Deputy Head Coach Apprentice

Summary

Kick-start your career with Mini Swimming! Gain a nationally recognised qualification while earning, supported by experienced mentors. You'll teach an essential life skill, build confidence in swimmers of all ages, and enjoy excellent training, career progression, and the opportunity to make a real difference every day.

Wage

£14,976 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

If you are aged 19 or over after the first 12 months, you will then be paid the national minimum wage for your age.

Training course

Community activator coach (level 2)

Hours

5 days per week, over the 7 day working week. The schedule will be produced two weeks in advance; this will include both evenings and weekend work.

36 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 October 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As an apprentice at Mini Swimming, no two days are the same! You'll work alongside experienced teachers, gradually developing the skills and confidence to plan and deliver engaging swimming lessons for babies, children, and adults of all abilities.

• A typical day may include setting up equipment, preparing lesson plans, teaching and assisting in lessons, monitoring swimmers' progress, providing individual feedback, and encouraging confidence, water safety, and a lifelong love of swimming
• You'll learn how to adapt lessons to suit different ages and abilities while managing classes in a safe, positive, and inclusive environment
• You'll build strong relationships with swimmers and their families, provide excellent customer service, and support promotional events, school partnerships, holiday programmes, and community initiatives to encourage participation in swimming
• You'll also gain experience using digital systems to complete registers, maintain swimmer records, and carry out general administrative duties, whilst following GDPR requirements
• Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll develop a strong understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, pool operating procedures, and emergency action plans, ensuring the wellbeing of everyone in and around the pool
• You'll attend apprenticeship workshops, complete coursework, receive regular mentoring, and continually develop your teaching skills through feedback and reflection. As your confidence grows, you'll become a positive role model for swimmers, represent Mini Swimming professionally, work collaboratively with colleagues, and develop the communication and problem-solving skills needed to respond confidently to the challenges of a busy swim school

Where you'll work

20 Angora Business Park, Peartree Road
Stanway
Colchester
CO3 0AB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HEART OF ENGLAND TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Community activator coach (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity for individuals and communities.
• Encourage individuals' participation, motivation and to change their behaviour towards sport or physical activity.
• Contribute to inclusive, safe and effective sessions.
• Plan, follow, adapt, and deliver session plans, based on participant needs and feedback.
• Use coaching styles for sport or physical activity sessions meeting the participants needs and motivations.
• Promote the benefits of a lifelong activity habit.
• Use techniques to build rapport with participants.
• Carry out the tasks required before, during and after a community activity.
• Support participants to overcome personal or societal barriers.
• Manage individuals' behaviours within a group setting.
• Work collaboratively with services and other community organisations to run events that make the best use resources.
• Record and store data and information, in line with legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
• Use suitable digital technology to deliver targeted messages to participant groups.
• Adapt communication methods to meet the needs of participants and groups.
• Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns within own scope of role and in line with organisational protocols.
• Support equity, diversity and inclusion in line with legislation and organisational policies.
• Support the mental health and wellbeing of self and participants.
• Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, risk assessment procedures, guidelines and procedures.
• Participate in personal and professional development.
• Maintain professional boundaries within scope of own role.
• Monitor and review the effectiveness of activity sessions.
• Assist with the resolution of challenges and problems.
• Promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity for individuals and communities.
• Encourage individuals' participation, motivation and to change their behaviour towards sport or physical activity.
• Contribute to inclusive, safe and effective sessions.
• Plan, follow, adapt, and deliver session plans, based on participant needs and feedback.
• Use coaching styles for sport or physical activity sessions meeting the participants needs and motivations.
• Promote the benefits of a lifelong activity habit.
• Use techniques to build rapport with participants.
• Carry out the tasks required before, during and after a community activity.
• Support participants to overcome personal or societal barriers.
• Manage individuals' behaviours within a group setting.
• Work collaboratively with services and other community organisations to run events that make the best use resources.
• Record and store data and information, in line with legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
• Use suitable digital technology to deliver targeted messages to participant groups.
• Adapt communication methods to meet the needs of participants and groups.
• Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns within own scope of role and in line with organisational protocols.
• Support equity, diversity and inclusion in line with legislation and organisational policies.
• Support the mental health and wellbeing of self and participants.
• Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, risk assessment procedures, guidelines and procedures.
• Participate in personal and professional development.
• Maintain professional boundaries within scope of own role.
• Monitor and review the effectiveness of activity sessions.
• Assist with the resolution of challenges and problems.

Training schedule

Community Activator Coach Level 2.

The apprentice will have an assigned Educator from Heart of England Training who they will meet with regularly via Teams.

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working

Other requirements

DBS, COSHH training, First Aid Training, Safeguarding Course, all to be completed at the start of the apprenticeship.

Travel across various sites is required: 

• Stanway Pool - CO1 0AB 
• Lexden Road - CO3 0AB 
• County High Girls School - CO3 3US 
• Gladwins Farm - CO6 4NU 
• Columbus College - CM1 4JG