While some adventure jobs offered by companies running activity centres may be full time and permanent, the nature of the industry means that, especially for outdoor adventure jobs, the work is very seasonal. You tough outdoor types may not mind working in all weathers, but when the British winter kicks in and it starts to get cold as well as wet, falling visitor numbers may mean the centre closes until the Spring. Seasonal work like this means a higher turnover of staff. If your employer does shut the centre and cannot afford to keep you on all year, you may find another more permanent job rather than return to them in time for the new season. This high turnover makes it somewhat easier to get started in the adventure industry.
Activity instructor jobs (also referred to as multi activity instructors), are often based at a purpose built centre. The ultimate outdoor job, you may specialise in a couple of activities, or you may be trained to cover a wide range. Read advice given by industry insiders.
Multi Activity Instructor Jobs
Our wonderful coastline and appetite for water based adventure sports has created a big demand for qualified instructors in surfing, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing. Read our watersports career guide to find out how to get qualified and get working.
Watersports Instructor Jobs
Working as a canoe instructor could see you introducing a group of school children to paddling on a small lake or you could be teaching already competent canoeists how to improve their white water technique. Find out how to further your career.
Paddlesports
Being able to climb and to teach other people how to climb is an important skill. The single pitch award or climbing wall qualification are the most useful for getting started as an instructor. From there our complete guide takes you through the various employment options and salary expectations.
Climbing & Mountain Leader
This increasingly popular sport is very competitive when it comes to teaching. Skills instructors should make sure they have the MBLA qualification and a hands on approach to maintainance. Vacancies tend to fill fast, so hearing about them first on our facebook page will give you a head start!
Mountain Biking
Surfers need to look at either the ISA or ASI. While The Royal Life Saving Society UK is the national governing body for training and education in lifesaving, lifeguarding and water safety.
Beach & Lifeguard
Summer Camps Staff
While some of the excellent instructor training schemes and BTEC courses do equip you with a fistful of NGB qualifications, if you are thinking about applying for a senior instructor or centre manager role, you will usually be expected to have some experience under your belt. Find out more about senior instructors, chief instructors and centre managers.
Senior & Management
Trainee apprenticeship schemes are work based learning schemes which act as a stepping stone towards a career in the outdoor industry. They allow you to gain industry recognised qualifications while earning money!
Apprenticeships
Following on from our Mountain Leader page we now take a look at the even more serious Mountain Instructor scheme, overseen by Mountain Leader Training UK. The leader awards are great qualifications to have on your CV and very useful when it comes to introducing groups to our upland areas, but for serious climbers and budding mountaineers the MIA and MIC scheme is the next target on the horizon.
The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is well known to most people, but how many know about the expedition element of the award which requires small groups to make their way, unaided, across wild terrain, for up to four days and three nights of wild camping? To make sure each group successfully completes their expedition, we enter the secret world of the assessors - the people who shadow the candidates, often unseen, as they trek through the wilderness. Read our interview with Georgina and find out how you too can add expedition assessor to your outdoor instructor profile.
Are you the parent of a child hoping to work in the outdoor industry? Or are you a young adult worrying about telling your parents that you would rather be working outdoors than sitting accountancy exams? As with most industries, career progression is competitive and based on an individual's performance, but skills acquired are readily transferable and so can aid your future career whether or not you choose to stay in the industry for a prolonged period. This handy guide discusses why the outdoor industry can provide a stable and fulfilling career path for young people.
