About us

The Outdoors

The Outdoor sector essentially covers a range of leisure and learning activities undertaken within the natural environment.

This is a diverse sector with private, public, not-for-profit and voluntary operations and an equally varied customer base. Employers are mostly small organisations - 90 per cent of them are micro-businesses with less than 15 employees. This, together with a high reliance on younger, seasonal employees and volunteers creates unique issues for workforce development. 

The National Skills Academy supports employers in the outdoors by providing low-cost training and improved access to needed qualifications and skills for their employees. Employers benefit from access to a wide range of valuable resources aimed at optimising business performance.

Broadly the outdoors can be categorised into five sub-sectors:

  • Outdoor Education Experiential, environmental, physical and social education
  • Outdoor Recreation Organised and self-guided outdoor activities for fun
  • Outdoor Development Training Leadership, team and management development
  • Outdoor Sport Development Competitive performance, instructor and skill development
  • Expeditions and Exploration Planning and delivery of local, national and international expeditions and research

To find out more, please visit our outdoor regional pages.

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  • Exclusive access, member rates and recognition as a contributor to skills in your sector.

 
Part of the SkillsActive Group Our Sponsors Bookmark and Share
  • Greenwich Community College
  • GLL
  • London Development Agency
  • Northwest
  • University of Cumbria
  • Sheffield United
  • University of Cumbria

Registered Office - 2 Kentish Buildings, 125 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1NP.
A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee - Charity Registration No. 1127431 - Registered in England No. 06591156