Case studies: Sailing centre manager: Matt

Matt's tips for anyone hoping to get into this career is to start as young as possible and make full use of the long summers to build up experience and gain vocational qualifications.

In 2005, after completing a Sports Science degree in Cardiff, Matt returned to his hometown of Weymouth to work for the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Since 2006, he has been the centre manager of SailLaser who are part of Laser Performance, the world’s largest manufacturers of small sailing boats.

I have always been very into sports, particularly sailing. I started sailing at the age of about eight or nine, initially on Toppers and Lasers. When I turned 18 I decided that becoming an instructor would be a good idea so that I could go away and enjoy the sunshine and get paid for it. So I did my sailing instructor qualification through the council-run activity centre and then went away to university. During every university summer, I used to work as a sailing instructor in the Mediterranean.

After graduating, I did a snowboard season in Canada. Then I decided that before doing a masters or entering a career in sports science, I would move back home to Weymouth and work the rest of that summer at the National Sailing Academy. Somehow I fell into a chief instructor's role and about nine months later took over as the manager of the centre here.

Although I still spend some time outside every day, my current role is mainly office-based (although it has a lovely view of the water). The centre is run as a business venture so I need to have a firm grip on the budget and figures and ensure that the order book remains full. There are three main arms to the business – selling sailing courses, boats and spares. PR is very important to us, as it is for any business. We are based at the National Sailing Academy because it is heavily in the spotlight in the build up to the 2012 Olympics which does provide us with fantastic publicity opportunities. For example, this morning the Queen visited the centre and I got to shake her hand! We also have strong links with the local community and it is great to be giving local youngsters the chance to get out on the water.

I don’t have any definite future career plans yet ,although I might move on to running several centres and will possibly look to play a more strategic role in setting up further centres across Europe and the world.

My tip for anyone hoping to get into this career is to start as young as possible and make full use of the long summers that you get off to build up your experience and gain vocational qualifications. To work as a centre manager, you need to have a good degree and a strong academic record as well as lots of practical instructing experience and vocational qualifications, such as instructor and first aid qualifications. Networking within the industry is also crucial so that when you graduate, you are not starting from ground zero.