Here is a short summary of the results of our 2026 Tutor Community Survey, which launched in April 2026.
A total of 57 clubs and training groups completed the survey, representing a broad cross-section of the UK amateur radio training community, from large national providers to small local clubs. The results provide a useful snapshot of the current health of club-based training and where tutors believe support is most needed.
Overall health of clubs
Despite the challenges facing amateur radio, most respondents felt their organisations were in a reasonably healthy position.
| How clubs rate themselves | Responses |
|---|---|
| Ticking over nicely | 22 |
| Struggling | 15 |
| Inactive | 11 |
| Doing very well | 7 |
Around half of respondents described their club as either ticking over nicely or doing very well, although over a quarter reported that they were struggling.
Comparison with previous years
Membership appears relatively stable, but student numbers tell a different story.
Membership
| Compared with previous years | Responses |
|---|---|
| Same | 30 |
| Increase | 20 |
| Decrease | 5 |
Student numbers
| Compared with previous years | Responses |
|---|---|
| Decrease | 18 |
| Same | 18 |
| Increase | 13 |
While many clubs have maintained or even increased membership, more clubs reported falling student numbers than increasing ones, suggesting that recruitment into training remains a challenge even where clubs themselves remain healthy.
Training delivered during the last 12 months
Foundation continues to dominate club training. Most groups that provide training ran only one or two Foundation courses during the year, although a small number of larger providers delivered more than ten.
Intermediate and Full training remain far less common, while Direct-to-Full training is offered by only a handful of groups.
Student numbers follow a similar pattern. Most Foundation providers trained between 1 and 10 students, although a few much larger providers taught significantly more. Intermediate and Full training generally involved much smaller cohorts, with Direct-to-Full remaining very much a niche activity.
Plans for the next 12 months
Many clubs intend to continue offering Foundation training.
| Planned activity | Clubs |
|---|---|
| Foundation — in person | 18 |
| Foundation — online | 5 |
| Foundation exam sessions | 8 |
| Intermediate — in person | 15 |
| Intermediate — online | 6 |
| Intermediate exam sessions | 4 |
| Full — in person | 10 |
| Full — online | 4 |
| Direct-to-Full — in person | 3 |
| Direct-to-Full — online | 1 |
| None of the above | 3 |
These figures suggest that while Foundation remains the main focus, there is still a reasonable level of commitment to supporting progression beyond the entry-level licence.
How students find clubs
Word of mouth remains by far the most important recruitment method.
| Main recruitment route | Clubs using it |
|---|---|
| Local word of mouth | 26 |
| RSGB | 17 |
| Club website | 16 |
| Club social media | 14 |
| Community events | 8 |
| Partnership with other clubs | 8 |
| Local press | 2 |
| HamTrain | 1 |
The results suggest that personal recommendation remains far more influential than advertising, although club websites and social media also play an important role.
Why some clubs are not offering training
For clubs that currently do not provide training, the biggest obstacles were clear.
| Barrier | Responses |
|---|---|
| Lack of local demand | 16 |
| Lack of volunteers | 10 |
| Too many syllabus changes | 8 |
| Lack of motivation within the club | 6 |
| Too expensive | 4 |
| Too much effort | 3 |
| Lack of training material | 2 |
| Too many nearby providers | 2 |
The survey suggests that people, rather than resources, remain the biggest issue. Recruiting volunteer tutors continues to be difficult, while frequent syllabus changes are also viewed as a significant disincentive.
Brickworks
Awareness and uptake of the RSGB Brickworks scheme remains relatively low.
| Brickworks status | Clubs |
|---|---|
| Signed up | 12 |
| Not yet joined | 17 |
| No plans to join | 14 |
| Unsure | 4 |
| Had not heard of Brickworks | 2 |
Among those who had adopted the scheme, comments were overwhelmingly lukewarm. The recurring themes were low member interest, poor uptake and difficulty generating momentum. Several respondents felt that members preferred less structured activities or already had alternative ways to develop their skills.
What tutors would like from the RSGB
Respondents were asked what practical support would help them most.
| Requested support | Responses |
|---|---|
| Slimmer, more relevant syllabus | 29 |
| Greater syllabus stability | 28 |
| RSGB training content | 27 |
| Tutor tools and lesson plans | 25 |
| Better communication from the Exams team | 20 |
| Drive more students to clubs | 17 |
| More regional support | 13 |
| No additional help needed | 6 |
The strongest message is that tutors want less change, a more focused syllabus and practical resources, rather than entirely new initiatives.
Overall trends
The free-text responses revealed several recurring themes.
Many respondents believe online training has fundamentally changed the training landscape. Some clubs reported that demand has moved almost entirely online, making it difficult to justify running local courses. Several commented that they now direct candidates to established online providers while concentrating on mentoring and practical support.
Volunteer recruitment was another common concern, with clubs finding it increasingly difficult to attract tutors willing to commit the time required.
There was also widespread support for greater openness around the examination process, including continued publication of question pools, clearer communication from the RSGB and more stable syllabuses that require less frequent rewriting of course material.
Finally, despite the challenges, there remains a strong commitment to training within the amateur radio community. Many respondents stressed that helping newcomers remains one of the most rewarding aspects of club life, but they would welcome more practical support and closer collaboration to ensure local training remains sustainable in the years ahead.
Thanks!
Thanks to the following clubs for taking part: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society; Bath and District Amateur Radio Club; Bath Based Distance Learning (BBDL); Bolton Wireless Club; Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society; Buxton Radio Amateurs; Central Lancs; Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association; Christchurch Amateur Radio Society; Colchester Radio Amateurs; Cornish Radio Amateur Club; Coventry ARS; Cray Valley Radio Society; Dragon Amateur Radio Club; Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Society (EDARC/GS4HAM); Essex Ham; Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society; Furness ARS; Glenrothes and District Amateur Radio Club; Halifax and District ARS (HADARS); Hammersmith Amateur Radio Society (M0XHS); Harpenden and Wheathampstead District Scouts; Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group; Hereford ARS; Hilderstone Radio Society (G0HRS); Houghton-le-Spring ARC; Invicta Contest Group; Ipswich Radio Club; King’s Lynn ARC; Livingston and District ARS; Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society; Norfolk Amateur Radio Club (NARC); Oldham Amateur Radio Club; Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC); Peterborough; Poole Radio Society; RAF Halton Amateur Radio Society; Radio Society of Harrow; Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society (RADARS); South Bristol ARC; South Kesteven ARS; Stockport Radio Society; Thurrock Acorns; Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club; UTC Sheffield; UTC South Durham Radio Club (M1UTC); West Kent Amateur Radio Society; Wirral Amateur Radio Society (G3NWR/GB90NWR); Worthing Radio Events Group; and Wythall Radio Club.
Missed it?
Although we’ve released the results, the survey is still open. Take the Tutor & Club Survey at sxham.uk/tutor26
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