Apprentice Outdoor Instructor
LEICS OUTDOOR PURSUITS CNTRE
LEICESTER (LE4 5PN)
Closes on Sunday 2 November 2025
Posted on 9 September 2025
Contents
Summary
Do you love working in the outdoors? Love working with enthusiastic young minds? Want to help develop people and help them reach their full potential? A career in the outdoor industry is extremely rewarding, once you’ve started running your own sessions you’ll never look back.
- Wage
-
£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)
- Hours
-
30 hours per week, Apprentices will be expected to work more than this, and then receive the time back in the quiet periods as TOIL (Time off in Lieu).
Shifts to be confirmed.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 2 February 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 1 month
- Positions available
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4
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 and then eventually leading activities
- Assisting with the cleaning and maintenance of equipment and site
- Liaising with customers and other members of staff
Where you'll work
LOUGHBOROUGH ROAD
LEICESTER
LE4 5PN
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
What we are offering with the role:
- Your chance to get a range of qualifications – First Aid, Paddle Sport Instructor, Archery Instructor, Bell Boat Helm, plus others
- Thorough induction process, including training on our High Ropes Course
- Work with a diverse range of clients
- Opportunities to develop ongoing group programs
- Quality outdoor uniform
- Professional development workshops
- Further opportunities to take different key roles within the organisation
- You will be paid to run a range of outdoor activities including: Archery, Rock Climbing, Canoeing, High Ropes, Bushcraft and others
Throughout your apprenticeship there will be opportunities to get out and upskill yourself with the challenges of rock climbing and explore rivers in paddle sport. You will develop soft skills such as dealing with nervous clients at the top of our high ropes course, or supporting tired teenagers as they learn about resilience and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.
This is a 12 – 14 month apprenticeship. You will be starting your role as an assistant instructor – developing to become an independent instructor leading your own groups.
This apprenticeship sets you up to begin your career in the outdoors – from here it’s up to you where you want to go and what you want to do.
There are lots of directions you can take with your new skills and qualifications. The choice is yours.
Skills and qualifications:
Essential:
- Must have either Level 2 Key Skills or GCSEs grade 4/C to complete the apprenticeship. A candidate may start the apprenticeship if they have Level 1 Key Skills, or GCSEs grade 3/D, but only if they pass a pre-employment assessment.
- Candidates cannot already have a qualification equal to or above in the field of outdoor pursuits or outdoor learning.
- Be able to work evenings and weekends, including bank holidays.
Desirable:
- First Aid at Work qualification
- British Canoeing Personal Performance Awards
- NICAS Climbing Awards
- Coach or Sports Leader Qualification
- Have worked in either an outdoor or sports setting, delivering activities to children
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3 / D)
- Maths (grade 3 / D)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Please note: Vacancy does not offer on-site accommodation, staff will need a means to commute to the centre.
About this employer
Adventurous outdoor activity experiences designed to stimulate, educate and motivate young people and others at affordable prices in a challenging and safe environment.
After this apprenticeship
Previous instructors at LOPC have gone on to:
- Senior or management roles within the team at LOPC
- Working for outdoor centres around the world, including Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand
- Taken a full-time contract instructing at LOPC
- Gone on to an Outdoor Education Degree at university
- Work full time at Centre Parcs
- Work with alternate education provisions at specialist schools
- Become a freelance instructor – working all over the UK
- Gain their teaching qualification and worked with schools on their outdoor education provision
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHANNEL TRAINING LIMITED
David Robinson
david@lopc.co.uk
0116 2681426
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000341109.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 2 November 2025
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