Outdoor pursuits manager : Training

Once in post, training is ongoing, as it is essential to keep vocational skills and qualifications up to date. Your first aid certificate, for example, must be kept up to date throughout your career.

Changes in the popularity of activities may mean gaining qualifications in other specialist areas. For example, if marine leisure is identified as a growth area, additional qualifications in this area could increase your employability.

Many employers will sponsor employees (even part-time seasonal ones) to complete additional qualifications while working as an instructor. Contact the relevant national governing body or the Institute for Outdoor Learning  (IOL) for details of the qualifications you can take.

Membership of the IOL can be useful for networking and career development opportunities. Reduced rates of membership are available to students, providing access to a range of services. The IOL holds regular conferences and is involved in professional development and workshop days on a variety of outdoor skills throughout the UK. In addition, members can apply for professional accreditation through the IOL. There are four levels of accreditation, depending on your level experience.

Membership of the Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA)  is also available to those working in outdoors activities.

Postgraduate qualifications are available in outdoor education and recreation management. Outdoor pursuits managers may also take qualifications in related fields, such as:

• counselling and mentoring;
• business management;
• facilities management;
• training and development;
• finance or marketing.

Search Find a Masters  for courses. These qualifications can be particularly useful as they may facilitate career progression to higher positions, for example within a local authority's leisure services department.