MLA Training represents the voice of "commercial", professional schools providing training under the RYA/DOT system. Most Training Centres (TCs) support the work of the RYA as well as its training schemes and in many respects there is no conflict between their aims and the objectives of TCs. It is important to remember, however, that the RYA is primarily an association of yachtsmen and women, so in this respect it is a consumer's organisation and is accountable to its membership in the first instance. This can be seen, for example, in the way the RYA tends to encourage self-help club training at low cost and refer to the private sector as "commercial". Training Centres can apply to join the BMF and the MLA Training additionally stipulates that a school must have operated for at least one year as an RYA Recognised Centre.
MLA Charter and Holidays MLA Charter and Holidays represents the yacht charter operators and holiday companies, who provide yachts for bareboat, skippered and flotilla charter and holidays afloat in the United Kingdom and Worldwide. Members are offered example and guideline instructions/standard agreement procedures to assist with specific arrangements between a charter agency and yacht owner or a charter company and a member of the public. All charter companies must adhere to current legislation, especially with regards to the Package Travel Holiday and Package Tour Regulations 1992, using appropriate bonding, insurance or trust fund arrangements. All British registered yachts are required to comply with the MCA Code of Practice for Small Commercial Vessels and foreign flagged yachts are required to comply with the regulations of the country with which they are registered. Holiday companies are all ATOL (Air Travel Organiser Licence) bonded, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority. ATOL is the government’s licensing and financial protection scheme for air holidays and flights sold by tour operators and travel organisers in the UK. MLA Charter & Holiday membership is available to applicants that have been operating for 12-months or more.
