licenses, and requiring a financial guarantee called a bond, which is lodged with the CAA.
If a tour operator goes out of business, the CAA will make a refund to you, or if you're abroad, we'll arrange for you to finish your holiday and fly home. Equity Student Travel is also accredited by IATA (International Air Travel Association).
ABTA
We are members of ABTA The Travel Association with membership number V5376. The Coach Tours in our programme are protected by way of a bond Held by ABTA The Travel Association. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, please visit www.abta.com.
Our Coaches
We use a core of selected British coach operators - all of which are well established and reliable companies. Audits are completed for all our selected coach companies to ensure that they provide us with good quality, safe and reliable vehicles. Seat belts will be available for all pupils on British coaches (this does not necessarily apply to foreign coaches). The frequency and detail of the audits is set by the School Travel Forum.
Our Accommodation
We have undertaken to carry out a SMS Accommodation Audit on all of the properties featured in this website. This is a thorough audit covering essential areas of security, hygiene and fire safety. The frequency and detail of the audits is set by the School Travel Forum.
