Steve Wells

Sport and Leisure Management BA (Hons)

I spent my placement at an organisation called Freedom Leisure. This is a leisure trust based around Sussex and Kent providing leisure centres for local communities. After discussing my interests with my placement supervisor, I was given the role of active and marketing assistant.

My duties required me to assist wherever possible around the active facility of the centre (café, kitchen, bowling and play areas) and contribute ideas to the marketing and promotional side of the organisation. I also assisted with outreach programmes in the local community and designed posters for Freedom Leisure’s upcoming offers. I worked closely alongside members of staff and developed good working relations with all my colleagues.

I learnt many operating procedures around the centre as a whole and developed a degree of competence around the active and marketing areas. I was given the task of creating an active improvement plan that would attempt to increase business specifically in relation to the bowling facility. I came up with promotional ideas and was given the responsibility and resources to carry these out.

The experience was a good one. I broadened my knowledge of the leisure industry as a whole and developed customer service, communication and organisational skills. I also secured future part-time employment at Freedom Leisure upon my return to university for my final year. On placement I learnt and developed vital professional skills that will help me with future career plans, whatever path I choose to take.