The 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics have highlighted the importance of sport and leisure careers in this country.

There is a wide range of career opportunities in the sport, recreation and leisure industry ranging from coaching, physical education, leisure management and sports journalism to sports science and outdoor activities. The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management estimates that over 400,000 people are employed in the UK sport and leisure industry.

Those qualified in sport and leisure occupations work with groups and individuals in, for example,

There are a lot of opportunities to add to your qualifications throughout your career by improving your own sporting ability, instructing others and taking on management responsibilities.

Source:jobs4u/ISRM

This area looks at just four different job areas in the Sport & Active Leisure sector, with three possible career routes for each:

You can get your qualifications by taking vocational courses or studying while in employment as well as by the more traditional full time education route. The important thing is to choose a route that suits you.

Remember these are career pathways, and you can get on or off the pathway at any point!

Mature students without formal qualifications are advised to talk to their local nextstep provider www.nextstep.org.uk One year Access to Higher Education courses give adults without formal qualifications the chance to study at degree level. Contact individual colleges and universities to discuss their entry requirements.

There’s a lot you can do to help your Sport and leisure career outside formal learning: