Outdoor Activity Instructor Apprenticeship (Level 3)

Summary

You’ll spend your days on the water and in the fresh air, developing the skills to deliver sessions such as sailing, kayaking, climbing, and more. You’ll work with children, young people, and adults from all backgrounds, gaining hands-on experience in teaching, coaching, and leadership. No two days are ever the same.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Overtime paid

Training course

Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)

Hours

Typically Monday - Friday (some weekends) 8.30am - 5.00pm. Breaks are 30-minutes and are paid.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 9 November 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

4

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

• Learning the set skills and obtaining the relevant qualifications to safely deliver quality outdoor activity sessions (canoeing, walking, ropes course and archery)
• Learning group management skills to deliver engaging sessions
• Preparation and maintenance of kit

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll work towards nationally recognised outdoor qualifications and develop essential skills that last a lifetime. From teamwork and communication to problem-solving and responsibility, you’ll be building the foundation for a rewarding career in the outdoor industry and beyond. You’ll be supported every step of the way by our welcoming, passionate, and experienced team. They’ll provide guidance, encouragement, and the chance to learn from instructors who love what they do. At Cobnor, we believe in making everyday fun and memorable - for our visitors and our staff.

Where you'll work

Cobnor Activities Centre Trust
Chidham Lane
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 8TE

Training

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

Training provider

LOCOMOTIVATION LTD.

Training course

Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Find information on: the activity type and timings; outcome requirements; participant age; medical information; equipment and resourcing allocation; venue; weather conditions.
• Prepare sessions to achieve the required outcomesg. enjoyment, thrill seeking, personal or team challenges, acquisition of new knowledge or skills.
• Select methods to meet all participant needs g. visual impairment, mental and physical ability.
• Select methods to respond to potential changes in the environmentg. wind increasing in a sailing session or rain making conditions slippery underfoot.
• Collect appropriate equipment and resources.
• Ensure the venue is set-up and ready to be used.
• Maintain self and group safety when delivering the session.
• Deliver an effective session briefing with clear instruction and following organisational procedures.
• Perform a competent demonstration of the skills required for the activity or subject at the appropriate level for the session.
• Provide on-going instruction to encourage learning and progression.
• Follow organisational operating procedures to adapt to changes in the environment. E.g. thunderstorm, a wind shift to offshore in a surfing session.
• Select and implement organisational procedures to deal with routine problems.g. broken equipment.
• Provide basic First Aid to respond to accidents in a safe, prompt and effective manner. e.g. injured participant.
• Initiate organisational procedures to summon support in the case of incidents or accidents.
• Use the organisations set approaches for learning delivery.
• Support individual and group engagement and participation in the session g. energisers, sharing responsibilities, appropriate pace.
• Change the pace of the session to match participants’ speed of learning.
• Identify and support the individual participants’ needs g. give personal attention, active listening, allow additional time, encouragement.
• Apply simple techniques to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour g. redirection, increasing responsibility.
• Use simple review techniques to check the achievement of required outcomes e.g. thumbs up; rounds; memorable moments.
• Signpost participants to progression routes.
• Complete a session within time, including the restoration of the venue, return of equipment and resources and any logging or recording requirements.
• Use participant feedback and own reflection to suggest improvements to sessions.
• Communicate with customers and colleagues in a clear, concise and effective manner.
• Handle information in a way that conforms to policy and protects data.
• Assist with the development and preparation of resources and support colleagues delivering sessions
• Actively encourage whole group participation and promote equality and diversity.
• Undertake activities to further develop knowledge and personal skills.
• Reflect on own performance and make refinements.

Training schedule

Most training courses run at our centre, however we do book apprentices on to external courses if needed. Apprentices can expect to get a mix of nationally recognised qualifications and in-house sign offs.

Some of these may be:

• Sailing - RYA Keelboat Instructor and RYA Dinghy Instructor
• Paddling - PaddleUK Awards (kayak, canoe, paddleboarding)
• Powerboating - RYA Powerboat Level 2 and RYA Safety boat
• First Aid - Level 3 Outdoor First Aid

In house training - T High Ropes, Rafting, Low ropes, Archery, Pioneering, and many more Most of the training will take place from November - April, however we always look to push and develop our staff so expect training to occur throughout the length of the course.

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
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

Some weekend work may be required.