Leisure Team Member Apprenticeship Offers Ai-Resistant Career Pathway for Young People
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As youth unemployment rises and traditional entry-level roles continue to decline, the leisure sector is emerging as a practical and resilient route into employment, offering young people a people-focused career pathway that is less vulnerable to automation.
Excel Me, an End Point Assessment Organisation, is supporting this shift through its delivery of the Level 2 Leisure Team Member Apprenticeship, helping employers and training providers create structured and accessible routes into long-term careers within the sector.
At a time when automation is reshaping industries such as retail and hospitality, roles within leisure remain rooted in human interaction, safety and real-world decision making. These roles rely on communication, judgement and accountability, making them far less susceptible to replacement by AI technologies.
The Leisure Team Member standard reflects this, combining operational, customer-facing and safety-critical responsibilities, from lifeguarding and fitness instruction to front-of-house engagement. It provides a broad foundation for young people entering the workforce, while supporting the development of transferable skills that are valued across multiple industries.
Excel Me, aligned to the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA), brings sector-specific expertise to the assessment of this standard. Its team of assessors has direct experience across leisure and hospitality environments, ensuring apprentices are evaluated against both technical criteria and the practical realities of the role.
The organisation has also demonstrated strong delivery outcomes, with the last 22 certifications achieving a 100 percent success rate. This reflects both the quality of assessment and the strength of the apprenticeship pathway when supported effectively by employers and training providers.
Zac Cheek, Head of Apprenticeships at Excel Me, said:
Youth unemployment is at its highest level in over a decade, with a 14 percent rise among 18 to 24-year-olds at the start of this year, and around one in six young people who want to work currently unable to find a job. That creates a real risk of a lost generation as traditional entry-level roles continue to decline.
What we are seeing in leisure is a very different picture. These are roles that are built around people, communication and responsibility, and they simply cannot be automated in the same way as many other sectors.
The Leisure Team Member apprenticeship provides a clear and structured route into employment, giving young people the opportunity to gain practical experience, develop confidence and build a long-term career.
The results we are seeing also demonstrate the strength of the model, with recent cohorts achieving a 100 percent success rate when apprentices are supported in the right way.”
The apprenticeship also supports broader workforce challenges within the sector, where skills shortages remain a concern. By creating accessible entry points for younger learners, employers can build sustainable talent pipelines while offering individuals meaningful and flexible employment.
With increasing demand for roles that offer stability, purpose and long-term employability, the Leisure Team Member Apprenticeship is well positioned as a modern alternative to more uncertain entry-level pathways.
For more information about training company and employer partnerships, please contact Zac via Excel Me website
