Sport and fitness

Working directly with players or public, or developing and promoting your sport.

Introduction 

Within sport you could be working directly with sports participants, either professional or amateur, or involved with the wider scope of sport through sports administration and development. 

Sport, health and fitness remains a growing sector despite the adverse effects of the cost of living crisis and the increased costs faced by gyms and other facilities as a result of rising fuel prices. Continuing public awareness of the health benefits of participation, and the impetus provided by the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games (with funding for the GB teams provided by the UK government) is likely to lead to an increase in public membership and participation. 

What’s it like 

These profiles include information about: 

  • typical responsibilities in the role  
  • average starting salary range for new entrants  
  • entry requirements  
  • career progression  

 

Postgraduate study 

This is necessary for some roles.

Postgraduate study is required to become a sport and exercise psychologist – you'll need to achieve graduate membership of the British Psychological Society by taking a conversion course if your first degree doesn’t give you this, and then specialise by taking a course.

For sports therapist roles, a Masters degree accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists will greatly increase the number of opportunities open to you. 

Society of Sports Therapists

For coaching you will need the coaching qualification offered by the national governing body of your sport. 

 

Work experience and graduate jobs 

We've created a collection of resources, below, which focus on ways to find work experience and graduate opportunities relating to sport and leisure, in Edinburgh. 

For graduate jobs, sites to look at include: 

MyCareerHub: Opportunities  (also good for jobs while you are a student)

British Universities and Colleges Sport  

Jobs in Sport (UK Sport’s jobsite)  

SportScotland - also includes volunteering

My Job Scotland - local authority jobs in Scotland 

LG Jobs - local authority jobs in England

If you want to find opportunities in Edinburgh check out our opportunities page:

Opportunities in Edinburgh

 

Professional bodies and support

CIMSPA, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, have put together a variety of resources and created a career hub that covers a lot of areas and offers useful support. 

CIMSPA 

BASES, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, offer a variety of dedicated career resources.

BASES

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