Interview 009 – Laura Sweet
Laura Sweet - Lime Street Insurance Brokers, UK
Please could you introduce yourself: who you are, where you're based, and what you do in your role?
I'm Laura Sweet, Head of Sport & Leisure at Lime Street Insurance Brokers. I’m based in our Taunton office in Somerset, where I lead a close-knit team of four. We also work closely with our colleagues in London and Germany.
I've worked in insurance for over two decades, and for more than 15 of those years, I've focused specifically on the sport and leisure space. Over time, I’ve carved out a bit of a niche by combining my professional background with my personal love of extreme sports. Whether it’s climbing, surfing, mountaineering, sailing, mountain biking, or skateboarding – I’ve tried most things at least once. It’s this lived experience that helps me bridge the gap between perceived and actual risk, which is often where meaningful conversations between clients and insurers begin.
At Lime Street, our aim isn’t just to sell insurance – it’s to offer tailored, relevant protection grounded in genuine understanding. That’s especially important in the sport and leisure world, where clients can sometimes feel misunderstood. We work to change that by building trust, offering value, and creating insurance solutions that reflect the realities of the industry.
How would you describe the state of the climbing gym industry in your country, and how do you see it evolving in the next few years?
The industry has changed significantly over the past decade – it’s almost unrecognisable. Growth has been driven by an incredibly passionate community: from the people innovating in climbing tech, to the setters, gym owners, and operators. Being part of that evolution has been a real privilege.
Looking ahead, I think we’re in for more change. While the rate of new climbing wall construction has slowed, it certainly hasn’t stopped. We’re already starting to see some consolidation, with owners exploring exit strategies. That opens the door for new investment and funding. Interestingly, roped climbing seems to be making a bit of a comeback, which is great to see.
Despite wider challenges – Brexit, the pandemic, and now ongoing economic pressures – the sector has remained resilient. There’s still a significant portion of the public who haven’t yet tried climbing or bouldering, so I don’t think we’ve reached saturation. In fact, we’re seeing more leisure centres and gyms introduce climbing as part of their offering, which makes it even more accessible.
Over the next few years, I expect a stronger focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and technology. We’re on the cusp of another wave of growth – and it’s exciting.
Since COVID, indoor climbing – especially bouldering – has surged in popularity. Many newcomers may not fully understand the risks, and injury rates at gyms have reportedly risen slightly as a result.
Without complete data, it’s difficult to assess the full picture – but yes, a sharp increase in participation will naturally result in more accidents.
Climbing gyms used to be created by climbers, for climbers. Bouldering rooms were niche and intimidating – filled with impossibly hard problems (or at least, they were for me!). Back then, people knew the risks and accepted them. These days, climbing feels much more open and accessible, which is fantastic – but that deeper understanding of risk has started to fade.
The sport has become a bit of a victim of its own success. Its approachable image sometimes leads to the assumption that it’s completely safe. But, like any mainstream sport, climbing carries risk. No one questions a broken ankle in football, or a fall from a horse during a cross-country event – both are unfortunate, but accepted as part of the activity. Climbing needs to be viewed in the same way.
There’s a clear need for better education around these risks, and that needs to be led from the top – by facility operators, gym owners, and the industry as a whole. Risk communication should be part of the experience, not an afterthought.
Do you find that most gyms are well prepared when it comes to liability protection – and how do you see this evolving as the industry matures?
Generally speaking, yes – though the level of preparedness varies depending on the size and experience of the operator.
There’s been great progress in areas like incident reporting and legal awareness. That’s made a real difference in helping us defend spurious claims and manage insurance premiums effectively. However, the industry is still evolving, and with that comes new exposures – particularly in bouldering, which is still relatively young.
There are ongoing concerns around areas such as route-setting, matting, and the use of auto belays. Add to that, emerging trends like eco-materials, digital systems for bookings and waivers, and even augmented reality (AR) climbing walls, and the risk landscape becomes increasingly complex.
More recently, legislation such as Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) has added another layer – requiring gyms to think beyond traditional liability and consider broader premises risk and public safety obligations.
It’s clear that brokers, insurers, and gyms will all need to stay proactive, adaptable, and informed to navigate the next phase of development. Being on the front foot is key.
Let’s imagine a freelance routesetter – uninsured – breaks their ankle after slipping off a ladder while setting. They’re unable to work for several weeks. What might the conversation between the routesetter, the gym owner, and the insurer look like in that situation?
These situations are rarely straightforward – the best answer is, “it depends.”
Ideally, the responsibilities and expectations between both parties should be agreed long before any incident happens. If the routesetter is uninsured personally, then the gym should disclose them under its policy as a labour-only subcontractor. That means the gym takes on responsibility in the same way it would for an employee – including providing PPE, suitable supervision, safe equipment, and proper documentation
In reality, many setters work across multiple venues, use their own kit, and operate independently – which makes the line between employer and contractor less clear. In those cases, it’s advisable that the setter holds their own insurance.
In the example you’ve given, for the gym’s insurance to respond, the setter would need to allege fault – that the accident occurred due to negligence on the gym’s part. Insurers would look at equipment checks, qualifications, training records, risk assessments, and witness statements before determining liability. If no one is at fault – it may simply be bad luck.
There are ways gyms can offer protection without admitting fault, such as group personal accident cover. This could help support setters if they’re injured in a no-fault incident, but it’s not yet widely adopted. Setters themselves can also take out personal accident or income protection cover to help bridge any income gap following an injury.
Conversations about cover, liability, and roles need to happen upfront – not after the fact.
Have you noticed any notable differences in insurance requirements between the UK and continental Europe?
Yes – quite a few, actually. The biggest differences come down to legal frameworks and claims culture.
The UK operates under a dual-regulated, common law system, which tends to be more litigious than the civil law systems you’ll find across most of Europe. That means UK insurers often offer broader cover with higher limits – £10 million in public liability is now fairly standard for UK climbing centres, and, in my view that figure is only going one way.
In contrast, European markets are more standardised. Insurance requirements are often set by national governing bodies, and the claims culture is less aggressive. There’s more personal responsibility built into the legal process, and claims aren’t pursued in quite the same way.
Health and safety is another key area. The UK takes it very seriously – from PPE and route-setting protocols to regular equipment checks and risk assessments. It’s not just a tick-box exercise; it genuinely drives down accident rates. Some European countries follow a similar approach, but others are much more relaxed, which naturally shapes the insurance landscape.
Ireland is a bit of an outlier. Placing leisure risks there is especially difficult – with fewer insurers willing to underwrite, high premiums, and limited availability. It’s a challenging market, particularly for action and adventure sports.
So, while the fundamentals of risk management are broadly consistent, the way those risks are managed – and insured – can vary significantly from country to country.
If people want to learn more, where can they find you?
Email: laura.sweet@limestreetbrokers.com
Mobile: 07817104595
