The leisure, sport and tourism industries offer
The leisure, sport and tourism industries offer a very wide range of jobs. People have more leisure time, greater disposable income and longer life expectancy. While relatively few people earn a living from playing sport, millions of people enjoy participating in sport. Whether amateur or professional, most participants need the help of coaches and instructors, and make use of sports facilities and leisure centres. Many people want to become fitter and lead healthier lives, and there are government initiatives trying to encourage people to take more exercise. There are many opportunities within tourism, as increasing numbers of people take holidays overseas or leisure breaks within the UK. It includes work in transport and travel services, and entertainment.
Most jobs in these sectors are concerned with helping people to enjoy their leisure time. Some jobs involve very active work and some are desk-bound. Work opportunities exist throughout the UK, and there are jobs at all levels - management, professional, skilled and semi-skilled.
Most people in these areas work irregular hours that can often involve shifts and evening, weekend and bank holiday work. A number of jobs, particularly in tourism, are affected by seasonal variations.
Working conditions vary. Some jobs are indoors (eg in an office, shop, gym, sports hall or cinema). Others are largely outdoors (eg horse riding, outdoor pursuits, theme park and fairground work). Some have a mix of the two, particularly in tourism.
The ability to get on well with people is important in most jobs in these areas.
Organisational skills are often needed, and sometimes good business skills. Professional sportsmen or sportswomen must have an exceptionally high level of skill and be totally dedicated to their sport.
Employers include large leisure companies, tour operators, tourist boards, local authorities, leisure centres, hotels and sports clubs. There are jobs in leisure, sport and tourism throughout the UK. The leisure and sport industries are growing. They now employ over 412,000 people in the UK. The number employed in tourism has fallen slightly and is now around 125,000.
While some jobs demand particular qualifications for entry, eg work as a lifeguard, many do not. There is, however, a wide variety of relevant qualifications that can help prepare for entry, ranging from GCSEs through to degrees and postgraduate qualifications.
Much of the training is on the job. Many people combine this with working towards NVQs/SVQs at Levels 1 to 4, or to the awards of bodies such as the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management. Training for some jobs is available through Apprenticeships.
Many jobs offer the opportunity for promotion to supervisory or managerial levels. There are plenty of opportunities to work abroad and in some jobs it is possible to become self-employed.
|
