Sharon scores a top leisure post

Sharon Pounder has landed her perfect job, and this success has been helped by the BA (Hons) degree in Leisure Management from the University of Teesside. Sharon, 27, from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool is working as a Duty Officer at the new Ormesby Sports Complex in Middlesbrough. Her diverse role involves deputising for the manager and supervising staff. In addition to her degree Sharon will also be awarded the Ede & Ravenscroft prize when she graduates today (Thursday 29 November 1.15pm).

Sharon’s post is the culmination of nearly ten years experience in local authority leisure. She joined Stockton Council’s swimming pool aged 18 as a part-time lifeguard while studying for a City & Guilds leisure qualification at Hartlepool College of Further Education. Sharon then joined the pool full-time, progressing to senior leisure assistant. Over six years later, the pool faced closure for re-development and Sharon herself faced a career crossroads.

Sharon said: “I loved my job and wanted to go further. However, adverts for management posts either asked for years of experience or a degree. I’d already achieved a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) at the University and enjoyed that, so when I saw the new Leisure Management degree advertised, I decided to go for it. I was lucky as the council kept me on in a part-time job.”

She worked five nights a week in the gymnasium at Bishopsgarth School, Stockton. Sharon added: “It wasn’t always easy if I had a 9am lecture when I’d been working late the night before. The effort was worth it, I particularly enjoyed the events management module in my final year, where you worked as a team to devise and produce an event. We put on a mini-football league at Eston Sports Academy, with a group of 64 12-year-olds, who were so talented and enthusiastic.”

The post at Ormesby Sports Complex was advertised to start in January, six months before the degree’s completion. When she clinched the job, Sharon worked full-time for six months and finished the course. Sharon said: “I’d like to thank my manager Jan Ayling, who gave me time off to attend lectures and was very supportive. I’d also like to thank my parents Dennis and Jane, I’ve achieved this degree for them. My mam was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the start of my studies and she’s so pleased about me graduating.”

It wasn’t all work and no play for Sharon, who’s also a Taekwondo enthusiast.

---