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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Leisure Centre Work in Somerset CLCI: GAJ CRCI: MA Leisure centre workers – or leisure centre assistants – set out equipment, work on reception desks, take bookings, help run sessions, organise activities and clean and tidy up afterwards. The work is quite different to coaching, instructing or being a fitness worker. Most jobs are in leisure centres and sports centres (rather than gyms and fitness centres) To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your Careers or Connexions library THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT LEISURE CENTRE WORK IN SOMERSET Most leisure centres in Somerset are run by district councils such as Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Taunton Deane and West Somerset. These organisations also employ people in swimming pools (with a distinction between “dry” and “wet” leisure work). Leisure centres are often on the edge of towns and draw users from a wide area. In some towns – and particularly country areas – leisure centres are housed next to schools and colleges HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – in a leisure centre and go to college as part of your job   Do a full-time college or sixth-form course. This could add to your general qualifications or involve studying leisure USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   No particular GCSEs but being good in maths and English can help (you don’t need to study PE)   NVQs in sport & recreation and related subjects   GNVQs, BTECS and vocational A levels in leisure & recreation (or leisure & tourism)   A levels (as an alternative to a specialist course) More about qualifications, courses and training can be found in Moving On (published by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? Institute of Leisure and Amenities Management (ILAM) and Institute of Sport and Recreational Management (ISRM) do courses for leisure centre managers WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. Many leisure centre assistants earn the minimum wage or just above. Annual earnings are around £11-13,000. Managers and assistant managers earn more FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   Certain leisure centres in Somerset can employ up to fifty people. This includes managers, instructors, cleaners and office staff as well as assistants   Jobs are either full-time or part-time. Shifts link to when the centre is open and usually include evenings and weekends   You need to be happy doing all sorts of different duties (this is known as “multi-tasking”)   Some councils in Somerset employ leisure staff at golf courses, tennis centres and swimming pools as well as leisure centres   Some leisure centre assistants are more qualified than others (but may be doing the same job). It’s a job where you start at the bottom and work up   Most people enjoy the work but it’s not always glamorous. It can be hard physical work and the pay isn’t brilliant   To make progress it’s a good to get extra qualifications as you go along. This helps for management, coaching or instructing WHO DOES THE WORK? Steve (20), from Frome, did a leisure and recreation course at college before getting a job in a local leisure centre. It’s been tough at times because he started at the bottom. Things are going well now so Steve is hoping for an assistant manager’s job in a year or two Elaina (17), from near Somerton, preferred to start work after GCSEs. After a lot of trying she eventually found an apprenticeship at a leisure centre some way from home. She’s learning to do all sorts of things - some more exciting than others – and is working towards NVQs in sport and recreation More Info: A-Z Careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use