Sports and leisure centre manager

Sports and leisure centre managers look after both the routine administration of the centre and the organisation and development of sporting activities.

Also known as:

• Health/leisure centre manager
• Leisure centre manager

Work activities

Sports and leisure centre managers are responsible for the smooth running of sports centres and related activities. Most sports centres have facilities for outdoor and indoor sports. Large centres may have pools, sports halls, gyms, bars and eating areas. Centre managers’ responsibilities include:

• Financial planning and budget control.
• Planning the use of space and equipment for various user groups.
• Recruiting new staff.
• Supervising staff.
• Making sure health and safety rules are followed.
• Maintenance of the centre and facilities.
• Promoting sporting events and competitions.
• Marketing the centre’s facilities to potential customers.
• Catering and shop facilities management.
• Ensuring the smooth running of the centre on a daily basis.

Personal qualities and skills

To be an effective manager, you should have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Organisational skills to manage human and physical resources.
• Strong time management skills.
• Strong presentation and negotiating skills.
• Good general number skills.
• Good IT skills.

You will need to be able to:

• Analyse problems and make decisions.
• Think strategically.
• Delegate.
• Set personal and organisational goals, prioritise tasks and work to deadlines.
• Set and manage budgets.
• Understand, and perhaps write, financial reports.

Pay and opportunities

Salary levels for sports and leisure centre managers vary depending on their role and responsibilities. Sports and leisure centre managers start on around £18,000, rising to £37,000 with experience. Commercial employers may offer salaries made up of basic pay plus performance bonuses.

Sports and leisure centre managers usually work a basic 39-41-hour week, which is likely to include evenings, shift work and work on public holidays.

Opportunities for sports and leisure centre managers occur throughout the UK. Employers include local authority recreation and leisure departments and privately owned clubs. Sport England and professional sporting bodies occasionally recruit staff.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised:

• In local newspapers and on their websites.
• On employers’ websites.
• On job boards such as Leisureweek.com, lgjobs and Leisure Jobs.
• On the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services.

Entry routes and training

There are a variety of routes into this career. It is possible to enter after studying for relevant qualifications on a full-time basis. Edexcel (BTEC), City & Guilds and A-level qualifications, in subjects such as leisure and recreation, are appropriate. A level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of leisure duty manager is also great place to start. There are also degree, foundation degree and HND courses available in subjects such as recreation and leisure management. Courses in business studies with options in leisure management are also available. You will usually need to have practical experience as well as qualifications.

One route of entry is to get a job as a leisure centre assistant and work your way up, while gaining relevant qualifications.

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) offers relevant professional qualifications.

Progression is to higher management positions, such as area or divisional manager, for example.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Working with children and young people aged under 18 in this career can be an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To get onto an advanced apprenticeship programme, you’ll usually need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your apprenticeship if you don’t already have them. For entry to a degree course in leisure studies, the usual requirement is:

• Two A-levels.
• GCSEs (grades 9-4) in three subjects, usually including English and maths.

Other qualifications, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualification or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma could also be considered. Entry requirements for degree courses vary so check prospectuses carefully.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Employers value relevant skills and abilities you may have gained from business management in other areas. Working as a sports/recreation assistant or supervisor can lead to entry into management-level posts.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) endorses a range of distance learning qualifications offered by partner organisations.

Related careers

• Hotel manager
• Manager
• Pool lifeguard
• Recreation manager
• Sports and leisure centre assistant