Lifeguard/Leisure Assistant and Duty Manager Apprenticeship

About the Role

This is an amazing opportunity for someone who is looking to progress their career within the leisure industry and enjoys helping and interacting with people. You will be part of a highly motivated team who have a passion for delivering inclusive, high-quality sports services, to a diverse range of students, staff, and community users.

What You'll Do

To work as part of the Leisure Operations team, this role will support the Duty Management team in the smooth and efficient running of Hertfordshire Sports Village. The role involves helping to maintain high standards across the facility, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for customers, whilst adhering to health and safety requirements and operational standards.

• Demonstrate a Service Excellence mindset by providing a consistent, efficient, high quality, and customer-oriented service to all customers of the Sports Village through implementation of agreed operating procedures and standards, ensuring that the customer is at the heart of every decision.
• Lifeguarding is a key aspect of this role and an integral part of the apprenticeship. The successful candidate will be supported to achieve and maintain the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), allowing them to become a fully qualified and active lifeguard. Training is planned for the October half-term break (26-31 October 2026, 08:00-17:00) and forms an essential part of the programme.

Where You'll Work

University of Hertfordshire
De Havilland campus
Hatfield
AL10 9EU

What You'll Learn

Course Contents:

• Work in a team to support peers and colleagues to meet the goals of the business.
• Communicate (written, verbal) accurately and effectively and in line with legal requirements. E.g. Information on products and accident reporting procedures.
• Undertake the operational housekeeping of the leisure facility. For example, assembling, dismantling, routine maintenance and storage of equipment. Cleaning tasks. Opening and closing procedures, including evacuation. Safe set up of equipment and activities.
• Monitor customer use of equipment and ensure their safety, intervening as necessary.
• Comply with the legal requirements to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all colleagues and customers within the facility, such as Equality Act, HSE Act, COSHH, RIDDOR, Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Data Protection, BSI and European guidelines relevant to the environment, first aid regulations.
• Use IT including front of house system, social media, and digital channels.
• Perform all the duties of a swimming teacher including; delivering swimming lessons that develop water confidence, core aquatic skills, safety, and technical skills across a range of participants of different abilities from non swimmer to advanced. Promoting and raising awareness of swimming opportunities. Supervising and leading swimming teachers assistants.
• Perform the duties of a lifeguard including; working as part of a team to provide safe supervision of swimmers and prevent accidents. How to intervene providing rescues and life-saving techniques when necessary.
• Perform all the duties of a gym instructor; including; conducting, gym inductions, client consultations, assessment and review, and health screening. Use underpinning knowledge of anatomy, physiology, human movement, and biomechanics and applying fitness training techniques. Planning, reviewing, and delivering safe and effective gym-based exercise programmes with individuals and small groups.
• Plan activity sessions using techniques that are suitable for the participant(s) and their goals.
• Undertake pre-activity screening and health and safety checks when leading group sessions/classes.
• Lead groups using appropriate communication methods and instructing styles and apply suitable group management techniques when instructing participants.