In the news

Working together with Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and Scottish Mountain Rescue, Helly Hansen has signed partnerships with four new teams from across the UK: Assynt and Arrochar in Scotland, North of Tyne in England, and Western Beacons in Wales.

Helly Hansen and the new teams have one common goal: to save lives in the mountains. In support of this goal, Helly Hansen has developed a bespoke best-in-class Mountain Rescue Responder Uniform with the aim of protecting the Mountain Rescue volunteers against the UK’s unique temperate weather conditions and varied landscapes. In addition, Helly Hansen will be working with each team and their volunteers to educate outdoor enthusiasts on mountain safety.

Each rescue team has different challenges, working in landscapes that vary from mountains and moorland to forests and marshland, and all experience the diverse changeable UK weather that can test even the most resilient of volunteers. Over the past year the teams in Assynt, Arrochar, North of Tyne, and Western Beacons have vigorously tested product from Helly Hansen’s Mountain Collection and provided valuable first-hand feedback. These insights have helped the brand to develop the Mountain Rescue Responder Uniform.

The full 3-layer system is designed to allow volunteers to feel safe and comfortable in their kit, so they can concentrate on their role saving lives in the mountains 365 days a year. These teams will be instrumental in providing further feedback and insights to evolve Helly Hansen’s Mountain Rescue Collections over the 3-year partnership.

The new teams join Helly Hansen’s 55,000 global professionals, from Olympian athletes to search and rescue professionals such as the RNLI and Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue in Ireland.

Piers Barnes, Helly Hansen UK & IRL General Manager, said, “As a brand that defines itself through its work with professionals for over 140 years, Helly Hansen has a tremendous amount of respect for mountain rescue teams and their volunteers. We know that it is trust that makes saving lives possible, trust in your team, your environment and in your kit. We are proud to be part of that and to be supporting those who willingly risk their own lives to help others.” Mike Park MBE, Senior Executive Officer at Mountain Rescue England & Wales, said, “Our teams are delighted to partner with Helly Hansen. Combining almost 230 years of rich heritage, innovation and expertise, Mountain Rescue England & Wales and Helly Hansen share core brand values, history and experience. This is the perfect partnership to build public awareness, generate vital income and

funding, give our teams some of the best kit possible, and ultimately help us to keep people safe on the mountains.”

Damon Powell, Chair Person at Scottish Mountain Rescue, said, “Scottish Mountain Rescue are delighted to see Arrochar Mountain Rescue and Assynt Mountain Rescue partner up with Helly Hansen. Our volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and with the nature, the terrain and the unpredictable weather in the Scottish Mountains, having bespoke clothing is vital to ensure that the individuals have the best possible environment to be able to safely and efficiently conduct rescues.
“We would like to send a special thank you to Helly Hansen for providing Arrochar MRT and Assynt MRT with best-in-class kit and we look forward to working with Helly Hansen to raise awareness of the work of our volunteer teams and to support our work to keep people safe in the mountains.”