Leisure centre assistants help and supervise visitors using leisure centre facilities. They have wide range of duties, which can include:

• setting up, dismantling and maintaining equipment
• ensuring all areas and facilities are kept clean and tidy
• selling tickets and making reservations
• swimming pool maintenance and safety
• staffing a helpdesk in reception
• helping in the catering section, selling food and drink.

Assistants in small centres may be involved in all of these activities. At a larger leisure centre they may be able to specialise in specific areas, such as swimming pool supervision or outdoor sports.

Hours and Environment

As a leisure centre assistant you will probably work around 40 hours a week. This will include shifts covering evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Depending on the type of centre, you could work indoors or outside in all weathers. The work can be physically demanding, as it often involves setting up and moving equipment.

Skills and Interests

To be a leisure centre assistant you need:

• a keen interest in sport and fitness activities
• awareness of health and safety issues
• good communication skills 
• flexibility
• willingness to do routine tasks
• physical fitness and plenty of stamina .

Entry

You will not need any particular qualifications to be a leisure centre assistant. Qualifications such as BTEC National Certificates in Leisure and Tourism or Sport could be useful, but are not essential.

You could have an advantage when looking for work If you have customer service experience. Relevant qualifications such as National Governing Body (NGB) coaching awards and lifeguard qualifications can also be useful (although coaching is not usually part of the leisure assistant role). You may need a first aid certificate.

You will need a CRB (criminal Records Bureau) check.

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Training

If you are already working as a leisure centre assistant there are several types of training you could do.

The Institute of Sport and Recreational Management (ISRM) provides the ISRM Operations Certificate (an introductory qualification for front line staff) and other foundation vocational courses, in particular for pool operator training such as:

• the National Pool Plant Operators Certificate
• the National Pool Plant Operators Revalidation Certificate
• the National Pool Plant Operators Foundation Certificate.

Visit the ISRM website – there is a link in Further Information below.

You could work towards NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations: Operational Services. 

When you have experience as a leaisure centre assistant, you might also be able to work towards supervisory qualifications, such as those offered by the ISRM. See the ISRM website for details.

Opportunities

There are opportunities in the growing number of leisure centres run by local authorities and private sector companies, hotels and holiday centres.    

When you have gained experience and further qualifications you could be promoted to a supervisory or management position. See the Leisure Centre Manager profile for information. Another option would be to train for a specialist area such as fitness instructing, lifeguarding or sports coaching. See the relevant job profiles for details of these.  

Annual Income

The annual income section is intended as a guideline only. 

Leisure centre assistants can earn between around £12,500 and around £15,500 a year.

Further information

The Grotto House
Lower Basildon
Reading
RG8 9NE
Tel: 0845 6038734 Sir John Beckwith Centre for Sport
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU
Tel: 01509 226474 Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300