Here's a wealth of information for anyone wanting to find out more about working in the sport sector with a focus on Leicester and Leicestershire.
Due to the extensive sporting ecosystem in Leicester and Leicestershire, the range of employers is more extensive than in other parts of the country. This therefore brings an increased range of career opportunities to the area.
- Section 1 - Job Finder, Volunteering opportunities and Learn at Home
- Section 2 - Helpful careers resources
- Section 3 - Shares more information about some of the pillars of the sporting ecosystem based in Leicester and Leicestershire
- Section 4 - Shares details about the employers in the leisure, health and fitness and sport sector which are similar to what exists elsewhere in the country
- Section 5 - Shares top tips for securing the role you want in the sport sector.
- Section 6 - Other Job Finders
Section 1 - Job Finder / Volunteering / Learn at Home
Our Job Finder is designed to help you find your ideal job either locally or nationally in sport, physical activity, fitness and leisure.
Volunteering in sport and physical activity has so many great benefits; here you'll be able to find more information and local opportunities.
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This section supports you in your personal and organisational development and support you to create safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environments for all participants.
Section 2 - Helpful careers resources
Careers and Labour Market Overview 2022 (PDF, 3.2 Mb)An overview of what career choices there are across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
Careers and Labour Market Information & Tasks (PDF, 4 Mb)Information on careers in the sport and physical activity sector across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
Sport Sector Careers Presentation (PDF, 6.4 Mb)What's in our area - Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
Myth Busting Information (PDF, 437 Kb)Myths about working in the Sport, fitness, leisure and physical activity sector
Click the attached to find out more about working in the sport, fitness, leisure and physical activity sector
Careers Lesson Plan (PDF, 302 Kb)A tool to kick start thinking and discussions about the extensive range of career opportunities in the sport, fitness, leisure and physical activity sector.
ReTrain to Retain will support 50,000 sport and physical activity professionals and volunteers who’ve had to find work outside the sector or had their hours reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Section 3 - Links to some of the pillars of the sporting ecosystem based in Leicester and Leicestershire
Key national organisations based in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
The grid above shows how CIMSPA define different parts of the sector.
Other types of roles in the sector which may be linked to alternative chartered institutes:
Sports Physiotherapy | Sports Nutritionist | Active Design Architect | Sports Technology-Product Design/Development | Academic Research | Client Officers | Finance Director | Marketing and Communications Manager | Media and Broadcasting | Sales and Marketing | Project Management | Teaching/Tutoring at schools, colleges and universities | Business, Admins or Central Support | Data Analyst/Insight Specialist | Business Development | Training Provider
This list is not exhaustive but gives an indication of additional roles which are available.
Section 4 - Employers in the leisure, health and fitness and sport sector which are similar to what exists elsewhere in the country
- Everyone Active run leisure centres in Harborough, Blaby, North West Leicestershire, Oadby and Wigston and Melton
- Places for People run the leisure centre in Hinckley and Bosworth
- Fusion run the leisure centre in Charnwood
- Leicester City Council run the leisure provision in Leicester City
- Stevenage Leisure Limited run the Catmose Sports in Rutland
Everyone Active is a leading leisure management company specialising in development and management of facilities. Visit their website for all the latest positions.
Places for People make a positive difference to the lives of many up and down the country. They have unlimited ambition and huge plans for the future so search your next career here.
Jobs with SSL - Stevenage Leisure Limited
SLL offer apprenticeships in a variety of job roles as well as a variety of other careers within the sport and leisure sector.
Jobs with Leicester City Council
"No matter what your job in the council, there’s always the chance for you to develop and for your role to evolve." Find out what is on offer today.
The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) is the industry standard qualification for all pool lifeguards in the UK. Find the next Royal Lifesaving Society Course here.
Fusion works in the community, providing sport and leisure services. If you want to work in a leisure organisation, visit their jobs section for all the latest openings.
Our Job Finder is designed to help you find your ideal job either locally or nationally in sport, physical activity, fitness and leisure.
Section 5 - Top tips for securing the role you want in the sport sector
1. Be clear about the type of work you secure and the training you need to complete
If you are going to invest your time and money in training and development, be sure to be clear of the type of work you are hoping to secure and which employers you are likely to approach once you are qualified. You could always have a conversation with a potential employer ahead of qualifying.
2. Make it easy for the employer to employ you
Employers should be working to the industry standards. If you meet these standards you are over the biggest hurdle.
If you don't meet the standards yet, but you have identified the role you want to do, explore how to gain the knowledge, skills or experience required to reach these standards.
Again speak to a potential employer and gain their feedback on the best pathways to take
3. If you meet the base line expectations, think about how you can make yourself the best choice for the role
Explore how your current experience might help you be the best person for the role, do you bring new skills/experience to an organisation which complements their existing skills mix?
If you need to gain more experience, try to identify what experience you need, leadership experience, working children, adults, older adults, work with people who are in-active through to competing athletes, is it experience of working with the press/media or running projects…..
4. Gaining extra experience
The great thing about the sports sector, is that there are sports clubs and businesses who have volunteers who work with them. You could put yourself forward to these organisations and see if you can gain experience with them.
Think about the way you can capture this experience to add to your CV or portfolio, think about photos, achievements and learning.
5. Put yourself in the employers shoes
How can you show them that you have the skills/experience they need and the motivation to deliver what they need.
All organisations have different cultures and different target audiences. Use the internet and talk to people to help you find out what are you would like to work in and what sort of role would suit your skills, knowledge, experience and aspirations.
Section 6 - Other Job Finders
Take a look at Sport England's job opportunities, or create an account to register for their job alerts to help build an active nation.
Find jobs from leading organisations across the sports & fitness industry. Apply online and take the next steps in your sporting career, where jobs are updated daily.
Find & advertise UK based sports jobs through UK Sport. Find anything from National Governing Body positions to apprentice roles.
Sport & Recreation Alliance - Careers
Visit the Sport & Recreation Alliance's dedicated jobs page to find jobs across both the sport and recreation sectors and kickstart your career today.
From working in elite sport to the grassroots community, the UK Coaching website is best placed to look for or advertise coaching opportunities and more in the sport and physical activity industry.
Jump in Sport collect the best sports related jobs from top sources around the world and show them all in one place ot make it easier for you to find your next venture.
Leisure Opportunities - Careers
Find your perfect job in leisure, fitness, sport, spa or attractions by using the Leisure Opportunities website. Sign up and apply online to start your career in leisure today.
To help with diverse recruitment, Sporting Equals are pleased to share jobs and volunteering opportunities from across the sports and physical activity sector.
This new platform from Sporting Equals is dedicated to promoting jobs in sport so ethnically diverse people are confident they can apply for these roles.
The Race Equality Centre - Job Club
Find support, guidance and advice from TREC, who help clients complete their job search activities as part of their Jobseeker Allowance (JSA) requirements and who want to suceed in job progression.
