This week, FE News hears from key players in the sport and active leisure industry about the importance of learning practical skills and being able to apply this knowledge in a particular line of work.

"With unemployment rates hitting an all time high, practically based qualifications can give learners a foot in the door; a head start into their career. Increasingly, we are hearing that employers rank 'hands-on' experience as more valuable than academic qualifications. Ultimately, through vocational qualifications individuals can gain an array of transferrable and 'on the job' skills," says Florence Orban, chief executive of the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Sport and Active Leisure.

"Gaining the right qualifications in sport or active leisure provides the chance to turn a hobby or sporting passion into a career, while filling sector skills gaps at the same time," Ms Orban continues.

Trevor Graham, 28, has done just that. With the support of the Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund, Trevor has completed the Sutton Council and Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust's Community Activator programme to help residents of Sutton lead more active and healthy lifestyles.

The Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund subsidises the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in sports and physical activity. In addition, the Legacy Fund can up-skill those already involved, leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. The programme is part of the London Mayor's multi-million pound investment into the city's sporting infrastructure and is managed by The National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

Mr Graham completed a four day course, hosted by National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure recognised training provider Central YMCA, and gained a Level 2 in Fitness Instructing and the insurance needed to lead community sport, health and physical activity sessions. He says; "I felt the programme was a great introduction into the health and fitness business. There was a complete mixed bag of people on my course but we all had one thing in common, we all wanted to help our communities active."

Now fully qualified as a Community Activator, Mr Graham leads 30 minute activity sessions, three mornings a week involving a warm up, full body workout and cool down. He says; "My aim is to help my class achieve their recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day. The first few sessions were hard for some of them, but they persevered and now I have between five and 15 people turning up to each session. It is great fun for all involved!"

Operations director of Healthy Lifestyle Activities Provider, Fit For Sport, Craig Jones confirms the value of vocational learning; "The health and fitness industry is an attractive industry and individuals can learn valuable, role relevant skills through vocational qualifications.

"Rather than spending hours in the classroom, individuals can now benefit from learning real life skills, on the job. Providers are also able to tailor their training programmes specifically to meet the needs of the business and of their customers."

A perfect example of how vocational qualifications can benefit both individuals and employers is 21 year old, Michael Phelan. Three years ago Mr Phelan was living on the streets and jobless. Today, he has transformed his life and is completing a Level 2 Activity Leader NVQ with Fit for Sport.

Mr Phelan leads children's activity camps, he says: "Working with children in an active environment gives me a sense of achievement I had never before experienced. Because the programme is work-based, I am able to learn while I earn; I really feel that I can make something of myself now."

Mr Jones of Fit For Sport says: "Throughout Michael's training and placement he began to understand the need for professionalism and trust within our organisation, building positive relationships with schools, parents and most importantly the children responded to him. We look forward to Michael obtaining his full framework and becoming a key member of the Fit For Sport team for years to come."

For more information, visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk/mayorslegacy or www.fitforsport.co.uk