The outdoors industry is diverse encompassing the ‘traditional’ areas of outdoor education, outdoor recreation and development training, and the more recently defined sub-sectors: explorations and expeditions and outdoor sport development.  The industry falls within the following Standard Industrial Classifications (SICs):

• 9272 Other recreational activities
• 5521 Youth hostels and mountain refuges
• 9262 Other sporting activities
• 9261 Operation of sports arenas and stadia
• 5523 Other provision of lodgings n.e.c.
• 8042 Adult and other education n.e.c.
• 7122 Renting of water transport equipment
• 2932 Manufacture of other agricultural and forestry machinery

Compared to the other industries, employers in the outdoors industry in England are more likely to have arranged training (72%).

In 2004, over 500 students entered higher education in the outdoors industry, an increase of 59% since 1999.  64% of those entrants were male.  The gender imbalance has widened during 1999-2004.  In 1999, 57% of entrants were males and  43% were females.  Entrants are also more likely to be over 21 years.

Over the next 5-10 years, a number of trends will affect the industry, including:

• declining numbers of volunteers resulting from the litigation culture and the need for funding for training
• potential restrictions in access to inland water and the countryside
• industry concerns about overuse of the countryside by various groups of people impacting negatively on the physical condition of national parkland, lakes and woodland limited open access because of urbanisation

34% of employers have had one skills shortage vacancy.

Source: Assessment of Current Provision – England 2006 and Skills Needs Assessment – England 2005