The sector generates £1.1 billion in annual value added to the North West.  49,900 people are employed in the sector, including 3,700 self-employed.  This accounts for 1.6% of the regional workforce and 10.9% of all sector jobs in the UK.  There is estimated to be nearly 797,300 volunteers working in the sector accounting for 83% of the total workforce.  In the future volunteers will require increased skill levels, knowledge, competence and professionalism.  Average annual growth in employment was 5% in 2002.

At a sub-regional level, employment is:

• 15,500 Greater Manchester
• 12,000 Merseyside
• 11,500 Lancashire
• 7,000 Cheshire and Warrington
• 4,000 Cumbria

There are approximately 3,800 sport and recreation businesses units in the region.  67% of the businesses employ less than 10, compared to 81% across all sectors in the region.  Some of the well known companies operating in the region include: over 12 professional football teams; county cricket club; rugby league clubs; rugby union clubs; and Aintree and Chester race courses.  The growing infrastructure for the sector was developed by the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth games.

Key statistics on the sector in the region:

• 54% of the workforce are female, which is expected to increase
• 47% of the workforce are employed part-time
• jobs are expected to increase by 7,900 between 2002-2008
• a high turnover rate is expected with 30% of current jobs needing to be filled up to 2008, equivalent to 15,500 jobs

32% of employers are expecting employment levels to increase, whilst 5% forecast a decrease.  An estimated 9,000 new jobs will be available in the sector by 2010 and 16,000 jobs will need replacing. 

Occupational recruitment will include: coaches and instructors (33% of all recruitment); operational staff (25%); and non-managerial support staff (20%).  There are 130,000 active coaches in the region, both paid and voluntary, of which 4,000 work for local authorities.  There are more unpaid coaches than paid coaches.

30% of businesses have vacancies and 38% of all businesses had one hard-to-fill vacancy.  Internal skills gaps are reported in 24% of sector businesses in the region which equates to 13% of the workforce.  Skills that need development include: communication skills; team working and customer handling skills.

SALSPA, the Sport and Active Leisure Productivity Alliance, was formed in 2003 and brings together key public sector organisations to support the sector.  One of the organisation’s aims is to demonstrate the career routes and employment opportunities across the sector by emphasising the transferability of skills, career progression and the opportunities for all.

The strongest regional concentration of learners (19%) is in the North West with 35,000 learners in further education studying sport and recreation related courses.  21% of students achieving sports science first degree are in the region (2,650) and 885 other or higher qualifications.  Two universities in the region have a 5* rating for research in sports related subjects.

Source: SALSPA 2005 and SkillsActive regional fact sheet

For statistics on employment in the sector by region and indsutry see: