ADD ADVICE TO FAVLeisure / sports centre manager
Leisure / sports centre managers work for local authorities, private leisure organisations or hotel groups. They run a range of leisure facilities, which may include sports facilities, restaurants, pools, beauty suites and community meeting rooms.
What leisure / sports centre managers do
- control a budget
- co-ordinate marketing and publicity
- analyse sales figures and set business targets
- oversee sales outlets within the centre
- provide financial forecasts
- maximise the use of facilities
- recruit, train and manage staff
- ensure that the centre is well-maintained and that health and safety standards are met.
Key skills for leisure / sports centre managers
- ability to organise other people’s work
- verbal and written communication skills
- ability to prioritise and multitask
- willingness to do routine tasks if staff are absent
- teamworking skills
- leadership and initiative
- willingness to work unsocial hours
- numeracy
- commercial awareness.
Training to be a leisure / sports centre manager
Formal training schemes are rare – it is more usual to gain experience, then apply for promotion.
Part-time study for relevant qualifications is advantageous, particularly those of the Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure or the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management.
Salaries for leisure / sports centre managers
Depending on the size of the centre, managers with a few years’ experience earn from £19,000 to over £35,000.
