Training & Career Opportunities
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to start a career in leisure — Explore our training courses, discover clear qualification pathways, and get helpful guidance designed to help you take the first step toward your future.
National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ are in three sections, and candidates must successfully pass all to attain the qualification.
Qualification criteria:
You must be 16 years old or above to complete a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
Be able to jump/dive into deep water
Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
Tread water for 30 seconds
Surface dive to the floor of the pool
Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits
Next Course: TBA
Price: £297.00
Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ)
The National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) equips lifeguards with the knowledge and skills to operate effectively and protect the public across various beach environments.
The NVBLQ course is delivered over a minimum of 6 day period and covers a range of CPR and first aid skills as well as pool, beach and open water skills.
The NVBLQ course is a minimum of 40 hours long and is followed by a practical assessment on beach theory, life support, first aid, swimming pool practical, and open water practical.
Qualification criteria:
You must be minimum of 16-years-old at the time of the NVBLQ assessment
Demonstrate a good level of fitness
Surface dive to a depth of 2 metres
Be competent at swimming in the sea
Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 200 metres in a pool (of recommended length of 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in 5 minutes or less
For the assessment, candidates must be able to swim 400 metres in a pool (recommended 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in 8 minutes or less using a continuous front stroke and showing urgency
No prior first aid knowledge is required
Next Course: TBA
Price: £318.25
Swim England Qualification
(SEQ LEVEL 1 & 2)
You’ll be inspiring people to learn an important life-skill, and with flexible hours that work around your lifestyle, it’s a career that can be taken up at any stage of your life.
Progress your journey as a swimming teacher or a swimming instructor with our industry-leading qualifications. Recognised by employers for their quality, they consistently remain the preferred choice of over 80% of swimming teachers in England and Wales
Qualification criteria:
You must be 16 years old or above
How to become fully qualified swim teacher:
Start your journey with Level 1
The first step to becoming a swimming teacher is with our SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant qualification.
Progress to Level 2
After gaining your Level 1 qualification you can then move on to become a fully qualified swimming teacher.
Next Course: Level 1 13.10.2025 – 28.10.2025 Level 2 7.02.2026 – 21.02.2026
Price: Level 1 425.00 & Level 2 £699.00
National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches Light (NRASTC LIGHT )
NRASTC LIGHT is a supervision and rescue award for swimming teachers working when a lifeguard backup can respond quickly in an emergency. The NRASTC LIGHT course is delivered in one day (6 hours plus assessment). To achieve the NRASTC LIGHT certificate, candidates must pass a formal assessment at the end of the course, where trainees demonstrate the skills and knowledge learned (in the form of a theory and practical test).
Qualification criteria:
You must be 16 years old or above to complete a National Rescue Award For Swimming Teachers And Coaches LIGHT (NRASTC LIGHT)
Swim a minimum of 50 metres on your front and back
Surface dive to the deepest part of the pool
Climb out unaided without using steps or ladders (where venue design permits).
Topics covered during the course include:
The teacher, swimming pool, and class management
Intervention rescue
Emergency action
CPR and drowning/effects of drowning
Next Course: TBA
Price: £127.30
British Gymnastics Activity Instructor Qualification (GAI)
General gymnastics is an exciting discipline to coach. Participants perform dynamic balances, flexibility stretches, and skills. You will also develop the skills to support participants on impressive apparatus such as beams, bars and vault. You get to work with mixed age groups and both male and female participants.
This course will be four days of face-to-face delivery. The first day is classroom-based, and days two, three and four are practical delivery.
There will be a handbook, skills and activity pack and workbook on course with access to resources in the British Gymnastics Academy to support your learning.
There is NO separate assessment day, as assessment is on-course, based on full course attendance. If you are deemed fit for practice, you will be immediately accredited to independently deliver recreational gymnastics at the end of day 4 of the course.
Qualification criteria:
You must be at least 18 years of age and no prior gymnastics experience is required.
Next Course: TBA
Price: £535.00
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) & First Aid at Work (FAW)
The Emergency First Aid at Work course is a one day (6 hours) first aid qualification that covers a range of CPR and emergency first aid skills. Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) provides employers and staff with the skills to reduce the risks and dangers in workplace. After completing an RLSS UK EFAW course, candidates receive a Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work qualification. The EFAW course comprises of practical work and theoretical classroom work, including practical and multiple-choice theory assessment on CPR and first aid skills.
Qualification criteria:
Candidates must be a minimum of 16-years-old at the time of taking the First Aid at Work assessment, and no prior first aid knowledge is required.
Emergency First Aid at Work Course Content:
- Understanding the role and responsibilities of a first aider
- How to manage an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally
- How to manage a casualty who is in shock
- How to assess an incident
- How to recognise and assist a casualty who is choking
- How to manage a casualty with a minor injury
- How to manage an unresponsive casualty who is breathing normally
- How to manage a casualty with external bleeding
If you require more advanced first aid skills, you may need our First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification instead.
This three-day (18hours) First Aid at Work course covers a range of CPR and first aid skills, providing the skills to ensure a safe working environment.
The First Aid at Work (FAW) course comprises practical work and theoretical classroom work, as well as a practical and multiple-choice theory assessment of CPR and first aid.
Qualification criteria:
Candidates must be a minimum of 16-years-old at the time of taking the First Aid at Work assessment, and no prior first aid knowledge is required.
First Aid at Work Course Content :
- Understanding the role and responsibilities of a first aider
- How to manage an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally
- How to manage a casualty who is in shock
- How to assess an incident
- How to recognise and assist a casualty who is choking
- How to manage a casualty with a minor injury
- How to manage an unresponsive casualty who is breathing normally
- How to manage a casualty with external bleeding
- How to conduct a secondary survey
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with burns and scalds
- How to provide first aid to a casualty with a suspected major illness
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with injuries to bones, muscles, and joints
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with an eye injury
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with suspected head and spinal injuries
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with sudden poisoning
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with suspected chest injuries
- How to administer first aid to a casualty with anaphylaxis
Next Course: Emergency First Aid at Work: TBA
First Aid at Work TBA
Price: Emergency First Aid at Work £127.30 & First Aid at Work £265.20
Apprentice
Leisure Team Member Apprentice Level 2
The role of the leisure team member is to support, enhance and deliver the day to day operations and services of a leisure / fitness facility. Working as part of a team, it is the responsibility of the leisure team member to undertake a range of operational duties. There are five key areas of work all leisure team members will cover; leisure and fitness operations, lifeguard duties, swimming teaching duties, gym instruction and leading group activities.
You will gain:
One of the following:
- A IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding.
- A Swim England Level 2 in Teaching Swimming or A STA level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming.
- A Level 2 Certificate in Fitness or Gym Instruction awarded by; Focus Awards, Active IQ, Innovate Awarding, NCFE, VCTC or YMCA Awards
- A Level 3 certificate in First Aid (to be taken either as a stand-alone qualification
Duration:
Typically 18 months.
Apprentice
Multi Channel Marketer Apprentice Level 3
The role of the Multi Channel Marketer is to contribute to the implementation of the Marketing strategy and plans, drive customer acquisition, customer engagement and customer retention.
They will be responsible for delivering day-to-day marketing activities across a multitude of platforms, channels and systems. Be responsible for coordinating and delivering specific marketing activities such as marketing content creation, background market and customer research, monitoring campaign analytic and collecting data, using relevant marketing software/systems.
This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in digital marketing, learn from industry professionals, and contribute to the growth of the organization.
Duration:
Typically 18 months.
Apprentice
Customer Service Practitioner Apprentice Level 2
Your core responsibility will be to provide a high-quality service though face-to-face, telephone, digital and written contact and communications. These may include dealing with orders, payments, offering advice, guidance and support, meet-and-greet, sales, fixing problems, after care, service recovery or gaining insight through measuring customer satisfaction. You may be the first point of contact and work in any sector or organisation type. Your actions will influence the customer experience and their satisfaction with your organisation.
Duration:
Minimum of 12 months
