Gemma who lives in Poole, Dorset graduated from the BTEC L3 Sport course in 2017. She is currently a fully qualified RYA Instructor working in France at one of Rockley’s five activity centres.
What school did you go to? I went to St Edwards CofE School in Dorset
How did you choose the Rockley BTEC Level 3 Sport? I went to a careers fair where I met and spoke to the Rockley team. I subsequently went to one of their Open Days and realised that this course was exactly what I was looking for.
Did you have any previous sailing or watersports experience? I had been to Rockley’s Poole Park centre on a Primary School trip when I was younger but had no other sailing or watersports experience before starting the course.
What qualifications did you graduate with? I graduated with my RYA Dinghy and Windsurf Instructor qualification, RYA Powerboat Level 2 and RYA First Aid.
Where are you now? I am currently working in France for Rockley as an Activity Instructor, making full use of my qualifications and enjoying life!
What were the best bits of the course? What I loved most about the course was the mixture of theory and practical work. The practical was a lot of fun, working as a team and getting to meet so many new people who are now friends for life. I learnt a lot.
Was it different to what you expected? I was open minded when I joined the course, not really knowing what to expect, but it was very enjoyable and I now have valuable qualifications which I can use worldwide.
What is next for you? Where would you like to be next year? Next year I hope to gain further experience working for Rockley. They have a great scheme where staff can further their qualifications whilst working for them. As for the long term future, I’m planning to go to Univerusty to study Sports Management and then hope to work further afield in Australia or the Caribbean where I will use all the skills and knowledge I have learnt.
Do you have any tips you would give someone thinking about doing the Rockley BTEC? Keep an open mind and push yourself. It is both a very enjoyable and rewarding course when you put your mind to it - you really can achieve great things.
Find out all about the Rockley BTEC Level 3 Sport (Outdoor Adventure) here >>>
