Thanks to Alan G0TLK for asking in a tutor chat if we could combine the location of amateur radio training clubs with a heatmap of student interest.
Challenge accepted!
We combined the location of the 39 active training clubs with the hometowns of 866 students who’ve registered for a Foundation Online Course with us between January and July 2026 and who’ve provided a recognisable town. Here is the result (with a little help from AI)
The map shows that demand for Foundation training is concentrated around the UK’s main population centres, with particularly strong hotspots across Greater London and the South East, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester/Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and the Central Belt of Scotland. There are also notable clusters in East Anglia, South Wales, Bristol, Devon and Cornwall, reflecting the nationwide reach of Foundation Online.
Overall, the existing network of 39 in-person training venues aligns reasonably well with areas of highest demand, particularly across southern England and the Midlands. However, the map also highlights areas where demand appears less well served, including parts of East Anglia, the North East of England, mid-Wales, and some more rural regions. While online training clearly reaches candidates across the UK, the map suggests there are still opportunities for additional local training provision in a handful of areas where demand exists but relatively few in-person training options are available.
