Leisure centre manager
Leisure centre managers oversee the day-to-day running of sports and leisure centres.
Also known as: Sports centre manager, gym manager
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£36,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a leisure centre manager, you would:
- plan staff and activity timetables
- organise and promote sports clubs and lessons
- prepare facilities for events and competitions
- recruit, train and manage staff
- control budgets and monitor performance targets for your centre
- manage maintenance programmes and health and safety checks
- maintain accurate records, such as memberships and bookings
Working environment
You could work at a fitness centre or in an office.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- business management skills
- leadership skills
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent verbal communication skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a leisure centre manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a graduate training scheme
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- sports and leisure management
- leisure studies
- sports science
- recreation management
- business management
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could take a college course, which may help when looking for a trainee management position.
Relevant subjects include:
- leisure management
- sport and exercise science
- coaching
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship and follow that up with a Duty Team Manager Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
These usually take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as an admin officer, swimming teacher or fitness coach and apply for a place on a management trainee scheme in a leisure centre. You could then work towards professional qualifications to become a manager.
Other routes
You could join a graduate management trainee scheme with one of the large leisure companies, if you've got a degree.
On a scheme, you would work in different areas of the business while completing professional qualifications to become a manager.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
- have a first aid certificate
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become an area or regional manager, with responsibility for the development of services among a group of leisure centres.
You could also work in:
- sports development
- health and fitness promotion
- spa and hospitality management
- visitor attraction management
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) for professional recognition, training and career development opportunities.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleLeisure centre assistant
- Job roleSports development officer
- Job roleFitness instructor
- Job roleSports coach
- Job roleVisitor attraction general manager
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