With over 58,000 individuals working in leisure operations within the sport and physical activity sector in the UK1, it’s evident that the leisure industry is an in-demand career option. Across the wide range of roles to choose from, whether that be at entry level or within senior positions, your professional status with CIMSPA supports your career progression, allowing you to gain new roles more easily or take a first step towards increased responsibility in your current position.
With this in mind, we’ve featured five courses to support you in kickstarting your career or taking your next step in the leisure operations industry. These CPD opportunities comprise of in-person and online learning to help keep your development flexible. Plus, we’ve signposted further relevant resources to allow you to develop and apply your knowledge.
CPD
1. STA Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding
Provided by STA
10 CIMSPA CPD points
Being a pool lifeguard is a fantastic role for those looking for a rewarding, active and challenging profession. Training provides essential lifesaving, first aid, and transitional knowledge and skills making it a fantastic career choice for the short term, long term or as a stepping stone onto other careers. The qualification lasts for three years, aligning with revalidation of your first aid certification.
What you’ll learn about:
- Health and safety in swimming pools
- Maximising the customer experience in swimming pools
- Adult and paediatric emergency first aid in the workplace
- Recognition and management of adult and paediatric illness and injury in the workplace
- Pool lifeguard knowledge, skills and behaviours
- Backboard application
2. Introduction to Health and Safety in the Workplace
Provided by trainIN
A Training Academy course ★★★
This complimentary learning for CIMSPA members is a short, self-paced course designed to introduce new employees to the essential aspects of health and safety in the workplace.
3. BSc (Hons) Sport Business Management
Provided by Plymouth Marjon University
A Training Academy course ★★★
10 CIMSPA CPD Points
Learn to succeed in the ever-expanding sport business. This course is for those who are passionate about sport and want to develop the management, business and leadership skills required for career success in sports-related businesses.
From day one, you’ll explore how sport operates as a business across public, private, and third-sector contexts. You’ll learn about sport leadership, marketing, operations and finance, and apply these concepts in practical, industry-facing modules. Throughout, you’ll develop a strong foundation in business management while examining the socio-political, ethical and cultural factors shaping sport today.
What you’ll learn about:
- Digital sport marketing and communications
- Leading in sport: Foundations of influence and change
- Sport, society and social change
- Smart finance and building business skills in sport
- Sport, justice and leadership: Law, equity and inclusion
- Managing people and teams in sport
- Managing events from concept to delivery
- Professional practice and industry experience
- Social enterprise, strategy and transforming sports organisations
4. Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Customer Service
Provided by Free Courses in England
In order to have a truly successful business, you need to provide good customer service. On this government-funded course, learners will gain essential knowledge of how to carry out tasks such as managing information and supporting events. It will provide learners with the underpinning knowledge that is required by employees to work in a range of different environments within a customer service role.
What you’ll learn about:
- Principles of customer service and delivery
- Understanding customers
- Understanding employer organisations
- How to communicate with customers
- How to handle customer information
- How to resolve problems and deliver customer service to challenging customers
- How to develop customer relationships
5. STA Certificate in Teaching Swimming
Provided by FSTA Excel
A Training Academy course ★★★
10 CIMSPA CPD Points
The STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming is the perfect step to begin an exciting career as a swimming teacher, teaching essential swimming skills, water safety and all four key strokes to participants. Learners will be able to plan, deliver, assess and evaluate lessons for adult and child participants.
What you’ll learn about:
- Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
- Planning, delivering, assessing and evaluating swimming lessons
- Understanding a swimming teacher’s role
- Understanding the health and safety requirements for an aquatic environment
- Understanding the scientific and learning theories relevant to swimming teaching
Discover more CPD
More endorsed courses – find training and CPD opportunities to support you throughout your career in sport and physical activity.
Training Academy – discover the highest quality training and development opportunities with courses endorsed and mapped to our sector professional standards, provided by organisations that have achieved CIMSPA’s highest quality assurance outcomes.
*Only eligible membership categories.
1 Source: The Data City