Katie Wild
Katie Wild (18) completed a NVQ 2 with Lifetime in Operations last year. Currently a full-time Lifeguard at Hungerford Leisure Centre, she was promoted to her present position on the strength of her successful apprenticeship.
She comments: “When I started the NVQ in May 2005, I was a part-time Lifeguard and my Contract Manager suggested that it would be a good idea to undertake some training. I found the NVQ pretty easy to fit in around my job and was able to work through the syllabus in just under six months. I think that it helped me to develop my lifeguarding skills and I feel that I’ve also gained a much broader understanding of the health and fitness industry as a whole.”
During her apprenticeship, Katie’s assessor asked her if there were any other training courses or qualifications that she was interested in pursuing. Katie explains: “I was quite interested in learning to teach swimming, so Steve (her Lifetime assessor) made some enquiries and booked me on to an ASA Assistant Swimming Teacher course. I must admit that I probably wouldn’t have done the course if it hadn’t been for Steve’s encouragement, but I’m now very glad I did it, as I’m really enjoying assisting with swimming lessons at the leisure centre.”
Having reaped the benefits from her first NVQ, Katie is now studying one day a week at Newbury College to get a second NVQ at level 2 in Play Work. She knows that this will help with her job role during the holidays, when she will be able to apply the skills and knowledge she has gained to her work on the children’s play schemes.