David Lloyd Clubs Announces new Leadership Apprenticeship Programme

This National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2022), David Lloyd Clubs (@DavidLloydUK, part of the David Lloyd Leisure Group), Europe’s largest health and leisure group, has partnered with the Remit Training to officially launch a management training programme to support individuals identified as future Heads of Department that combines its internal talent and leadership programmes with tailored apprenticeships.

The newly accredited programme, called ‘Step up to HoD’, (head of department) has been custom designed for those who are aspiring leaders to train and challenge their management and operational skills and to ultimately prepare them for the next step in their career as a future head of department.

The new programme officially launches during National Apprenticeship Week 2022, which runs from 7th -13th February. It has been developed in partnership with apprenticeship specialists Remit Training, to provide a series of internal targeted training programmes for David Lloyd Clubs, which will be delivered by a combination of Remit development coaches and David Lloyd Clubs regional General Manager champions.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week is once again ‘Build the Future’ which continues for its second National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), and focuses on the benefits apprenticeships can have on individuals, businesses, and local communities.

Combining internal talent programmes with the Team Leader Supervisor Level 3 apprenticeship, the Step up to HoD management training programme has been created in line with national apprenticeship standards and is available to nominated team members that have been identified as managers of the future in David Lloyd Clubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

The programme will cover all aspects of the head of department role with a focus on key areas including operational excellence, delivering premium customer experiences, becoming inspirational leaders and a greater commercial understanding of the organisation.

Sue Burton, Apprenticeship Manager at David Lloyd Clubs said,

“We are delighted to launch the new Step up to HoD management apprenticeship programme across all of our UK clubs. Developing and nurturing talent from within the business is something we’re incredibly passionate about. These blended development programmes will give clear guidelines and support for those that aspire to become our future leaders and further demonstrates the rich pool of opportunities that exist within a career in the active leisure sector.”

Michelle Luxford, HR Director at David Lloyd Clubs adds,

“The revised Step up to HOD programme, is part our wider strategy to develop future leaders across all areas of our business to give us the pipeline of talent we need to meet our acquisition and growth plans.”

Sue Pittock. CEO, Remit Training, said,

“It has been fantastic to work alongside David Lloyd Clubs to map out the Step up to HOD programme. There is a misconception that apprenticeships are only for entry level roles, when actually there are a number of apprenticeship programmes available for leaders and managers at every stage of their career, clearly highlighted by the breadth and depth of this initiative. We are delighted to be able to support David Lloyd Leisure’s focus on providing its supervisors with the opportunity to grow, develop and progress within their business.”

In all, more than 200 David Lloyd Leisure employees are expected to have the opportunity to join this programme over the next 12 months.