Work Experience

To support our links with local schools and colleges, we offer work experience placements.  Our placements have proven popular with those wishing to experience life in a health club setting and we have received positive feedback about our placements.  

Students must be prepared to be active and involved as we try to limit watching someone else do their job to an absolute minimum.  This means actively undertaking elements of the Recreation Assistant role (as you won’t be qualified to, we won’t expect you to life guard but you will spend time on poolside). 

You must be confident about communicating with others and actively aiming to work in the leisure industry, rather than just looking to find a venue to fill your work experience week.   We will take you through all health and safety and fire evacuation procedures.  We will check how much you have learnt by assessing your Work Journal at the end of the week - so you must be prepared to complete the work with interest and enthusiasm.

You will gain knowledge of the Club and how we expect our employees to conduct themselves by experiencing an element of our induction process, as if you were a new employee joining the team. 

During the placement you’ll report to the Duty Manager who’ll act as your guide through the activities.  You’ll meet other members of the team so that you can seek the answers to questions set within your week’s Activity Journal. 

You’ll be able to take part in at least one exercise class and give us your feedback on the experience as if you were a customer (and find out how fit you are!).  You’ll spend some time in our Creche and help with a pre-school children’s activity drop in session (eg trampolining or soft play) and undertake all other operational aspects of the role of Recreation Assistant.  This may include simple maintenance and light cleaning duties, administration tasks (eg preparing posters and other advertising literature) and see first hand the work of our Reception, where we meet and greet our customers. 

We’ve been so impressed with two of our past students that they’ve gone on to join the team as Children’s Activities Assistants.  This role can be undertaken (with your parent/guardian’s consent) from aged 15.  We therefore believe that our work experience programme presents students with the perfect opportunity to prove themselves as a potential employee.

How to apply for work experience 
If you feel you’ve got what it takes to be a star work experience student and would like to apply for a placement please write to our HR Manager or by email chemv@christs-hospital.org.uk.  You’ll need to know your placement dates as given to you by your school or college.

Places are subject to availability and are limited to two students per week.  You will be required to provide/arrange written confirmation from your school or college that your absence is approved if you are offered a placement.

When writing to apply for a placement you must tell us;

• Why you have chosen Bluecoat Sports for work experience
• What qualities and attributes you will bring to the Club during your week with us
• Your future career plans
• Your sports and leisure interests and any other relevant activities (eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, other    volunteer work) to support your application.

We receive many requests and select students based on their performance in the above task, therefore we ask that you take responsibility for telling us about you rather than leaving it up to your parent or guardian (or school/college) to convince us that you'd like to spend some time with us.  Most importantly we want to hear about you from you!  

Please note that a number of local schools and colleges secure dates with us before assigning particular students to the placement dates.  If your school has arranged your placement with us already, you will still be expected to complete the above task and your place will only be confirmed if this is satisfactorily completed. 

If selected you will receive written confirmation which will also confirm details relating to start and finish times, what to wear and to bring with you.   For your own welfare we will ask you to provide us with details of any disability or elements of medical history/requirements that we should be aware of.

Dates already secured by local schools/colleges

The following dates have already been secured by local schools/colleges as follows:

7-11 June 2009 - Steyning Grammar School

5-9 July 2009 - Weald School

Creche Work Experience Placements
If you would like to apply for a placement within our on site Crèche you will need to apply as described above.  Please note that you will only be able to undertake the placement during the operating hours of the Crèche which are; 8.30am to mid-day, Monday to Friday and unfortunately we cannot accommodate you within the Club environment after mid-day.  You will be responsible for organizing your own transport back to your school or home environment. 

Christs Hospital Nursery Work Experience Placements
As the Christ’s Hospital Nursery School operates separately to the Club, you must apply directly to the Nursery Manager for a work experience placement.  Please contact the Nursery Manager on 01403 247446.