New insights in the evolving European trail building industry: Key takeaways from the DIRTT 2.0 European Trail Builder Sector Survey

The recently released DIRTT 2.0 European Trail Builder Sector Survey offers the most comprehensive overview of the European trail building sector to date.

Conducted by Dr. Tom Campbell from Edinburgh Napier University as a part of the European trail building project «DIRTT» this survey provides a number of valuable insights into the industry’s structure, competencies, and emerging trends. The findings will be included as a key component of the DIRTT project’s efforts to establish a trans-European trail builder certification scheme by 2026. The outcomes of the study can be grouped in 5 main takeaways: 

1. Industry composition: Small but experienced

The trail building sector is predominantly made up of small, experienced organisations. Nearly half of the respondents have over a decade of experience, with the majority working in teams of three or fewer employees. Interestingly, the size of the organisation tends to grow with longer involvement in the sector, indicating a steady maturation of the industry.

2. Multiplicity of roles

Trail builders wear many hats. Most professionals in the sector are involved in multiple aspects of trail planning, construction, maintenance, and management. This reflects the small size of the organisations, where versatility and adaptability are key to their operation.

3. Competency prioritisation

There is strong support for a wide range of competencies across different phases of trail building. While competencies during the construction phase, such as water management, were consistently deemed essential across all levels of responsibility, significant differences emerged during other work aspects, for example in the preparation and planning phases. In these earlier phases, competencies like permitting and cost estimation were prioritised more by those in higher-level roles, while roles with less autonomy focused more on technical aspects such as trail plans and specifications. This highlights the varying needs based on the level of responsibility within an organisation.

4. Sustainable and inclusive practices: A work in progress

While there is a reasonable level of knowledge regarding sustainable trail design, the application of inclusive principles remains less widespread. Only 10% of respondents reported always considering inclusivity when developing trails, highlighting a significant area for growth. Training in this area, particularly in understanding adaptive trail guidelines, is in high demand.

5. Certification preferences

The sector shows strong support for time-bound certification, with a preference for recertification every 3-5 years. This reflects a commitment to maintaining up-to-date competencies. There is also a clear preference for a certification model that involves national assessors, with nearly half favouring European coordination.

Watch Dr. Tom Campbell’s presentation from the DIRTT Midterm Dissemination event:

The DIRTT 2.0 survey underscores the diversity and complexity of the trail building sector. As the industry continues to evolve, there is a clear need for targeted training, particularly in sustainable and inclusive practices, as well as a structured certification process that ensures the ongoing professional development and recognition of trail builders. For stakeholders, these findings offer a roadmap for supporting the industry’s growth and ensuring that European trails continue to set the standard for quality and accessibility.

For more detailed insights, the full survey report is available below.