GLL is currently recruiting for our 2025 Graduate Trainee Manager intake to join us in either London, Hertfordshire or Belfast. As a Graduate Trainee Manager, you will have a genuine passion for leisure, sport, and fitness, and will be interested in leisure management.
If this resonates with you, then the GLL Graduate Trainee Manager programme could be for you. The Graduate Trainee Manager opportunity is open to external Leisure Graduates across the UK and existing GLL staff (a degree is not a requirement of internal candidates).
Working for GLL is more than just a job. It represents a pathway to building a career with the largest charitable social enterprise in the UK.
The programme starts in September 2025 and is available across GLL's regional hub locations including London, Hertfordshire, and Belfast. In addition to our regional hub locations, there will be opportunities to work in our other partnerships throughout the two-year programme.
We will collaborate with you on placement locations that align with both the business needs and your preferences, based on your hub location. The remuneration package is subject to the location offered.
About the graduate trainee manager programme
This award-winning programme is a two-year placement and development programme that aims to fast-track talented individuals into Assistant Manager roles and nurture the senior managers of the future. Many of our current Directors and General and Assistant Managers came through the Trainee Manager programme. There is no other programme like it in the Industry.
Leisure managers operate within multifaceted business environments and are responsible for centers' operations, leadership, and customer engagement, technical, programming, marketing, and financial management. The Trainee Manager programme helps you prepare for these challenges.
Our demanding two-year training programme for graduates includes hands-on work experience in all aspects of leisure provision. The programme is based on the simple principle that to be an exceptional leisure centre manager, you need to know, understand, and be proficient in key front-line and supervisory roles.
As a result, our Trainee Managers undertake key front-line placements (concierge, fitness instructor, and lifeguard) in year one, and supervisory placements (Duty Manager & Supervisor roles) in year two of the programme. There are also two strategic placements to support business projects, gain experience in HR, and strengthen networks with senior managers. Additionally, you will complete statutory, management, and modular training throughout the two years.
What you need
You will need a degree or equivalent qualification (a Level 5 sports, leisure or business-related qualification is an advantage) and be:
- Customer-focused
- Business-driven
- Committed to a career in leisure management
- Share our social enterprise values
- Flexible
- Willing to travel within the UK
- Hard-working
- A competent swimmer
- Capable of embracing this fast-track programme
What we offer
As a charitable social enterprise owned by its staff GLL has a great range of benefits for its employees:
- A salary of £32,120.09
- A Values driven organisation
- Learning & development to support career development
- Good Pension schemes
- Discounted gym membership for you and your partner.
- A full time permanent position
- Industry leading rates of pay
- opportunity to join the GLL Society and have a say in how we are run plus associated social events
- Exclusive discounts on our villas in Portugal
- Exclusive discounts on our Ski chalets in Bulgaria
- Health assurance
- Career pathways, professional development are just the start. To ensure you stay at the top of your game, we provide training with practical and theory elements too.
- Discounts across thousands of retailers (GLL Extras)
- 25% off Red Letter Days
- 25% off Buy A Gift
- 20% off GLL spa experience treatments and associated products.
- Ride to work scheme
- Free eye tests and discounted glasses
The recruitment process
- Apply for the vacancy.
- Your CV will be reviewed.
- You will be sent a link to complete an application.
- If your CV has been successful, you will be invited to telephone interview.
- If the answers to your telephone interview is successful, we will then invite you to an Assessment Day.
- Offers will be made within 2 weeks of attending the assessment centre
About GLL
As the UK’s largest leisure operator and charitable social enterprise, we offer a range of careers for everyone in our local communities. We manage over 400 facilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including public sport and leisure centres, elite sporting venues, libraries and children’s centres. Our people are from the communities we serve and help us make real changes in their local area.
One of our core values is ‘More than a Job’, because working with us opens up a wide range of possibilities and opportunities for you, starting with how you work with us. To make sure we’re having a positive impact on our people, we also offer some flexible and part-time working options so you can make sure your new job works for you.
Subject to vacancies, whether you are after a contractual commitment and a regular work schedule or the freedom of flexible hours, you may be able to choose an arrangement that works best for you and play your part in improving the health and wellbeing of your community. We offer two different types of work arrangements:
- A permanent employment contract - part time and full time
- A flexible worker engagement by joining our flexible worker pool
If you are looking for a regular number of hours that you can work, and are flexible to meet the needs of a 7 day a week service, then a full-time or part-time permanent contract might be the right choice for you.
So whether your ambitions lie in sport and leisure, events & catering, health & beauty, corporate support or working with children, you’ll be able to find your ideal new job at GLL. Passionate about seeing our communities thrive, we invest back into our facilities, projects and people and are Investors in People Gold Award employer.
However you choose to work with us, you can be sure that you will be a valued member of our team, working with great colleagues, and making a real difference to people’s lives.
We are an inclusive employer. We seek and welcome diversity in our teams. All pay rates are subject to skills, experience, qualifications and location.
