Introduction
Work Environment
The sports facility manager is based at the centre they manage, in
clean, warm surroundings. If you are responsible for managing
a number of centres, you will most likely need a valid driving
licence, since you will be travelling to and fro to check
everything is working well and to sort out any hitches. You
are likely to work in comfortable, sporty clothes and may even wear
a 'uniform' similar to your staff - a sweatshirt or tracksuit and
trainers for instance. Although your staff will probably work
shifts, you are more likely to work normal daytime council hours -
37 per week.
Daily Activities
Your day begins with a check over what has happened while you have
been away - talking to the staff to see whether anything needs
sorting out and touring the facility to see that everything is
clean, welcoming and in working order. You pick up any
problems and make sure that action is taken on them, either by you
or by your staff. Once back in your office, you plan the day
ahead. You are likely to have a number of duty managers and
possibly a catering manager who report to you, so you will have
programmed in regular chats with them to assess progress, sort out
problems and plan priorities.
You will be thinking about and developing new services,
discussing them with the appropriate staff and recruiting new ones
where necessary. It is also your job to make sure that the
routine administrative tasks are kept up to date - such as filling
in accident report forms and processing invoices for payment,
monitoring the week's takings and plotting staffing costs against
financial targets. Your role may also encompass setting
budgets and devising marketing strategies - deciding on the group
of people you want to attract and working out how to reach them.
You make sure that the public knows what is going on and you will
probably liaise with a representative in the council's leisure
services department and work with your staff to plan and run
special events.
Through the day you chat to customers, listening to their
opinions - on quality of service, staffing levels and facilities -
and making sure they are happy with the way things are run.
You also monitor what is on offer at your centre and make sure that
it is delivering a top quality service to the community.
Skills & Interests
You need:
- good organisational skills - in managing both your own time and
the running of the facility;
- leadership and management skills - with ability to motivate
staff and ensure they feel valued;
- an interest in people - making customers feel welcome;
- attention to detail - the facility needs to be clean and safe
for the public to use;
- a good understanding of figures, dealing with budgets and
financial forecasts.
Entry Requirements
Most sports facility managers have a sport and leisure-related
qualification, although there is no set route of entry. There are
plenty of courses at all levels that could start you on the sports
facility management ladder, including:
- GNVQ/GSVQ in Leisure and Tourism;
- NVQs/SVQs at levels 2 and 3 (some facilities offer
Apprenticeships);
- BTEC/SQA National or Higher National awards in Leisure Studies
and related subjects;
- Degree courses in subjects such as Sport and Recreation
Studies, Leisure Studies or Recreational Management.
A fitness qualification can be a useful addition, backing
academic qualifications with practical experience. Once
employed as a sports facility manager, you can study for the
professional qualifications of the Chartered Institute for the
Management of Sport & Physical Activity.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
There may be opportunities for promotion, either running a larger
number of facilities or working on strategic management within the
council offices. There are also opportunities in sports
facilities in the private sector.
Further Information & Services
Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport & Physical
Activity www.cimspa.co.uk
Skills Active www.skillsactive.com
Sport Wales www.sportwales.org.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.