How to become a leisure and sports manager or proprietor

Official title: Leisure and sports managers and proprietors

Also called: Manager, Gym manager, Club manager, Park manager, Baths manager, House manager, Stand manager, Centre manager, Cinema manager, Circus manager, Marina manager, Museum manager

Leisure and sports managers organise and proprietors, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources required for the provision of sporting, artistic, theatrical and other recreational and amenity services.

Main tasks

• Organises timetable of activities/schedule of programmes
• Ensures that facilities are kept clean and in good condition and that appropriate health and safety requirements are adhered to
• Keeps abreast of new trends and developments in recreational activities and arranges exhibitions, theatrical productions, concerts, demonstrations, etc
• Advises on the facilities available and promotes publicity in relation to shows, games, races, new theme parks, etc
• Determines financial, staffing, material and other short and long-term needs
• Recruits, supervises and trains staff
• Ensures custody of all cash receipts and organises regular stock checks

How to become one

Both graduate and non-graduate entry is possible. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Apprenticeships at level 3 and NVQs/SVQs at levels 3 and 4 are available in relevant areas. Professional qualifications may also be required for some posts.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Golf course manager (level 5). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0208.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £36,026 a year The middle half earn £28,154 to £42,756.
• About 82,900 people work in this job now, and about 95,900 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)

Related jobs

• Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors
• Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors
• Publicans and managers of licensed premises
• Travel agency managers and proprietors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a leisure and sports manager or proprietor?

Both graduate and non-graduate entry is possible. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Apprenticeships at level 3 and NVQs/SVQs at levels 3 and 4 are available in relevant areas. Professional qualifications may also be required for some posts.

How much does a leisure and sports manager or proprietor earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £36,026 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £28,154 to £42,756.

Is a leisure and sports manager or proprietor a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 82,900 to about 95,900 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a leisure and sports manager or proprietor?

Not always. 47% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Golf course manager (level 5).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03