Sport, Leisure and Recreation

The sport, leisure and recreation sector offers exciting opportunities within areas such as coaching and performance analysis, facilities management, outdoor activities, sport and leisure centre management, sports development, sports event management and disability sport.

These include rewarding roles helping people to enjoy their free time and reach their fitness potential.

B&FC’s programmes have been co-created with the sector to ensure you develop the skills and experience needed for your future career.

Expert tutors benefit from first-hand industry knowledge and relevant work experience allows you to apply your subject to real life.

Meet a tutor on our World At Your Feet video series.

Excellent facilities include a 3G all-weather pitch, sports hall and fitness suite.

Discover how B&FC can help you begin or advance your career in the sport, leisure and recreation industry.

Sport, Leisure and Recreation programmes

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Careers

The North West has a vibrant sports heritage, with Manchester’s Sportcity home to national centres for squash and cycling and the region providing a quarter of England’s Premier League football teams. Consequently, talented physiotherapists, nutritionists and fitness coaches are in high demand.

As sport and leisure gains political momentum (owing to the growing popularity of holistic and preventative healthcare), even more career opportunities are likely to emerge.

Most popular career routes:

£20,500

Average annual wage in this sector

26,893

Number of jobs in the North West

What our staff and students say

“My CV would be so boring without the College – now I can say I’ve helped to run sports events and I have 40 hours’ work experience. I lacked confidence at first but my tutors helped me so much I’m achieving distinctions and planning to stay on to do a sports degree. It feels amazing how far I’ve come.”

Ashlie Holmes, Level 3 Sport

“The university was excellent for adult learning improving my overall knowledge in my selected degree. I found the capabilities of my skills have improved to successfully take on my new career as a full-time teacher.”

Tony Codling gave B&FC an overall university rating of 5 stars – Sports Coaching and Exercise Instruction (Top-up) BSc (Hons) – What Uni? review

"B&FC has given me the opportunity to combine my passion for sport with my passion for helping people. The support I receive enables me in turn to support my students to achieve their own goals."

Brian Porter, Sport Programme Leader

Why choose B&FC?

Getting Here

With our FREE 24/7 Blackpool Transport travel pass, eligible students* get unlimited use of any Blackpool Transport bus or Tram. We also offer help with long-distance travel costs.

Personalised Learning

Your own personal progress tutor will help you to settle in, keep you informed about upcoming events and provide ongoing support and guidance. We also offer confidential counselling.

Money Matters

We offer a FREE healthy breakfast for everyone. You could also get up to £1200 worth of funding and FREE meals if you're in care or receiving certain benefits.

Learning Support

If you have a disability (including a specific learning or mental health difficulty) we will help you to access the support needed to manage your studies as independently as possible.

Food and Drink

From smoothies to sub rolls, we offer a wide range of low-cost food and drink plus a FREE healthy breakfast for everyone and FREE meals for eligible students*.

*Eligibility applies - see blackpool.ac.uk/support/funding for details

Career Planning

Our free careers service includes expert advice and resources to help with making career choices, applying to university and coaching to get you ready for employment.

Expert Tutors

Our tutors are specialists in their subjects and help you develop the skills you need to be successful. They regularly spend time in industry to keep their knowledge and experience up-to-date.

Students' Union

Our Students' Union runs a variety of clubs, societies and events, all aimed at giving you the best student experience possible. You could also get involved as a rep or elected officer.

Sports

Sports are big at B&FC and there are lots of fitness activites and College teams for you to join, facilitated through our all-weather pitch, sports hall and fitness suite-inspirations.

Work experience opportunities

B&FC works with a wide range of leading companies, offering specific industry placements that offer valuable sector experience.

“The College is one of the top performing colleges in the country. Facilities and equipment are state-of-the art and there is constant reinvestment and constant looking to the future. We’re proud of the history of the College but also its belief that tomorrow is more important than the past.”

Blackpool Council

"We have been working with Blackpool and The Fylde College for a number of years and our relationship gets stronger and stronger."

Blackpool Football Community Trust

Take a virtual tour

Industry-standard facilities

B&FC has fantastic indoor and outdoor sports facilities available for use by students, staff and members of the public. Membership and hire rates and fitness class timetables are available to view on our sports facilities page.

The fully-equipped fitness suite gives access to a range of cardiovascular and resistance machines, Arc trainers, a Smith weight training machine and a free weights area.