Sport & Fitness Apprenticeships

View Sport & Fitness Apprenticeships

With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon, the sport and fitness industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK. It covers all aspects of sport and recreation from professional sport to exercise instruction - including work in leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools, stadiums, and private sports clubs, as well as a range of outdoor activities. Roughly 620,000 people work in this industry, in about 230,000 businesses and organisations throughout the country.

'Sport' is about more than just teams and competition - it's all forms of physical activity that improve physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Sport can even help people form social relationships. Millions of people enjoy sports at community leisure centres, private health clubs, outward bound centres, and after-school clubs; and all of these need keen and motivated staff to make sure things run smoothly and safely, as well as to instruct, inspire, and keep an eye on people.

There are many roles on offer to suit different tastes and abilities. If you like working with people, then a career as a fitness instructor, coach or activity leader could prove rewarding. If football is your passion, you could help manage club facilities or work as an event marshal during matches. And for those who prefer to work quietly behind the scenes, operational services are needed to support every business and organisation in the sector.

Increasingly, the government is relying on the industry to help fight illness and obesity. There's a growing number of fitness club and leisure centre users, which means a growing number of employment vacancies. And with the Olympics on their way to London, investment is being poured into promoting sports and fitness and improving facilities from community to professional level. In fact, there's never been a better time to start a career in the industry.