Reposted 9 days ago

Lifeguard

Places Leisure
Pay Estimated pay: £12.00-13.85 per hour

Location London
Contract time Part time

The Breakroom Take

7.5

Rated 7.5 out of 10, based on 274 employees who took the Breakroom Quiz

See all job reviews

  • Great team mates
  • People enjoy this job
  • Good employer
  • Pays all ages fairly
  • Recommended by students
  • Recommended by parents
  • Respectful managers
  • Proper training
  • Proper breaks

About Places Leisure

Places Leisure is a Scottish fitness company.

Job description from Places Leisure

We are Places for People Group, we're a social enterprise that believes it's people that make a community. That's why we build homes and deliver services for everyone in the community to thrive. At Places Leisure we are changing lives by creating active places and healthy people for communities to thrive, and we want to be the UK's leading health and wellbeing enabler.

We aren't your typical company. We apply the same philosophy to our People as we do to our communities, ensuring our team is appreciated and supported. At Places for People, you're more than just a number - you're part of our cause.

More about your role

We have an exciting new opportunity as a Lifeguard at Places Leisure, where you will be working in a fun, lively environment with likeminded people. You will help to inspire others to work together and deliver their very best.

A National Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) would be beneficial, however if you are safety conscious, a competent swimmer and eager to gain valuable life skills, then with our continuous learning and development opportunities, we would be happy to support you in achieving this qualification.

There are many opportunities available for you within Places Leisure. Starting your career with us as a Lifeguard is a great first step to many different routes including Operational Management, Sales, Fitness or Customer Service.

In the Lifeguard Role, we will offer ongoing training & competency assessments as well as opportunities for first aid at work training, swimming teacher qualifications and a variety of apprenticeship routes.

A National Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) is essential.

More about you

  • You will be responsible for the supervision of our customers and other lifeguards using our swimming and pool facilities.
  • You will always act safely whilst holding responsibility for the Health and Safety of all pool users and oversee the operations of the building.
  • You will have excellent attention to detail, ensuring the safety of our customers whilst they are enjoying the use of our facilities.
  • You will have a passion for delivering first class customer service and deal with customers in a friendly and professional manner whilst going above and beyond to deliver the highest of standards.
  • You will have an eye for first class cleanliness and will put this into action whenever required.

Benefits

We are a large, diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

  • We align with the Real Living Wage foundation
  • A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%
  • Full Health & Fitness membership for you, a nominated adult and up to 4 juniors
  • Flexible working (including part time working, shift work and more)
  • An opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
  • Lots of opportunity to access ongoing personal learning and development
  • Access to our Company Pension scheme
  • Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
  • Discounts of up to 50% on activities, centre shop and cafes
  • Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.

What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then click apply. You will be redirected to our careers site where you can discover more about the role, read a full job description and apply directly to us.

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities.

Map

London

A map of the rough location for this vacancy

What employees say

Pay

    Good
  • Most people are paid a living wage

    Do Places Leisure pay lifeguards enough to live on?

    Most people are paid a living wage.

    How we know this

    92% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.

    Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should be paid enough to live on.

    The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.

    The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.

    Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.

  • Good
  • Most people are paid market rates

    Do Places Leisure pay lifeguards market rates?

    Most people are paid above average for their job.

    How we know this

    95% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.

    Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get paid breaks

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure get paid breaks?

    Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.

    How we know this

    59% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.

    Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job should have paid breaks.

    You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people don’t get sick pay

    Do Places Leisure pay lifeguards sick pay?

    No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.

    How we know this

    90% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.

    Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.

    At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.

    This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.

  • Good
  • Most people don’t do unpaid extra work

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure do extra work that they don't get paid for?

    Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.

    How we know this

    78% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.

    Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.

Hours and flexibility

    Okay
  • Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts

    How much notice do lifeguards get of their shift pattern at Places Leisure?

    Only some people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.

    How we know this

    • 23% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
    • 26% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
    • 14% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
    • 37% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.

    Based on data from 43 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.

    This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.

  • Okay
  • Some people worry about their hours

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure worry about hours?

    Some people worry about getting enough hours.

    How we know this

    44% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.

    Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.

    A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.

    This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.

  • Good
  • Most people get a choice of shifts

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure get to choose the shifts they work?

    Most people get enough choice over which shifts they work.

    How we know this

    75% report that their manager gives them enough choice over which shifts they work.

    Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.

  • Okay
  • Can be hard to change shifts

    How easy is it for lifeguards at Places Leisure to change shifts?

    Some people find it hard to change shifts.

    How we know this

    34% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.

    Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.

  • Good
  • Easy to book holiday

    How easy is it for lifeguards to book a holiday at Places Leisure?

    Most people find it easy to book holiday.

    How we know this

    78% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.

    Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.

  • Good
  • Shifts don’t get changed at short notice

    Do Places Leisure managers change lifeguards shifts at short notice?

    Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.

    How we know this

    78% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.

    Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.

  • Good
  • Most people find it easy to take sick leave

    How easy is it for lifeguards to take sick leave at Places Leisure?

    Most people find it easy to take sick leave.

    How we know this

    67% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.

    Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.

    A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.

  • Good
  • Most students say it’s good

    Is lifeguards at Places Leisure job good for students?

    Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.

    How we know this

    100% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.

    Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.

    Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.

Workplace

    Good
  • Most people feel treated with respect

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure feel treated with respect by their managers?

    Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.

    How we know this

    76% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.

  • Good
  • Most people get proper breaks

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure get proper breaks?

    Most people get proper breaks.

    How we know this

    78% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.

    Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.

  • Okay
  • Some people are stressed

    Is it stressful for lifeguards to work at Places Leisure?

    Some people feel stressed here.

    How we know this

    47% of people say they often feel stressed at work.

    Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.

    Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.

  • Good
  • Most people enjoy their job

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure enjoy their jobs?

    Most people enjoy their job.

    How we know this

    81% of people report they enjoy their job.

    Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

  • Good
  • Most people recommend their team

    Do lifeguards at Places Leisure recommend working with their team?

    Most people recommend working with their team.

    How we know this

    76% of people report that they would recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.

    Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job means enjoying the place where you work.

    The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.

    If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.

  • Good
  • Most people get enough training

    Do lifeguards get enough training when they start at Places Leisure?

    Most people got enough training when they started.

    How we know this

    85% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.

    Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.

    This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.

    It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get support to progress

    Are lifeguards given support to progress at Places Leisure?

    Only some people are given support to progress here.

    How we know this

    In the last year, 50% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.

    Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.

    This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.

  • Okay
  • Head office only partly understands what’s happening

    Do lifeguards think Places Leisure head office understands what's happening where they work?

    Some people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.

    How we know this

    60% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.

    Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.

    To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.

  • Okay
  • Only some people feel well informed by head office

    Do lifeguards feel well informed about how Places Leisure is doing?

    Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.

    How we know this

    54% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.

    Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2025 and December 2025.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.

    You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.

Find out more about working at Places Leisure

What Places Leisure employees say about their job

  • Best thing

    Being able to plan my own sessions and watching the children improve

    Worst thing

    Being controlled by a management who has no idea what they’re doing. And a management only focused on the amount of kids in the gym not how well the kids are doing progressing

    7.0

    Gymnastics coach at Places Leisure, April 2025

  • Best thing

    My co-workers at my job make it a barnacle experience

    Worst thing

    The people we have to deal with sometimes

    8.4

    Lifeguard at Places Leisure, January 2025

See more reviews
  • Best thing

    My colleagues are friendly

    Worst thing

    The stress, the lack of staff, the lack of resources, focus on building rather than the staff. When someone leaves they drop all do the responsibility onto a small team than employ more. Constantly cut budgets leaving all departments so fragile that if anyone calls in sick (which happens often) they whole system falls apart

    3.0

    Duty manager at Places Leisure, July 2023

  • Best thing

    Flexible hours, positive environment

    Worst thing

    Lifeguards are overworked and treated like everyones servants. This means our actual set tasks dont get completed

    7.3

    Lifeguard at Places Leisure, May 2023

  • Best thing

    The team

    Worst thing

    Pay and head office

    8.4

    Manager at Places Leisure, September 2022

  • Best thing

    The people/team you work with

    Worst thing

    The management/lack of respect shown.

    6.7

    Employee at Places Leisure, August 2022

  • Best thing

    People

    Worst thing

    Understaffed = Double workload

    7.3

    Lifeguard at Places Leisure, February 2022

  • Best thing

    customers

    Worst thing

    high maintenance and stressful

    8.0

    Cleaner at Places Leisure, December 2021

  • Best thing

    Friendly colleagues
    Free membership
    Socialable

    Worst thing

    Having too much to do so not taking breaks
    Running 4 different departments
    Phone always ringing
    Understaffed

    7.8

    Assistant manager at Places Leisure, June 2021

  • Best thing

    Amazing management and the business is always trying to help you progress in life in whichever direction you want to head in within the sector. Co workers are great and everyone gets along

    Worst thing

    Lack of attention to lower income centres, the higher up management don’t seem too bothered about the state of the changing rooms despite an incredible amount of complaints. But there really isn’t many negatives, places leisure really do have your best interests at heart and do want to see you do well in life

    7.3

    Senior lifeguard at Places Leisure, November 2020

  • More reviews from Places Leisure employees

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