training and qualifi cations
On the job: Apprentices learn to interact with clients and join the industry confident and work-ready
staff opinions But what do the apprentices make of their training? Leighanne Clifford, who completed Lifetime’s Multi Skilled Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship and is now working as a fitness coach, comments:
“Apprenticeships are a great way of getting the right balance between learning the theory and putting it into practice on the gym floor. Not only did I learn how to interact with a range of people, but it also helped me prepare for the working world. However I feel that, in the fitness industry, there is always more to learn – it never stops moving.” Twenty-one-year-old Michael Phelan is
a perfect example of how apprenticeships can benefit both young people and employers. Three years ago, Phelan was living on the streets and jobless. Today, he has transformed his life and is completing a Level 2 Activity Leadership Apprenticeship with Fit for Sport. Phelan leads children’s activity camps
and says: “Working with children in an active environment gives me a sense of achievement I had never before experienced. Because the programme is work-based, I’m able to earn while I learn; I really feel that I can make something of myself now.” Jones adds: “Throughout Michael’s
training and placement, he began to understand the need for professionalism and trust within our organisation, building positive relationships with schools and
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“Once recruited, we as an industry must ensure apprentices are provided with a clear path to aid their career progression and nurture their valuable talent”
parents. Most importantly, the children responded to him. We look forward to Michael obtaining his full framework and becoming a key member of the Fit For Sport team for years to come.”
future of the apprenticeship With all sides in agreement that apprenticeship programmes are an asset to the industry, it poses the question: what can employers and training providers do to ensure programmes remain relevant and beneficial to the industry? Michelle Shillabeer, apprenticeships
manager at the Institute of Swimming, comments: “Apprenticeships are without doubt growing in the leisure industry, and will continue to do so. Young people are increasingly using them as a great start to their career, often because they have a personal interest in sport. This looks set to increase further, particularly with the London Olympics.” If we are to cater for an influx of
interest in the sector, employers and training providers must continue to work together, as Wallace comments: “As a training provider, we feel it’s
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essential that we are continually offering young people the best possible opportunities to help them into the industry. With youth unemployment at a record high, now is the time for employers within the leisure industry to communicate the needs of their business so that we can meet them. Providing feedback on the apprentices they recruit is vital so we can continue to deliver well-placed, work-ready and dynamic talent into our sector.” Studd concludes: “Once apprentices
are recruited, we as an industry must ensure they are provided with a clear path to aid their career progression and nurture the valuable talent delivered from apprenticeship programmes. “Last month’s launch of the SPELG
report aims to address this need. One of its objectives is to create a single qualification structure led by employers; I’m delighted that we now have this in place for leisure operations, and we’re working hard to roll this out across other key occupations within the industry.”
healthclub@leisuremedia.com nicki petitt
june 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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