Why work for Robinwood as an activity instructor?
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Permanent Employment
Robinwood centres run year round and this enables us to offer permanent contracts to the vast majority of our staff team. If you successfully complete your initial contract, we would plan to offer you a permanent contract for year round employment with Robinwood starting on either 1st March or 1st May the following year.
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National recognition as a 'Best Company to Work For'
We achieved star recognition for 2008 as a 'Best Company to Work For'. Assessment takes place through surveys anonymously completed by staff. We have also been recognised as an 'Investors in People' company since 2000 and previously been overall winners of a national training award.
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The best training package around
All activity instructor staff take part in a staff induction training course before they take charge of any groups of children. By the end of the initial training course, instructors will have been trained and assessed to look after a group of children throughout a Robinwood course. The induction course includes training and assessment for the following NGB qualifications: BCU open canoeing 2 star and canoe safety test and outdoor emergency first aid. Many other nationally recognised qualifications will be offered within on-going training, once your employment period has started.
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Competitive wages
Everyone at Robinwood is paid at least the full adult rate of the national minimum wage. No one is on the reduced hourly rates that are often paid in the outdoor jobs industry to staff aged 21 or under and those on specific recognised training schemes ... however we believe our training package is second to none! Staff also have various opportunities to earn a higher hourly rate.
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A reasonable workload and good holidays
Within the outdoor industry, people can typically work long hours with limited days off. We aim to offer a reasonable working week, enabling staff to do a great job within a reasonable work life balance. We do still have busy weeks, but staff work a maximum of 48 hours per week and get at least two days off every week. Over the course of a season staff work an average of 35 hours per week and get an average of 3 days off per week. Robinwood staff also get six weeks of paid holiday each year.
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Great opportunities for career development
Robinwood promote from within. The best staff with the right management qualities have great opportunities to progress and many have been promoted to assistant manager within two or three years of starting work for Robinwood. Management training as well as instructor training, is included within the Robinwood training programme.
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The best social and activity events programme
Robinwood organises and pays for many social events throughout the year, including a meal out at the end of each season paid for by Robinwood. There are a range of activity days including for example indoor karting and paintballing available free of charge. Robinwood also runs 3 day staff residential trips at Easter and outdoor expeditions at the start of the August break.
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A child centred approach
At Robinwood although you will instruct a range of activity sessions, you are responsible for the complete care of a group of children including breaktime, mealtime and night time supervision. As a group leader you will work an intensive three day period and have the chance to really get to know your group, which is great. The teachers like it, the Robinwood staff like it and the children like it.
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Performance related bonus payments
At the end of each season (ie. 3 times a year) we pay thousands of pounds in performance related bonuses to our centre based staff. We believe that the quality of centre based staff is the biggest single factor in the success of Robinwood. If you make the difference, then we feel it is only fair that you should share the rewards.
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A profit bonus
We are keen for staff to take the opportunity to develop a career with Robinwood. In recognition of the commitment made and your contribution to the success of Robinwood, from the start of your third year working with Robinwood onwards, you will also qualify for a profit related bonus.
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We listen to your views and you can make a difference
We are a growing company, but throughout our growth we have listened and responded to the views of staff. You will have plenty of opportunity to put forward your ideas, to make a valued contribution and to make a difference as part of an enthusiastic staff team.
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Be part of a winning team
At Robinwood we get a 90 per cent re-booking rate from schools that attend our courses, with glowing praise about the quality of our activity staff and our courses for junior school groups. Teachers who had attended residential courses with their schools were asked how they felt about the staff team: 97% of those who had visited Robinwood said delighted, but only 62% of those who had visited other centres said delighted.
This was the fourth time that I have visited the centre and it just gets better each time. The centre is not happy to settle for anything less than excellent and improves every time. The staff are outstanding. I have a disabled pupil wanting to visit next year and the course leader was happy to sit down for quite some time and discuss how activities could be adapted to suit his needs. Excellent - superb value for money!
Hoole St Michael's CE Primary School, Much Hoole
