A shared passion for New Zealand's outdoors and skifields led to two University of Otago graduates launching the globally successful Educating Adventures. Simon Hartley learns more.
More than 400 people have become instructors and more than 40 school groups have used the Queenstown-based company's services.
The Deloitte Fast 50 companies index, which ranks the top 50 businesses in New Zealand according to their growth during the past three years, was announced in late October.
Edu-Adventures' 396% growth ranked it 17th, second only to highest placed Otago regional winner, the New Zealand Honey Company and its 523% growth rate.
Educating Adventures was founded by long-time friends and snow enthusiasts Jonathon Beckingsale (33) and Eryn Cutler (31) in 2006.
In a reflection of the market where they operate, this interview was done through a series of emails with Mr Beckingsale, beginning in New Zealand, then trailing him through Chile and on to Canada through late November and December.
The pair completed degrees at the University of Otago.
Mr Beckingsale did a bachelor of commerce in accounting and finance; before becoming a chartered accountant and working with Deloitte in Dunedin, then Wellington.
Mr Cutler gained an masters of science in climatology.
Their taste for adventure follows them meeting at university, becoming friends as ski instructors at Lake Tahoe in the United States, followed by getting together for adventure sports around the world, including mountain-biking and kayaking.
Mr Cutler went to mountaineering and climbed Mt Cook.
''We're a school travel company that specialises only in international school group travel ... with two company divisions,'' Mr Beckingsale said.
First, the ski and snowboard Instructor Internships, in partnership with ski resorts in Canada, the US, Australia and Japan, are for people generally aged 18-32.
''Clients have the opportunity to train to become a ski or snowboard instructors then step into paid employment in the same winter season,'' Mr Beckingsale said.
The business also offers a recruitment service for the ski resorts and the opportunity for clients to take a gap year, which in the United Kingdom is time off university before entering the workforce, as a career break or to begin a career in the industry.
''The target markets are primarily the United Kingdom, but we also have some clients from Australia and New Zealand,'' he said.
The second company division is organising international school travel packages, with the primary destinations at present including North America, South America and New Zealand.
''We provide specialist and fully managed packages for teachers with a focus on resources and ground representatives - taking the stress away from teachers,'' he said.
The target market is schools in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
He said Edu-Adventures had grown so quickly as it had hit on a niche market in the travel industry; focused on giving clients exactly what they want and need, through the eight-person team employed by Edu-Adventures in Queenstown, plus several overseas contract staff.
''We set up the Edu-Adventures base here in Queenstown because both of our families love it.
''It has awesome outdoor recreation and we now also have many great friends here.
''As we work a great deal in the ski industry for both divisions of Edu-Adventures, it also makes sense to be in New Zealand's main ski town,'' Mr Beckingsale said.
When the pair set-up Edu-Adventures, they had other jobs, so with few overheads or fixed costs the company went straight into profit in its first year, operating from www.educatingadventures.com.
''There was a small capital outlay on website and marketing. As we grew the business and gained momentum, we employed staff and set up the office in Queenstown,'' he said.
The company had managed to maintain ''strong growth'' through the recession, in part because the instructor internship programmes include a guaranteed job placement, meaning Edu-Adventure's clients could travel, become qualified and gain paid employment.
Mr Beckingsale said the company did not have to make any major changes because of the recession.
''Not really, [but] we have had to be much more flexible and aggressive and focus more on quality.
''People are becoming more discerning and real-time feedback through social media is so freely available,'' he said.
On the question of expansion, Mr Beckingsale said the company would like to get back into the Deloitte Top 50 index, and would concentrate on continuing to establish Edu-Adventures in the world's top ski resorts, while the school travel division could be expanded with more office locations.
Franchising was an option also being considered.
''At present, franchising is thoughts only. With the way our school travel division expands, it could involve a franchising concept,'' Mr Beckingsale said.
Jonathon Beckingsale
Beckingsale grew up in North Otago, where he attended primary through secondary school
He graduated from the University of Otago with a BCom in accounting and finance, and a Dip Grad in accounting
Beckingsale joined Deloitte in Dunedin through its gradutate recruitment programme, later moving to Deloitte in Wellington
He is a chartered accountant and a member of the NZICA.
Interests include travel, flying - he has a Private Pilot's Licence - tennis, squash, and snow sports, in which he is a qualified ski instructor and has taught in North and South America.
Beckingsale is married to Maria, from Buenos Aires, and they have a 6-month-old daughter, Sofia.
Eryn Cutler
Eryn Cutler grew up in South Canterbury, attending preschool, primary and secondary school in Pleasant Point.
He has a strong connection with the area, stemming from a family passion for the outdoors; his father, Steve, being an outdoor education pioneer in South Canterbury.
After finishing school, Cutler attended the University of Otago and completed a BSc and MSc.
His masters research project involved a six-week climate and snow investigation based at the head of the Tasman Glacier in the Mt Cook National Park.
During this time Cutler and his research team learned a great deal from local guides, climbed many nearby peaks and solidified-glacier-travel, ski-touring and mountaineering skills.
He is a qualified snow skiing and whitewater kayaking instructor and a national assessor for Outdoor Risk Management in New Zealand.
