Outdoor pursuits manager : Career development

Although promotion to supervisory and management posts can be rapid if you have the right qualifications, experience and commitment, this is not a structured career and there is no defined career ladder. In general, however, the larger multiple centre providers offer more scope for quick progression to managerial roles with some individuals spending only one or two seasons actually delivering activities.

If you want to stay actively involved in outdoor pursuits, managing an outdoor pursuits centre is normally as high as you can go. In the private sector, there are some opportunities to move into overseeing several centres or working at a head office. In the public sector, promotion usually means moving into more senior administrative work in leisure services or education. Some administrative posts are also available with national governing bodies (NGBs) and sports councils.

Progression within outdoor pursuits could mean setting up your own centre, perhaps concentrating on newer markets for leisure and corporate clients. Freelance work is also possible, focusing on advising or training providers. The industry has a relatively high number of freelance instructors working for a range of different centres. Freelancers will hold relevant instructor's qualifications from the appropriate NGB.

There are some opportunities to teach outdoor pursuits even in urban areas, where indoor facilities are available for climbing, canoeing and skiing and local canals or urban lakes can be used for outdoor activities. Involvement in this type of provision can be a way into leisure management in its broadest sense.

A move into further or higher education lecturing or school teaching is possible for those with appropriate qualifications. Outside the broad field of education, other opportunities exist in specialist outdoor equipment manufacture and retail, as well as in visitor and countryside centres.

Large organisations in the private sector provide opportunities to work abroad (especially in the USA and Australia). Outdoor education is sometimes called experiential education in the USA.

Because of the nature of the role, outdoor pursuits managers may spend only part of their career in this industry, before moving on to something with more regular hours, more stability and a more defined career structure.