The specialist focus of a sport and leisure management degree means that a career in the sport and leisure industry is the most obvious career direction for graduates. A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that six months after finishing their course 14.9% of sports and leisure graduates were working as arts, design, culture or sports professionals, and almost a fifth were employed in retail and catering or working as waiting and bar staff, while over 17.7% were employed as commercial, industrial or public sector managers.

However, the skills you develop during the course are relevant to a range of possible occupations and previous graduates have found employment in fields as diverse as marketing, sales and IT. Employment is commonly found within the health, education and local government sectors.

Where are the jobs?

Typical employers include:

• fitness and leisure centres;
• spas;
• hotels and accommodation facilities; and
• cinema and entertainment complexes. 

Leisure facilities are owned and managed by both commercial companies and local government. Politically focused roles relating to developing communities through leisure, strategic planning, and implementing national policy are also available in local government.

Sport and leisure management graduates are also finding opportunities within:

• event management companies (producing festivals, concerts, exhibitions and corporate or private parties); and
• leisure management consultancies (providing advice to the public and private sector on how best to manage their sports and leisure facilities).

Self-employment is also possible and after gaining experience some graduates establish sports consultancy businesses or set up sports camps or training centres. One to one personal training is also a popular option and can provide quite a lucrative and flexible working lifestyle. The downside of this type of arrangement can be financial unpredictability if client numbers decrease unexpectedly.

For an insight into employment areas, see hospitality, tourism and sport. 

The sport and leisure sector includes both physical activities relating to spare time such as personal fitness and outdoor hobbies, and to professional level pursuits such as professional sports coaching and leisure facility management. It also covers entertainment provision such as cinemas, theatres, restaurants and cultural pursuits such as museums and galleries, reading, shopping. 

The tourism industry covers provision for tourists, both in the UK and abroad. The travel industry is closely linked. Employers include tourist boards, tour operators and travel agents, tourist information centres and any business associated with a 'tourist attraction'. 

The hospitality sector is dedicated to providing services that contribute to people’s enjoyment and comfort away from home, mainly in their leisure time but also in a work context. The sector includes organisations such as hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs, and catering services.

For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors. 

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?