Outdoor Instructor Apprenticeship
ALG ACTIVE LEARNING CENTRES LIMTED
Hertfordshire (EN6 4PR)
Closes in 24 days (Sunday 31 August 2025)
Posted on 7 August 2025
Contents
Summary
This apprenticeship is aimed at enthusiastic, motivated people with a desire to start a career in the vibrant and rewarding outdoor learning sector.
- Wage
-
£15,704 a year
- Training course
- Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)
- Hours
-
Shifts to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 23 September 2025
- Duration
-
1 year
- Positions available
-
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Assisting with the activity programme, leading to the delivery of activities independently or as part of a team
- Setting up and de-rigging of activities
- Preparing and delivering equipment to activity sites
- Accounting for and being responsible for equipment used in the Centre’s activity programme
- Ensuring that equipment is safely cleaned and stored in line with the centre’s equipment usage policy
- Reporting of accidents/incidents in line with the Centre’s H&S policy
- Liaising with customers and other members of staff in a positive manner
- Being supportive of your fellow instructors
- Attending staff meetings and end of course de-briefings
Where you'll work
Cuffley Active Learning Centre
Carbonne Hill, Cuffley
Hertfordshire
EN6 4PR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHANNEL TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Find information on: the activity type and timings; outcome requirements; participant age; medical information; equipment and resourcing allocation; venue; weather conditions.
- Prepare sessions to achieve the required outcomesg. enjoyment, thrill seeking, personal or team challenges, acquisition of new knowledge or skills.
- Select methods to meet all participant needs g. visual impairment, mental and physical ability.
- Select methods to respond to potential changes in the environmentg. wind increasing in a sailing session or rain making conditions slippery underfoot.
- Collect appropriate equipment and resources.
- Ensure the venue is set-up and ready to be used.
- Maintain self and group safety when delivering the session.
- Deliver an effective session briefing with clear instruction and following organisational procedures.
- Perform a competent demonstration of the skills required for the activity or subject at the appropriate level for the session.
- Provide on-going instruction to encourage learning and progression.
- Follow organisational operating procedures to adapt to changes in the environment. E.g. thunderstorm, a wind shift to offshore in a surfing session.
- Select and implement organisational procedures to deal with routine problems.g. broken equipment.
- Provide basic First Aid to respond to accidents in a safe, prompt and effective manner. e.g. injured participant.
- Initiate organisational procedures to summon support in the case of incidents or accidents.
- Use the organisations set approaches for learning delivery.
- Support individual and group engagement and participation in the session g. energisers, sharing responsibilities, appropriate pace.
- Change the pace of the session to match participants’ speed of learning.
- Identify and support the individual participants’ needs g. give personal attention, active listening, allow additional time, encouragement.
- Apply simple techniques to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour g. redirection, increasing responsibility.
- Use simple review techniques to check the achievement of required outcomes e.g. thumbs up; rounds; memorable moments.
- Signpost participants to progression routes.
- Complete a session within time, including the restoration of the venue, return of equipment and resources and any logging or recording requirements.
- Use participant feedback and own reflection to suggest improvements to sessions.
- Communicate with customers and colleagues in a clear, concise and effective manner.
- Handle information in a way that conforms to policy and protects data.
- Assist with the development and preparation of resources and support colleagues delivering sessions
- Actively encourage whole group participation and promote equality and diversity.
- Undertake activities to further develop knowledge and personal skills.
- Reflect on own performance and make refinements.
Training schedule
Outdoor Activity Instructor Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:
You will be starting your role as an Assistant Instructor - and after a comprehensive training programme and development period you will gain the knowledge, experience and qualifications required to become an independent instructor leading your own groups.
You will learn how to operate to a highly professional and safe standard, to create a challenging, fun and educational environment providing equal opportunities to all.
You will be required to assist in the facilitation of a range of activities including high ropes, climbing, orienteering, archery, shelter building / fire lighting and much, much more. The focus at Active Learning Centres is on utilising our wonderful natural environments in providing high quality outdoor learning that creates opportunities for visiting young people to develop their essential skills, builds character and promotes wellbeing. This post will also allow the apprentice to work across numerous areas of the wider ALG business group that may include working with our sister companies such as Bushcraft, Camp Wilderness and Super Camps.
In order to gain a thorough and all-round knowledge of activity centre-based work you will also be provided with opportunities to work in our other centres delivering mountaineering and water-based activities, where you will have the chance to expand your personal skill set, leading to further NGB’s and greater employment opportunities.
Desirable skills and qualifications:
- GCSE grade D/3 in functional skills in maths and English
- Experience of working/being in an outdoor environment
- Experience of outdoor activities, either leading or participating
- Membership of any outdoor groups (Scouts, DofE, activity clubs)
- Experience of working with young people
- Experience of working throughout a busy day
- Understand how to behave in a professional setting with customers and colleagues
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
This is a live-in position.
About this employer
Based in Hertfordshire and only 10 minutes from the M25, Cuffley is nestled within 96 acres of ancient woodland and ideally situated to offer a contrasting environment for schools. At Cuffley Activity Learning Centre we offer a range of activities that stretch bodies and minds to build confidence. Climbing walls and high ropes give the adrenaline buzz, with more reflective activities taking place deep inside our unique woodland Site of Special Scientific Interest.
https://activelearningcentres.co.uk/locations/cuffley/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- Possible Outdoor Instructor role at the end of term as well as roles available at our other centres
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHANNEL TRAINING LIMITED
alc.recruitment@activelearningcentres.co.uk
01235 467304
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000336160.
Apply now
Closes in 24 days (Sunday 31 August 2025)
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