A number of companies now offer graduate management schemes which could lead in you being fast-tracked into a top job


For sport and health sciences, we get about eight to 10 applications for every available place, so we expect that we will be able to fill our places with calibre students.” Tere are now less funding avenues open


to you, but some High Street banks offer career development loans for vocational courses, while you may also find universities themselves providing bursaries and scholar- ships to help fund continued study.


managing your career Perhaps postgraduate study isn’t for you - so what next? Well, across the leisure industry’s varied spectrum are many operators and companies that have established dedicated


Helen Condon


Where and what did you study? I graduated from the University of Reading in 2008 with a 2:1 in sports leadership BA. Where and what is your current role? I’m now working as a sports development manager for Parkwood Leisure at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre in Bristol. Did you enter the leisure industry directly from university? Following graduation, I gained Level 3 in personal training and worked in a health club as a self employed personal trainer and as a fitness instructor and group exercise coordinator. but wanted to move into management, so applied for the Parkwood Leisure Graduate Scheme in 2010. What does your day-to-day role include? My role currently involves putting together the programme for


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graduate management skills, which aim to entice some of the brightest young talent into their organisation. While competition for places on such schemes can be tough, the potential is alluring. It is an option that can be particularly favourable for those wishing to enter leisure management. Parkwood Leisure currently operates more


than 80 sites – such as leisure centres, the- atres and events venues. It runs a graduate scheme designed to accelerate graduates into management positions across its portfolio. Te objective is to provide advanced, strate- gic, and day to day training and development in facility management and leadership, to create senior managers for tomorrow.


Elsewhere, Greenwich Leisure (GLL) also


operates a two-year trainee manager scheme that is specifically aimed at graduates who are ready to take on the working world. Consisting of three eight-month place- ments, it provides graduates with a wealth of experiences. GLL will consider candi- dates with any degree, but a business or leisure management-related qualification is an advantage. If you’re inspired to enter the leisure


industry, then hopefully you’ll now be aware of a few of the options to kick start a bright career. It is an industry at an advantage to other sectors, because it the chance to turn a hobby or a sporting passion into a career.


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the new site as well working with local sports clubs, groups and businesses to ensure the needs of the wider community are met. I work closely with Bristol City Council to ensure that its require- ments of the facility are met and national schemes are provided for within the programme. What attracted you to the leisure industry? I’ve always had a passion for sports, having been on the GB syn- chronized swimming team in 2001 and 2003 and coached it since 2006, so I wanted to work in a sector that I was passionate about. How well do you think your university course prepared you for a career in leisure? Very well I think – but as with anything there is a real difference between the academic side and doing it within a business! Any advice for graduates looking to get into the industry? To gain as much practical experience as possible while they are studying. As with any industry you have to have both the experi- ence and the qualifications in order to attract attention to your CV.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 17


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