Sports Coach Swim Focused Apprenticeship
Mr Gary Shackleford · Hickmans Green · posted 8 September 2026
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The Sports Coach with Swim Specialism has an important role to play in improving the health and well-being of children, families and communities by supporting the delivery of swim sessions/projects. Working alongside our Aquarius staff, you will learn how to plan, deliver and review sessions (swim lessons) and also work on our holiday camps.
Shifts to be confirmed. You will be required to travel around sites across various sites across Birmingham to visit the pop-up pools. Duration - 15-months - Level 2 Community Actiavtor Apprenticeship.
What you’ll do at work Are you passionate about sport and physical activity and specifically have a love for swimming? Do you love working with children to make a difference and impact on their learning and well-being? Can you be a positive role model to inspire and motivate children? Would you relish the opportunity to work alongside a friendly, supportive and hard-working team?
If so, our Community Activator Coach apprenticeship opportunity may be perfect for you! The Community Activator Apprentice with Swimming specialism has an important role to play in improving the health and wellbeing of children, families and communities by supporting the delivery of fun, inclusive and engaging sessions using our swimming pools. Working alongside our Aquarius Pool Supervisors and swim teachers, this apprenticeship will give you an introduction into the world of swim teaching. Along the apprenticeship journey, you will learn how to plan, deliver and review sessions. We will fund your swim teacher qualification. You will get a diverse opportunity to develop your wider coaching skills during your work on our Active Holiday camps during school holidays.
Key duties include: Working directly with members of the public to plan and deliver a range of projects and activities within our leisure centre(s) with the aim of increasing the participation of a variety of groups in sport and physical activity, with a specific focus on swimming and aquatics,
These could involve:
- Extra-curricular swimming lessons for children, primarily in key station 1 and 2
- Supporting our swimming curriculum for schools
- Adult swimming lessons Swimming galas and festivals
- Pool inflatable fun sessions
- Water polo
- Aquatots parents and toddlers
- Providing additional support in the pool to children with SEND needs to ensure inclusivity of the program
- To support on organising community and competitive events
- Working collaboratively with a wide range of partner organisations
- Supporting the delivery and coordination of our holiday activity and HAF schemes for children
- Providing swimming duty cover where required
- Begin developing skills in supervisory duties within the swim school, working closely with the pool supervisors to help manage progression and positively impact retention levels
- Use of technology to engage pupils with physical activity and sports especially swimming
- Contribute to the overall ethos and working values of the Foundation
- Contribute to raising standards by demonstrating and promoting high expectations
- Supervise and support members of the public, ensuring their safety by complying with good H&S practice
- To undertake all training and courses associated with the apprenticeship programme
Your training
Our apprentices will receive weekly off the job training hours in order to engage with masterclasses, skills festival days, assignments and tasks related to the apprenticeship, online CPD courses and development sessions with their allocated skills coach. They will achieve the Level 2 Community Activator Coach Apprenticeship Standard with Swimming Specialism alongside sector specific CPD, such as: STA Level 2 Swim Teacher qualification Lifeguard qualification Pool maintenance and water testing CPD Supporting the PE curriculum (swimming focussed) Behaviour Management Safeguarding/Prevent Mental Health and Wellbeing Digital skills Functional skills in maths and English (where required).
Where it leads
After successfully completing this apprenticeship, the apprentice may progress into a full-time role such as Swim Teacher, Community Sports Coach, or Aquatics Coach, with a wage increase and greater responsibility based on performance.
There is also opportunity to progress into roles such as Senior Swim Teacher, Pool Supervisor, or Swim School Coordinator, depending on experience, leadership skills and training completed.
With further development, the apprentice could specialise in areas such as SEND aquatics, school swimming delivery, or community water safety programmes, or progress onto higher-level qualifications including Level 3/4 coaching or teaching pathways.
Strong performers may be offered ongoing full-time employment, continued wage progression, and access to further qualifications, CPD, and leadership opportunities within swimming and wider sports delivery programmes.
About Mr Gary Shackleford
This organisation is a sports education and youth development provider that delivers high-quality PE, sport, and physical activity programmes for primary school children. It works closely with schools to improve access to sport and encourage children to be more active, confident, and engaged in physical exercise.
The company offers a wide range of services including PE lessons, after-school clubs, lunch and breakfast clubs, holiday camps, and wraparound childcare. It also provides coaching support, staff training, and school sport events to enhance physical education delivery.
Its main focus is making sport fun, inclusive, and accessible for all children, while supporting their physical, social, and emotional development. The organisation works across multiple schools, using trained coaches to deliver structured but engaging activities that build skills, teamwork, and confidence.
Overall, it is a community-focused sports provider that aims to increase participation in physical activity and positively impact children’s wellbeing through fun, structured sport programmes.
Skills they're looking for
Entry requirements
- BTEC Sports (grade Pass) — desired
Where you'll work
- UNIT 224, THUNDERHILL BUSINESS PARK, HICKMANS GREEN, BOUGHTON UNDER BLEAN, ME13 9NT
- Swallow Rise, Chatham, ME5 7QB
- Maundene School, Swallow Rise, Chatham, ME5 7QB
- Postley Road, Maidstone, ME15 6TL
- St Marys Catholic Primary School, Northwood Rd, Whitstable, CT5 2EY
- St Stephen S Infant School, Hales Drive, Canterbury, CT2 7AB
- South Borough Primary School, Postley Road, Maidstone, ME15 6TL
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