GRADUATE SPECIAL


Jackson Garner CASE STUDY


What university course did you take? I attended Loughborough University studying Sports Technology. How did you hear about the graduate management scheme at GLL? I found the scheme advertised on the Leisure Opportunities website. What is your current position with GLL? I am a fi rst year graduate trainee manager (GTM). I started in September 2011 What does your current role include? T e two year GTM scheme involves travelling around diff erent centres undertaking a number of diff er- ent job placements. Since joining I’ve spent two months as a receptionist, two months in the sales team and two months working as a fi tness instruc- tor. My current placement is in HR. T e fi rst year will give me an excellent experience of all the front line roles in a leisure centre. What is the best part of your 1current role? Having the opportunity to travel around diff erent centres in London and really get an understanding of the leisure industry. What attracted you to leisure? I’m a very sporty person, therefore from a young age I’ve always wanted to be involved with sport in my working career. Was it easy to secure a placement on the graduate scheme? I wouldn’t say it was easier, it took a lot of hard work and eff ort during my fi nal year at University to secure employment. T e selection process for the Trainee Manager Scheme included a fi rst interview, swim test and then a day’s assessment with a mix of activities to allow me to demon- strate my skills. What would you do differently if given the chance? To be honest it is diffi cult to say anything in particular given that I have only been on the scheme for six months, ask me in a year or so! What advice would you have for last- year students/graduates looking to get into the industry? You need to start to look for roles as early as possible in your fi nal year, and never give up when searching. Register with as many graduate websites as possible, you may get loads of e-mails each day, how- ever the right opportunity will come up, that is how I found this job!


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Graduation isn’t a time for sadness and apprehension, it’s a time for excitement and optimism


Managing your career Perhaps postgraduate study isn’t for you, and neither is the health and fi tness sector – what next? Well, across the leisure indus- try’s varied spectrum are many operators and companies that have established dedi- cated 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 can be a particularly alluring one. It is an option that can be particularly favourable for those wishing to enter the attractions, commercial sports or hospitality sectors, as well as leisure management. Parkwood Leisure currently operates


more than 80 sites – leisure centres, the- atres and events venues to name but a few. It off ers a graduate scheme that, as human resources manager Samantha Holloway says, is designed to accelerate graduates into man- agement positions across its portfolio. “T e objective is to provide advanced,


strategic, and day to day training and devel- opment in community leisure facility management and leadership, to create senior managers for tomorrow,” she says. “A devel- opment plan will be specifi cally created for each graduate and will be tailored to fi t their specifi c requirements and competencies. T is will be linked to the opportunities avail- able at the placement facility.” However, Parkwood has received more


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


than 400 applicants to date this year and is able to be “selective” in who it recruits to the scheme. Holloway explains that a good CV, a desire to work for the company and a strong degree can all help to secure the all important place on the scheme. Elsewhere, Greenwich Leisure (GLL) also operates a two-year trainee manager scheme that is specifi cally 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 recruitment manager Fiona Groutage


said: “We will consider candidates with any degree however a business or leisure manage- ment-related qualifi cation is an advantage. Candidates need to be hard working, com- mitted and fl exible so a previous work or volunteering history is also important. At the end of the scheme, trainee managers are encouraged to apply for a suitable vacancy up to the level of a service manager (assis- tant centre manager). T e scheme has been in place for 14 years and 55 per cent of train- ees still work for GLL.” But if sports and active leisure aren’t the


way you see yourself going, maybe you are more interested in entering the hospitality sector? Q Hotels, for example, has three grad- uate schemes – event sales, front offi ce and operational management, while it is a com- pany that also recruits graduates directly.


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011


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