Q I would love to find a role in the watersports industry to give me an option to travel and experience new cultures before I settle down with a ‘real job’. However I don’t have any formal training or background in sailing. What options are available for me and what would you advise as a route forward?
A I would recommend that one of the best ways to get started would be by working within a watersports centre as an instructor. It is great fun, you’ll get loads of experience in a short space of time and make life long friends. Depending on your existing experience you can do an instructor training programme lasting from a handful of days to a couple of months to gain the necessary pre requisites. We offer anything from a five day instructor course for those who have everything in place to an intensive programme lasting six weeks where we will take you from a beginner to gaining the necessary skills and understanding to get your first job as an instructor.
Alternatively you could combine instructor training with academic studies by completing a programme like our Level 3 BTEC.
Happily for me ‘real jobs’ come in many different forms and I have been fortunate enough to commit to an industry that I love and has given me a great career in return. Many people enjoy working in the watersports industry for a few years whilst they complete their studies where as others, like myself, find a role that suits them as a full time instructor, within centre management, equipment suppliers and manufacturing or even on superyachts. It is such a diverse industry that you would be surprised by the range and variety of roles available and how much your experiences and skills learnt can be translated onto other platforms.
If you would like to find out more about instructor training and career options visit our Rockley Academy page here.
You can contact Rob with any of your questions at – [email protected]