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Leisure, Sport & Tourism

Tourism is Britain's third largest industry, with employment growth in the sector which is above average for the economy as a whole. By 2006, it is estimated that one in five of all new jobs will be in hospitality as employment in the hotels and catering sector is forecast to rise by 15%. Nationally, approximately 2m are employed in the tourism sector, 1.85m in the hotel and catering industry, and over 500,000 in sport and recreation.

Yorkshire has a large and expanding tourism sector, employing over 165,000 people, representing over 7% of the workforce. There is significant activity in cities and towns as well as country-based settings such as tourism destinations, resorts and out of town facilities. Websites of the appropriate professional bodies for each sub sector can provide searchable databases that give a more regional picture of employers and opportunities in the Yorkshire area.

This sector is wide ranging and employment options are numerous, including hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars, contract catering conference and event management, tour operation, travel agencies, tourist boards and information (public and private sector), tourism consultancy, sports administration, fitness and leisure facilities, coaching and sports development.

The range of work varies from client-facing services emphasising customer care in food, drink or hotel settings, to strategic and developmental planning in a tourism or leisure area. Workers can progress quickly through, for example, the hospitality sector from non-professional positions but the sector offers many opportunities for graduates, often with related experience through placement, part-time and vacational work or with extracurricular activity, eg. performance or coaching in sport. Specialist skills in IT, marketing, information services and HR are often utilised in the area overall.

Tourism related qualifications can be studied at undergraduate level at the Universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Metropolitan, Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam and at York St John College. Postgraduate level qualifications in tourism are on offer at Hull, Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam.

Hospitality degrees can be studied at Huddersfield University, Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam with postgraduate level courses also on offer at Leeds Trinity and All Saints. Degrees in

Leisure related studies are available at the following universities in the region: Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and at Leeds Trinity and All Saints and York St John Colleges. At postgraduate level, leisure qualifications are on offer at Hull, Leeds Metropolitan, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Trinity and All Saints College.

There are numerous non-degree level courses on offer at the various Further Education Colleges in the region - use the 'Quick Search' facility on the 'hotcourses' link below for details.

Useful links:

Yorkshire Tourist Board

The Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) was established in 1971 as a partnership of public bodies and private sector operators interested in developing sustainable tourism and the benefits it brings to the region.

To locate specific tourist offices within the region, please use the link below:

Telephone: 01904 707961

312 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1GS

Yorkshire Tourist Board Business Advice

This is the official business-to-business website for the tourism industry in Yorkshire, with information about businesses within the tourism sector, on how to start your own business within this sector and the grants available, and containing research and statistics about tourism in this region.

hotcourses

Use the 'Quick Search' facility on the following page to find out about the courses available in tourism, hospitality and leisure in the Yorkshire region:

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

The DCMS's aim is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

Vacancy sources

Careers in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.