Aspiring Leisure Professional Apprenticeship

As a Leisure Apprentice, you will support the day‑to‑day operations of the leisure centre, such as the fitness suites, swimming pools, reception areas and cafe. This hands‑on role is ideal for someone passionate about health, fitness, and customer service who is looking to earn while working towards nationally recognised industry qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Undertake training and gain experience/qualifications (subject to funding) in a variety of duties across departments such as poolside (lifeguard and swimming instruction), fitness suite, reception, and café.
• Initially learn and, when competent, assist with the preparation, rig, and de‑rig of building areas and equipment in accordance with the programme.
• Initially learn and, when competent, assist with the recording of pool water tests and immediately report the readings to a Duty Manager.
• Initially learn and, when competent, maintain all building areas in a clean and tidy condition, performing major cleaning duties on a regular basis as programmed by the departmental Daily Log.
• Initially learn and, when competent, clean the poolside, pool bottom, pool vacuum area, First Aid room, changing rooms, toilet, shower areas and any other areas of the building according to the apprenticeship programme and the relevant Daily Log. Work in a team to support peers and colleagues to meet the business goals.
• Communicate (written and verbal) accurately and effectively in line with legal requirements, for example providing information on products and accident reporting procedures.
• Undertake operational housekeeping of the leisure facility, including assembling, dismantling, routine maintenance and storage of equipment, opening and closing procedures (including evacuation), and safe set‑up of equipment and activities.
• Monitor customer use of equipment and ensure safety, intervening as necessary.
• Comply with legal requirements to ensure the safety, security and well‑being of all colleagues and customers, such as the Equality Act, HSE Act, COSHH, RIDDOR, Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Data Protection, BSI and European guidelines, first aid regulations.
• Use IT, including the front‑of‑house system, social media and digital channels.
• Perform all duties of a swimming teacher, including delivering lessons that develop water confidence, core aquatic skills, safety and technical skills across a range of participants, raising awareness of swimming opportunities and supervising and leading swimming teacher assistants.
• Perform duties of a lifeguard, providing safe supervision of swimmers and preventing accidents, including life‑saving techniques and rescues when necessary.
• Perform all duties of a gym instructor, including gym inductions, client consultations, assessment and review, health screening, and delivering safe and effective gym‑based exercise programmes to individuals and small groups.
• Plan activity sessions using techniques suitable for participants and their goals.
• Undertake pre‑activity screening and health and safety checks when leading group sessions or classes.
• Lead groups using appropriate communication methods and instructing styles, applying suitable group‑management techniques.

About Us

Impulse Leisure is an ambitious and innovative charitable leisure trust operating four facilities across Essex, committed to creating active and healthy communities. We seek highly motivated and professional people who share our vision. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria in the Person Specification for the vacancy.

Training

Off‑the‑job training will be delivered on site, with no standard day‑release or college attendance required.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 Leisure Team Member
• National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
• Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching)
• Level 2 Swimming Teacher or STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming
• Level 2 Certificate in Fitness or Gym Instructing
• GCSE in English (grade 2 or E) and Maths (grade 2 or E)
• Communication skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Customer care skills, Problem solving skills, Number skills, Team working, Initiative, Non‑judgemental attitude, Physical fitness (required to perform essential aquatic skills)

Hours & Schedule

Training course: Leisure Team Member (Level 2). Working days and times include early mornings, late evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required. Breaks are unpaid. 37 hours a week. Start date: Monday 1 December 2025. Duration: 1 year 6 months.

Salary & Benefits

Starting salary from £279.35 per week up to £451.77, equivalent to £14,573.69 to £23,568.84 per annum. Salary is subject to meeting defined milestones as your capability and qualifications increase, and is complemented by excellent benefits.