SCHOOL LEAVER SPECIAL Chloe Moss
Many apprentices enjoy long careers with the companies that they completed their training with
18 months. T e reasons are clear. City & Guilds, the leading provider of apprentice- ships predicts that an extra million places would generate £1.2bn in revenue over the next eight years. A welcomed boost for the UK economy whose recovery from the recession has been slower than expected. Within the apprenticeship sector, leisure
stands as a shining example. T e number of apprentices in the sport and active leisure sector alone has increased 600 in the past fi ve years, according to statistics released during National Apprenticeship Week. SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Sport and Active Leisure, issued 9,342 Apprenticeship certifi - cates in the year ending September 2011 - up from just 1,271 in 2006. Nigel Wallace, director of training pro-
vider Lifetime - one of the companies off ering apprenticeship schemes - says that the success is largely down to employers who are increasingly looking to hire people who have practical skills, as opposed to the- oretical know-how. “In a recent Lifetime survey that ques-
tioned more than 2,000 employers across the UK, 58 per cent ranked work experi- ence and volunteering as the most appealing addition to an individual’s CV,” Wallace said. “T is is in comparison to just 27 per cent
looking for good academic qualifi cations. In all, 55 per cent of employers felt that young people who have learnt on the job are much more eff ective than University graduates as they are ‘work-ready’ and able to hit the ground running.” Wallace also emphasises that taking up
an apprenticeship doesn’t mean that you are shutting the door on academia. “A number of our learners have gone on
to complete further qualifi cations and aca- demic study once they have established themselves in the industry.” ●
16
Where are you working at the moment? I work as an exercise and lifestyle coach at Virgin Active in Collingtree Park, Northampton. What does your day-to-day role include? Working alongside a close team as well as individually, constant interaction with the club’s members, manning the gym fl oor and maintaining a high standard of mem- ber interaction. Helping people to achieve their fi tness goals both in groups and on a one to one basis as well as planning and instructing classes – maintaining a safe, professional, yet fun fi tness environment. What attracted you to the leisure industry? My life has always been sport-focused. It’s a huge passion of mine and I can’t imagine my life without playing or being involved in some kind of fi tness-related activity, I knew the leisure industry was for me. How easy was it to fi nd a job? It wasn’t ‘easy’, but like anything in life, if you work hard, you’ll succeed. I just made sure I was really proactive, putting a lot of care and consideration into my job
applications, and making sure that I stood out as a candidate to the employer! How did you enter the industry aſt er leaving school? Aſt er school, I went on to study at college. I chose a sports-related course – National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences. I also carried out some work experience in a PE department of a secondary school, as well as putting my basketball coach- ing qualifi cation to use through voluntary coaching for children’s teams. What training courses did you undertake to fi nd a job in leisure? Following this, I enrolled onto a course with Fitness Industry Education. I chose Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training, a fi ve-week fast-track course. What advice would you have for school leavers looking to get into the industry? Really do your research – I did, and it
paid off . Get some experience, to see if the industry really is for you. If it is, great – go for it, give it your all, demonstrate your passion for it throughout, and you will undoubtedly do well, and enjoy yourself! T e best aspects of the leisure industry? For me, it is getting to do what I love every single day!
Aristie Wright
Where are you working at the moment? I work at Parkwood’s Brough Park Leisure Centre in Leek and I am a lifeguard and swim- ming instructor. What does your day-to-day role include? Teaching children and adults to swim, life guarding public sessions, hall changes in the leisure centre and cleaning duties. I also help wherever I’m needed, so some- times work on reception too. What attracted you to the leisure industry? T e social side of it as you meet a lot of new people. With my teaching I have gained a lot of confi dence – more exciting than sitting behind a desk! How easy was it to fi nd a job? It was fairly easy as I used the apprentice- ship website and applied for the position through there and then got an interview; the process was quite straightforward. What did you do aſt er leaving school? I went to college fi rst for two years where I studies public services and then I was
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www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital
looking for a job but thought I would do it through an apprenticeship as I would gain more skills and experience that way. What training courses did you undertake to fi nd a job in leisure? On the apprenticeship I did my NPLQ to be a lifeguard, as well as Level 1 and 2 Swim Teaching. I have also completed dance courses with Parkwood Leisure – one for teaching Sway Dance and one for teaching cheerleading. What advice would you have for school leavers looking to get into the industry? I would advise them to go through an apprenticeship because it can be really hard to fi nd a job straight aſt er school. Is there anything you would do diff er- ently if given the chance? No I am glad of what I have done because in a year I have achieved so much and I am doing something totally diff erent. Is working in leisure what you expected? Yes and no; working in a leisure centre is diff erent to what I imagined because you get involved in so many diff erent things but I knew it was still working in leisure. I have a good knowledge of all diff erent areas now.
Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011
CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
image:
www.sportengland.org
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