Careers in Entertainment and leisure include careers in the media travel and sport.Many jobsin entertainment considered ‘talent’ jobs such as actor, singer or dancer where you must have ability to be able to succeed in that career.Professional sportspeople can train very hard but do need to have talent to be able to achieve at the highest level.These jobs also require a lot of luck to be ‘talent-spotted’ and offered work.Other roles in the leisure industry include roles in travel and tourism.
For more information visit:
Skillset: www.skillset.org
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.ccskills.org.uk
The Knowledge (directory of Contacts in the film, TV, video and commercials production industries): www.theknowledgeonline.com
Jobs within this section
Actors can find work in film companies, television, radio and theatre. It can be a very competitive industry where rejection is something you have to get used to, actors may go for many auditions and not get the part. Talent, acting skills and having the right image plays a major part in whether you are right for a role. Actors may have to take on other work between roles whilst they are looking for their next part. If successful in television and film rewards can be high but pay in theatre work is lower.
For more information visit:
Equity: www.equity.org.uk
Conference of Drama Schools Ltd: www.drama.ac.uk
National Council for Drama Training: www.ncdt.co.uk
Spotlight: www.spotlight.com
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.ccskills.org.uk
National Association of Youth Theatres: www.nayt.org.uk
Musicians have to be able to play an instrument or sing to a high standard. You must be disciplined and practice regularly.The work of a musician may be as a soloist or part of a group or orchestra.Musicians may travel a great deal ‘on tour’ and work evenings and weekends.Many musicians supplement their income from performances with composing or teaching music.
For more information visit:
Access to Music: www.accesstomusic.co.uk
ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music): www.abrsm.org
Association of British Orchestras: www.abo.org.uk
British Phonographic Industry: www.bpi.co.uk
Conservatoires UK Admissions Service: www.cukas.ac.uk
Incorporated Society of Musicians: www.ism.org
Musicians’ Union: www.musiciansunion.org.uk
Sound Sense: www.soundsense.org
Youth Music: www.youthmusic.org.uk
►OtherRoles in the Music Industry
If you don’t plan to be a performer there are other roles available in the music industry, these include: musical administration; broadcasting; technical careers such as sound engineer; music publishing; making repairing and tuning musical instruments; music journalism; music therapy; roadie; etc.
For more information visit:
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.creative-choices.co.uk
Access to Music: www.accesstomusic.co.uk
BBC Recruitment: www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
British Society for Music Therapy: www.bsmt.org
National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers: www.namir.org.uk
Music Publishes Association Ltd: www.mpaonline.org.uk
Musicians’ Union: www.musiciansunion.org.uk
School of Sound Recording (SSR): www.s-s-r.com
Young Enterprise Quickstart Music Programme: www.young-enterprise.org.uk/qsmusic/home
Roadie:www.roadie.net
Dance careers can involve both performance and teaching. Dancing is very competitive and you must have talent, be very fit and stay free of injuries to succeed. Dancers may specialise in ballet, contemporary dance, theatre, ballroom or Latin. A dancer can attend many auditions and not be chosen for a role and may supplement their work with choreography (creating dance sequences) or dance teaching.
For more information visit:
Council for Dance Education & Training: www.cdet.org.uk
British Dance Council: www.british-dance-council.org
Dance UK: www.danceuk.org
Equity: www.equity.org.uk
Careers advice for young people: www.young-dancers.org
►Fitness Instructor/ Personal Trainer
A fitness instructor may work in a leisure centre, gym, hotel or sports club. Their role is to ensure that people using the facilities do so safely and get benefit from their training.They may undertake fitness assessments and develop a training plan for individual clients.The instructor needs to understand how the body works and how the equipment is used to tone and develop muscles, they may also advise on healthy eating.Fitness instructors may teach groups sessions in circuit training, aerobics, etc. A personal trainer provides fitness instruction to clients on a one to one basis often in their own home.
For more information visit:
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com
Fitness Industry Association: www.fia.org.uk
Register of Exercise Professionals: www.exerciseregister.org
Fitness Professionals: www.fitpro.com
Keep Fit Association: www.keepfit.org.uk
Register of Exercise Professionals: www.exerciseregister.org
National Register of Personal Trainers: www.nrpt.co.uk
Sports scientists study: physiology – how body processes function; psychology: the effect of behaviour and mindset and biomechanics- how the body moves.They find ways to improve the performance of athletes and sportspeople.Sports scientist may also work in research or in the development of sports equipment.Exercise scientists may work with the public in a gym or via a health referral to improve fitness.
For more information visit:
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences: www.bases.org.uk
The British Psychological Society: www.bps.org.uk
British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine: www.basem.co.uk
International Sports Engineering Association: www.sportsengineering.co.uk
Sports Leaders UK: www.sportsleaders.org
Sport England: www.sportengland.org
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com
Sport and fitness is a large industry with roles at many levels of qualification and experience.Jobs can include, coach in sports such as football or swimming, lifeguard, leisure centre assistant, referee, etc. Some more senior jobs can include sports development -working in the community to increase participation, sports management and therapeutic roles such as sports therapy.There are also roles not directly related to sport in companies providing sports clothing and equipment.
For more information visit:
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS): www.bucs.org.uk
Sports Leaders UK: www.sportsleaders.org
Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure: www.ispal.org.uk
The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management: www.isrm.co.uk
The Royal Lifesaving Society UK: www.lifesavers.org.uk
Surf Life Saving Great Britain: www.surflifesaving.org.uk
The Swimming Teachers’ Association: www.sta.co.uk
British Swimming & Amateur Swimming: www.britishswimming.org
Sports Coach UK: www.sportscoachuk.org
UK Sport: www.uksport.gov.uk
Sport England: www.sportengland.org
Royal Yachting Association: www.rya.org.uk
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science: www.bases.org.uk
Information about refereeing in football: www.thefa.com, www.bucs.org.uk
Information on refereeing in rugby: www.rfu.com
Umpires for Cricket: www.ecb.co.uk
Professional sportspeople require talent to be successful, they have to be dedicated, train regularly, work with coaches and nutritionists to increase their performance.Their career may be ended by injury and a career in professional sport can be short-lived.Many professional sportspeople move on to a second career in coaching, sports governance the media or owning and running a business.
For more information visit:
British Boxing Board of Control Ltd: www.bbbofc.com
The British Racing School: www.brs.org.uk
The England and Wales Cricket Board: www.ecb.co.uk
Marylebone Cricket Club: www.lords.org
England Basketball:www.englandbasketball.com
The Football Association: www.thefa.com
The Lawn Tennis Association: www.lta.org.uk
Motor Sports Association: www.msauk.org
The Professional Golfers’ Association: www.pga.info
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com
Sport England: www.sportengland.org
Sports Leaders UK: www.sportsleaders.org
UK Sport: www.uksport.gov.uk
Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation: www.wsff.org.uk
Outdoor pursuits include sports such as climbing, fell walking, riding, kayaking, winter sports, potholing, etc. The sort of job related top these sports include teaching which may be linked to a university college or school, and outdoor education at specialist centres, youth work, adventure tourism, and providing team-building activities for staff development.
For more information visit:
Institute for Outdoor Learning: www.outdoor-learning.org
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com
Sports Leaders UK: www.sportsleaders.org
CCPR: www.ccpr.org.uk
Sport England: www.sportengland.org
The Sports Council for Wales: www.sports-council-wales.org.uk
Sports Coach UK: www.sportscoachuk.org
British Canoe Union: www.bcu.org.uk
Mountain Leader Training: www.mltuk.org
British Mountaineering Council: www.thebmc.co.uk
British Sub:Aqua Club: www.bsac.com
Snowsport England: www.snowsportengland.org.uk
British Association of Snowsport Instructors: www.basi.org.uk
British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk
Royal Yachting Association: www.rya.org.uk
The Outward Bound Trust: www.outwardbound.org.uk
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards: www.theaward.org
www.outdoorlearning.org
►Leisure and Recreation Management
Jobs in leisure and recreation management are more about business that sport.It may help to have a knowledge and understanding of sport but the work is to ensure that customers using leisure facilities have a good experience. They may have responsibility for arranging activities, managing staff, ensuring the facilities are used safely and the day to day running of a leisure facility.
For more information visit:
Institute for Sport, Parks & Leisure: www.ispal.org.uk
Institute for Sport and Recreation Management: www.isrm.co.uk
Sport England: www.sportengland.org
The Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management: www.ilam.co.uk
SkillsActive: www.skillsactive.com/careers
Job Vacancies: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk
Jockeys ride racehorses on behalf of an owner and trainer in competitive races. They may have professional or amateur status, usually riding for a single stable. Most jockeys have a broader role than just racing, they exercise the horses every day and in some smaller stables may take care of and feed them.Flat race jockeys have to be smaller and lighter than jump jockeys.
For more information visit:
British Racing Society: www.britishhorseracing.com
The British Horse Society: www.bhs.org.uk
The Jockey Club: www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
www.brs.org.uk
Jobs in the gambling industry cover jobs in bookmakers (betting shops), bingo halls, arcades, casinos, online gambling and the lottery.Betting involves jobs in betting shops and on the racecourse for which you need to be good customer services and arithmetic.Bingo and arcades are social as well as gaming environments with cafes and bars and all the related jobs. Casinos can be very exclusive offering high quality service in luxury surrounding.The sort of jobs available may be in bar service or as croupiers or dealers for the games.
For more information visit:
Association of British Bookmakers: www.abb.uk.com
The Bingo Association: www.bingo-association.co.uk
Camelot Group Plc: www.camelotgroupcareers.co.uk
Gambling Commission: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk
National Gaming Academy: www.nationalgamingacademy.co.uk
The Tote: www.corporate.totesport.com
Jobs for Casino Staff on Cruise Ships: www.oceancasinojobs.com
Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Travel, Leisure & Tourism: www.people1st.co.uk
British Casino Association:www.britishcasinoassociation.org.uk
►Broadcasting: Production and Presentation
Jobs in front of the cameral or microphone in television and radio are easy to see, but in the making for any programme there are huge numbers of backroom roles.These include: producers who oversee the commissioning and creation of a programme; researchers who ensure that presenters are briefed and facts are correct; floor managers who manage the studio or set; announcers and presenters who create the programme links and runners who act as general assistants.
For more information visit:
Skillset: www.skillset.org/careers
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
The Media & Entertainment Union: www.bectu.org.uk
The Moving Image Society (BKSTS): www.bksts.com
Broadcast Journalism Training Council: www.bjtc.org.uk
Radio Academy: www.radioacademy.org
Radio Centre: www.radiocentre.org
Specialist roles in film making include special effects work and stunt artist, these produce some of the spectacular crashes, explosions etc seen on screen. Some of these may be created with film editing and computer generated images rather than live stunts.
For more information visit:
Skillset: www.skillset.org/careers
British Film Institute: www.bfi.org.uk/learn
BECTU (The Media & Entertainment Union Special Effects Branch) : www.bectusfx.org.uk
Online Directory of Film and TV Companies: www.theknowledgeonline.com
UK Trade Union representing professional performers: www.equity.org.uk
►Technical and Engineering Jobs in Film, TV and Radio
Technical trades in film television are roles which require a high level of specific knowledge.Some examples are: sound engineers, camera operators, lighting designer and technician, vision mixers and editors. Many staff are able to take on a number of technical roles. Some jobs are studio based whereas others involve ‘outside broadcasts’ which require smaller more adaptable equipment.
For more information visit:
Skillset: www.skillset.org/careers
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
ITV: www.itvjobs.com
The Media & Entertainment Union: www.bectu.org.uk
The Moving Image Society: www.bksts.com
Radio Academy: www.radioacademy.org
Radio Centre: www.radiocentre.org
Film and Television Freelance Training: www.ft2.org.uk
Online directory of TV production companies: www.theknowledgeonline.com
Animators use drawing, modelling or computer generated images to create stories told through animated characters.Animation can produced in: 2D using hand drawn images; 2D or 3D computer generated images or ‘stop frame’ where models are posed, photographed, adjusted photographed again to create images.Artistic skills and attention to detail are important for animators.
For more information visit:
Skillset: www.skillset.org/careers
British Film Institute: www.bfi.org.uk/learn
National Media Museum: www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk
The Media and Entertainment Union: www.bectu.org.uk
Image Directory (directory listing UK animation companies and information about training) – www.imagineanimation.net
The Knowledge (Online directory of contacts in film, TV, video and commercials production industries): www.theknowledgeonline.com
Events managers can work on anything from a Shakespearian play to a rock concert.Their job is to find a venue, publicise the event, ensure that health and safety requirement are met, organise any construction work required, manage the budget and sort out practicalities like toilet facilities and getting people into and away from the event.
For more information visit:
Association for Conferences and Events: www.aceinternational.org
National Outdoor Events Association: www.noea.org.uk
Association of Event Organisers: www.aeo.org.uk
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.ccskills.org.uk
►Theatre and Television SupportRoles
Behind the scenes staff in film, television and radio support the performers in putting on a production.There are many different opportunities including: director creating the show, costume design and production, make up, set design and building, props suppliers, wardrobe assistant and stage management.Each requires specific work related training and skills.
For more information visit:
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.creative-choices.co.uk
Skillset: www.skillset.org
National Council for Drama Training: www.ncdt.co.uk
Conference of Drama Schools Ltd: www.drama.ac.uk
Association of British Theatre Technicians: www.abtt.co.uk
Stage Management Association: www.stagemanagementassociation.co.uk
Society of British Theatre Designers: www.theatredesign.org.uk
Directors Guild of Great Britain & Directors Guild Trust: www.dggb.co.uk
Greasepaint: www.greasepaint.co.uk
BBC Recruitment: www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
Theatrical Management Association: www.tmauk.org
Contacts (annual list of contacts involved in TV, stage, film and radio) : www.contactshandbook.com
The Stage: www.thestage.co.uk
Arts administrators work locally in theatres, music venues and the arts. They may either work for the local authority or directly for the theatre or venue. The job involves planning the calendar of events, publicising them and booking performers. The may also be involved with finance and budgets.
For more information visit:
Arts Council England: www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Arts Council of Wales: www.artswales.org.uk
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: www.artscouncil-ni.org
Scottish Arts Council: www.scottisharts.org.uk
Creative & Cultural Skills: www.ccskills.org.uk
British Arts Festivals Association: www.artsfestivals.co.uk
Theatrical Management Association: www.tmauk.org
Travel agents have to be good at customer services and giving advice. They help customer to find the holiday or tours that are right for them by looking at their needs and using their knowledge of tour operators and destinations to guide them. Travel agents need to be confident in using computerised booking systems, with a good phone manner and an interest in travel.
For more information visit:
Intraining NTP: www.intraining.co.uk
Institute of Travel and Tourism: www.itt.co.uk
Guild of Travel Management Companies: www.gtmc.org
Careers advice and jobs in travel and tourism: springboarduk.net
Tour operators can be large companies with many different job opportunities. The sort of roles available include: holiday rep working in a resort and tour guide travelling with a group both of these need good customer relations skills.There are liaison jobs involved in preparing anew destination, such as checking the hotel, negotiating rates and planning transport.Marketing and promotion jobs may include designing brochures and advertising campaigns.
For more information visit:
Intraining NTP: http://www.intraining.co.uk
Institute of Travel & Tourism: www.itt.co.uk
Thomson: www.thomson.co.uk/jobs
Institute of Tourist Guiding: www.itg.org.uk
Guild of Registered Tourist Guides: www.blue-badge-guides.com/
