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Mike Wakeley CASE STUDY


GLL will consider candidates with any degree for its two-year trainee scheme


football centre operator Goals Soccer Centres explains, it could lead to so much more. “A number of our current general manag-


ers started with us in a part-time role while at college or university,” he said. “Instead of going into a traditional role, they decided to forge their career in leisure with an excit- ing and expanding company. Graduates - and anyone else – showing aptitude to be a man- ager of the future can be selected at any stage by their regional manager to go onto our Future Leader programme.”


So what can you expect from the Q Hotels


graduate schemes? “Graduates will learn on-the-job skills as well as management development and additional skills related to the part of the business they are working in,” explains a company spokesperson. T e grad- uate programmes include secondments into two hotels in the group to show diff erent ele- ments of the business and the diff erences between how large and small hotels operate.”


Working your way Q Hotels, GLL and Parkwood each show you that on-the-job training is a key aspect of climbing the career ladder – but there is the option to get ahead by starting out before your studies have even concluded. Part-time work may seem like noth-


ing more than a few extra pennies towards your university living costs – but, as Keith Rogers, managing director of fi ve-a-side


© CYBERTREK 2011


The choice is yours If you’re inspired to enter the leisure indus- try, then hopefully you will now be aware of the many options there are to lay the foun- dations for a bright career. It is an industry at an advantage to other sectors, as Stephen Studd says, because it “the chance to turn a hobby or a sporting passion into a career. With that passion and an understand-


ing of the qualifi cations and skills needed to turn your dream into a reality, your degree can help propel you in the direction of your choosing. Getting started now, whether it be volunteering or part-time work, may even make the transition from student to graduate that little more easier. More importantly, graduating isn’t a time


for sadness and apprehension. It’s a time for excitement, anticipation and optimism. Because the future is in your hands. ●


Twitter: @leisureopps


Where do you work? What is your position? I am centre manager for Parkwood Leisure at both Kennet Leisure Centre and T eale Green Recreation Centre, west Berkshire What university course did you take? BSc mathematics, statistics and operational research and then MSc in sport and health sciences – both at Exeter University. Did you enter the leisure industry directly from university? I completed my postgraduate MSc in sport and health sciences graduating in the January before continuing to be involved in the leisure industry until the commencement of the graduate course. How did you fi nd your fi rst job? Company advert through the university. Was it easy to fi nd a job? No, I had to explore various avenues to discover how to fi nd about the jobs that were available to me. As I worked on improving my qualifi cations and skillset, more opportunities opened up for me. What would you do differently? I would have started looking at job opportunities earlier on during my time in higher education and spoken directly with companies in order to fi nd out what skills and experience I needed to prog- ress in my career, to accompany my qualifi cations. What does your currenty role include? I’m responsible for the operation and management of two leisure centres and the staff that work at them. I monitor the fi nancial performance of the site and am responsible for site expenditure on a day-to-day basis to ensure that the sites meet their budgetary targets. I work and communicate with the local council and schools to maintain relationships. What are your future ambitions? I would like to continue progressing within the industry, ultimately being responsible for even larger facilities. What advice would you have for gradu- ates looking for a job like yours? Be proactive! Investigate the type of job you would like to get at an early stage. Contact companies and your careers advisor to get advice on the skills and experiences that you would need for that role. With so many graduates, go out and gain experience so you can demonstrate that you have more potential than them.


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