At each and every Premier Education session, our coaches (we call them activity professionals) host a range of exciting sports and activities, whilst providing excellent childcare. A combination guaranteed to help children learn, develop, and grow. But who are our coaches?

We visited a Norwich school to meet with Luke Dickerson, a long-serving activity professional, team leader and valued member of our Norfolk based franchise. We learned more about what it’s like to be a coach at Premier Education. He provided insight into where his journey started, and how he progressed into coaching as well as his on-the-job daily routine. He also shares useful tips and advice for anyone considering becoming a Premier Education activity professional.

How did you know you were born to be a coach, and what was your route into coaching?

For many of our coaches, sport is a passion that is developed from a young age and eventually impacts their future life choices. This has been the case for Luke as he mentions, “I’ve always enjoyed sports and being involved within it. I’ve also always enjoyed being taught myself.”

Sports played a key role in Luke’s decision when planning his career and he mentions that coaches who mentored him as a child influenced his decision to pursue a coaching role.

“From a young age I’ve got on with the coaches and teachers I’ve had. The way they taught me inspired me to become a coach too.”

The journey was to be long. Tallying up a wealth of experience at each step, he had to be patient whilst making the most of every opportunity that came his way before finding his feet and eventually showcasing the skillset he had developed over time.

“I started very early. I did a Level 2 [sports coaching] apprenticeship and that was for 18 months before going onto a Level 3. From there, I started building my own experiences within schools.”

He adds, “I started on a 2-hour contract, then gradually from there I went up to 30, 35, and then full time eventually picking up leadership roles within the company.”

What’s a typical day in the life of an activity professional?

As a Premier Education activity professional, no day looks the same. It involves a wide variety of tasks that require regular execution. However, it is the delivery of sports and physical activity sessions that take up most of Luke’s day, an aspect of the job he relishes.

“A lot of it is the coaching and it’s quite hands-on but obviously is really exciting. It [involves] going to a school and maybe doing a breakfast club which you go to before the kids get to school. It may be some morning PE and sometimes you have lunch activities too.”

“There is quite a lot of delivery, it’s quite hands-on but at the same time it’s brilliant and you get quite a lot out of it.”

What do you get out of coaching?

Naturally, by spending a lot of time with children and watching them progress, our coaches build great relationships. Not only with the kids but with colleagues as well. Luke agrees and explains what he enjoys most about his role.

“It helps you build relationships with the children especially.”

He continues, “Working at Premier Education you do go to lots of different schools and see lots of different people, building your relationships but I also think it helps you as a person.”

What essential qualities do you need to become a coach?

Becoming a top coach isn’t easy and requires all areas of the role to be executed to a high standard. We discussed this with Luke to further understand what is needed for a coach to be successful. One area that he mentions as critical to consider is time management.

“I think timekeeping is quite a big one so making sure you’re always on time, arriving at a venue on time, and making sure you have enough time to set yourself up.”

In addition, he shares advice for anyone considering becoming a coach in the future.

“The job is an amazing job, but you’ve got to enjoy it. Don’t go into a session thinking it might not be great today because of the weather or anything like that.”

Learn more about becoming a coach at Premier Education today!

At each and every Premier Education session, our coaches (we call them activity professionals) host a range of exciting sports and activities, whilst providing excellent childcare. A combination guaranteed to help children learn, develop, and grow. But who are our coaches?

We sat down with Laura Eagle, Premier Education activity professional, and Brand Development Manager, and discussed her journey so far as a coach at Premier Education. We learn about her route into coaching, what a typical day in her role looks like, what she enjoys about her job as well as a few useful tips for anyone wishing to become a coach in the future.

How did you know you were born to be a coach, and what was your route into coaching?

Performing art sessions have been popular amongst children. Being allowed the freedom to express themselves they come up with creative dance routines, learn new movements, and take part in fun activities.

Laura is a lead for performing arts sessions, it is clear how much she enjoys her role and has established a great connection with the children.

“I’ve always loved working with children and seeing them develop and engage in different activities” she explains.

“I’ve always wanted to inspire children in predominantly performing arts but to also give them new opportunities.”

For many of the children that attend Premier Education camps, our Activity Professionals act as role models, introducing them into a world of fun activities whilst enhancing their development. Each coach comes from a different background with various interests and skillsets. The result is that every coach provides something different, making each holiday camp experience unique.

Laura’s route to coaching was a little different from other activity professionals in our network, such as Jordan. With a passion for performing arts, Laura attended a specialist performing arts college before making the leap to work on cruise ships for 5 years.

She adds, “After that I started coaching performing arts at Premier Education but since being here, I’ve really developed my own career path. I’ve had opportunities to train in different areas and I’m really glad that I made that decision 5 years ago.”

What’s a typical day in the life of an activity professional and what do you get out of coaching?

The landscape as a Premier Education coach changes constantly on a regular basis. From being situated at different venues to coaching a new class of children, working with new colleagues, and delivering a variety of activities, each day as an Activity Professional is never the same as the last.

Laura describes each day as, “always different” and also mentions, “every day is never the same.”

She gives us further clarity on what a normal working day looks like by noting, “Quite often you spend time planning sessions, making sure that sessions delivered are (high) quality before heading out to schools where you could potentially be delivering a full afternoon of P.E. and an after-school activity. We could even end up delivering activities at a Wrap-Around Care session, which we have spread across the country.”

The role is hands-on but, for Laura, witnessing the progression of each child makes it worthwhile.

What essential qualities do you need to become a coach?

Becoming a coach isn’t for everyone. it requires a specific set of skills and characteristics to be successful. When asked what qualities are needed to become a coach, she mentions, “patience for starters but also being open to new challenges, welcoming them with open arms.”

She adds, “I would also say being determined and linking back to patience, having time for the children, and being a good listener helps.”

What would you say to someone who wants to become a Premier Education coach and what is your top tip?

Sharing advice to aspiring coaches, she recommends to “go for it”, adding, “I think every single day is different, so embrace new challenges and take on new opportunities.”

Taking the leap at a young age to work on a cruise ship was a brave decision that paid off in Laura’s route to becoming a coach. Seizing the opportunity opened new doors, and in her top tip, this message is echoed.

“Be open to new opportunities and have patience” she says. “Go with it and enjoy every experience that comes your way.”

Learn more about becoming a coach at Premier Education today!

At each and every Premier Education session, our coaches (we call them activity professionals) host a range of exciting sports and activities, whilst providing excellent childcare. A combination guaranteed to help children learn, develop, and grow. But who are our coaches?

On the road this time, we met with Jordan Rodwell, an activity professional who quickly worked out that sports coaching was the right route for him. Jordan shares insight on his route to becoming a coach, the obstacles he’s had to overcome, and some advice for aspiring coaches that want to join Premier Education or the wider industry in the future.

What was your route into coaching?

Like many other industries, there isn’t one path people must follow to achieve success as a coach. Most people who choose coaching as a career come from a variety of backgrounds with different interests, motivations, and goals.

As for Jordan, his journey began in football, which he played to a good level. Unfortunately, it would be down to an injury that saw his football playing days come to an end. It was then that he turned to coaching.

“When I was younger, I played football to a reasonable standard and, unfortunately, got injured which meant I could no longer play. I then had to take a few years off and decided I wanted to get into football coaching.”

He then details how he progressed into further education to enhance his knowledge in coaching, not only in football but in other sports too.

“I found myself a university course up in Manchester to study football coaching. After spending four years in Manchester, I decided that I wanted to develop my skills and coaching, not only in football but in a range of sports.

He adds, “I’ve now moved down this way, to Norwich, to work at Premier Education and become an activity professional.”

Did you know you were born to be a coach?

From a young age, Jordan was always involved in sports and was unafraid to take the lead when taking part in a new activity.

“I played every sport available during school and I was usually the team captain, so I’ve always been a leader, often giving out instructions to people around me.”

Having a background in sports from a young age had a strong influence on his career choice further down the line.

“As I grew older and couldn’t play sports again, it seemed like a very sensible option for me to go straight into coaching sports.”

What would you say to someone who wants to become a Premier Education activity professional?

Taking the necessary steps toward becoming a coach can be a daunting process for many. However, Jordan supports anyone in this position and encourages them to pursue a career as an activity professional.

But like any career, it’s critical to enjoy what you’re doing on a daily basis.

“You must make sure that you’re passionate about those things to make the job work,” he goes on to say “making it beneficial for yourself and the children you are coaching.”

What’s your top tip for an aspiring coach?

When asked what top advice he would pass on to an aspiring coach, Jordan doubles down on the importance of enjoying your career and shares his thoughts in more detail.

“It’s about being passionate about what you do and what you are delivering at all times, coming to work every day with a smile on your face, and making every session you deliver as fun as possible.”

He adds, “Especially when you’re coaching young kids, they engage much better when everything is fun, and more relaxed as rather than shouting and screaming at them. It makes your life easier and more enjoyable but obviously, the kids enjoy it a lot more.”

Learn more about becoming a coach at Premier Education today!

At each and every Premier Education session, our coaches (we call them activity professionals) host a range of exciting sports and activities, whilst providing excellent childcare. A combination guaranteed to help children learn, develop and grow. But who are our coaches?

We spoke with Alex Peek, a Norfolk-based Activity Professional to learn more about his journey into coaching, what a day in the life of a coach looks like, and get top tips for anyone wanting to take up the role in the future.

How did you know you were born to be a coach, and what was your route into coaching?

From a young age, Alex has always possessed leadership skills which eventually encouraged him to pursue a role in coaching.

“I’ve always been a leader and often quite vocal about things. Also, I’ve always felt that I have a good understanding of sports in general, so coaching was quite natural for me.”

His journey in the industry started at the age of 16, when he landed his first coaching role, which saw him support young children on Saturday morning match days at a local football club.

University was the next step in his development, studying for a degree in Sports Coaching and he picked up extra qualifications along the way. By the time Alex finished his education, he was ready to experience coaching full-time and continue his development in the working world.

“From there (university), I’ve just had more experiences” he explains, “eventually setting up my own coaching business in one-to-one football. Now I’m an Activity Professional here. Coaching is my life really.”

What’s a typical day in the life of an activity professional and what do you get out of coaching?

Any given day is different for an activity professional as the role consists of a wide range of responsibilities. From planning an energetic sports session to delivering a fun afternoon activity, there’s never a dull day as an activity professional at Premier Education.

We managed to get Alex to lift the lid on what a typical day looks like for him as he shares some of his day-to-day activities when he’s working in a school during term time.

“I start (the day) by greeting receptionists and other teachers before setting up for the first activities.”

He adds, “From there I have different lessons with different year [groups] doing different things. Usually, [you’ve prepared] an outline of a lesson and you just run through [the day] like that. That’s a typical school day.”

Delivering sessions and seeing children progress is Alex’s favourite part of the role. Working with a group of kids for a stretch of time allows coaches to observe them as they grow, and support them in achieving their personal best. The activity professionals’ role in the process is pivotal and an enjoyable experience as Alex explains.

“I get to see a lot of the kids progress and not only [with their] technical ability but also in confidence. They show their abilities and seeing from when you first started teaching them to the end, there’s a big difference and that’s quite rewarding.”

What essential qualities do you need to become an activity professional  and what’s your best advice for would-be coaches?

Working with large numbers of children at one time and delivering multiple sessions a day, coaching can be very hands-on.  So, we asked Alex what essential quality he thinks someone needs to become an activity professional at Premier Education…

“I think being organised in the sense that you know what equipment you have, your lesson plans are there, you know what kids [are attending] and you’ve got a [complete] timetable.”

He extends his advice further and shares tips for anyone wanting to become an activity professional in the future by stating: