Job Introduction
FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
Location: Various Neilson Beach Clubs overseas
Season: April – November
Qualifications Required: Minimum Level 2 Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer (or recognised equivalents)
Eligibility: UK & EU passport holders
Salary: £750–£900 PCM gross, depending on qualifications, plus shared accommodation, meals, flights, and an excellent overall package.
As a UK-based business operating overseas, we’re able to arrange the required visas and work permits for UK and EU passport holders to work legally in our resorts.
In a Nutshell
- Spend your summer doing what you love in one of our incredible Beach Clubs.
- Deliver a varied fitness programme for guests of all ages, abilities and fitness levels.
- Take your coaching out of the traditional gym environment and into outdoor fitness spaces, poolside classes and beachfront sessions.
- Bring additional specialist fitness qualifications? Even better – the broader your skill set, the more of our programme you’ll be able to deliver.
About Us
For almost 50 years, Neilson has been creating unforgettable active holidays in some incredible Beach Club destinations.
From sailing and watersports to tennis, fitness, biking and much more, our guests are at the centre of everything we do.
We’re looking for enthusiastic, adaptable people with great personalities, a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for creating brilliant holiday experiences.
You’ll already need the core professional qualifications to join our Fitness Team, but you don’t need to arrive with years of experience behind you.
If you’ve got the qualifications, personality, energy and right attitude, we’ll give you the opportunity to put your skills into practice, build confidence and gain valuable real-world experience throughout your season.
About You
You’re a qualified fitness professional who loves helping people feel good, get moving and make the most of their holiday.
You bring plenty of energy and personality to your sessions and know how to make fitness fun, inclusive and rewarding.
You’ll be confident leading groups and adapting your coaching to different ages, abilities and fitness levels. You’re equally happy encouraging someone through their first class as you are challenging a regular fitness enthusiast.
You’re approachable, motivating and professional, with a strong understanding of safe and effective exercise.
Whether you’re building your experience or already have an impressive portfolio of specialist qualifications behind you, we’re interested in what you can bring to the team.
The broader your skills and qualifications, the more opportunities you’ll have to deliver different elements of our fitness programme.
Role Overview
As a Fitness Instructor, you’ll deliver a varied programme of group fitness classes, personal training and active sessions within one of our Beach Clubs.
Forget spending your summer staring at four gym walls. Your working environment could include outdoor fitness spaces, poolside classes, beachfront sessions and runs through the local area.
You could deliver up to 4–6 sessions each day, with the programme varying according to your qualifications and experience.
From HIIT, circuits and strength sessions to aqua aerobics, indoor cycling, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, guided runs and much more, you’ll help guests stay active while enjoying their holiday.
Outside your sessions, you’ll be a visible part of the wider resort team, getting to know guests, promoting the programme, supporting social events and getting stuck into resort life.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Deliver fun, safe and engaging fitness sessions in line with the Neilson Fitness Programme.
- Plan and deliver group classes and personal training sessions appropriate to guest abilities and your qualifications.
- Deliver effective warm-ups, cool-downs and well-structured sessions.
- Adapt your coaching style and exercises for different ages, abilities and fitness levels.
- Lead regular guided runs and a varied programme of daily fitness sessions.
- Deliver specialist classes appropriate to the qualifications you hold.
- Encourage guest participation and create an inclusive, motivating environment.
- Advise guests on the safe and effective use of fitness equipment.
- Keep fitness equipment and training areas safe, clean, secure and well presented.
- Monitor equipment and stock, reporting maintenance or replacement requirements when needed.
- Support and share your knowledge with other Fitness Instructors where appropriate.
- Follow all company operating procedures, safeguarding responsibilities and health and safety standards.
- Support guest briefings, social events, airport transfers and wider resort operations when required.
- Work collaboratively with the wider resort team and be ready to get stuck in wherever needed.
Skills & Experience
You’ll be great at this if you…
- Hold recognised Level 2 Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer qualifications, or recognised equivalents.
- Have experience delivering group fitness sessions.
- Can confidently plan and deliver safe, engaging and informative sessions.
- Understand anatomy, physiology, exercise programming and safe training principles.
- Can adapt exercises and coaching styles for different abilities and fitness levels.
- Are confident using a range of fitness equipment safely.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Bring energy, enthusiasm and personality to your sessions.
- Can motivate and encourage guests without taking yourself too seriously.
- Are organised, proactive and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Have a strong work ethic and are willing to get stuck into wider resort life.
- Enjoy working independently and as part of a close-knit team.
- Are adaptable, willing to learn and keen to continue developing your skills.
- Have a good standard of spoken English.
It’d be a bonus if you also have…
- Additional fitness-related qualifications – see guidance below.
- Experience delivering a broad range of group exercise disciplines.
- Previous overseas, resort, hospitality or seasonal work experience.
- Additional European language skills.
Qualifications
As a minimum, everyone joining the Neilson Fitness Team must hold:
- Level 2 Fitness Instructor, or recognised equivalent.
- Level 3 Personal Trainer, or recognised equivalent.
We also look for additional specialist qualifications including:
- Aqua Aerobics.
- Body Pump™.
- Exercise to Music.
- Hyrox Level 1 Performance Coach.
- Level 2 Indoor Cycling.
- Pilates Instructor.
- Sound Bath Practitioner.
- Strength & Conditioning Coach.
- Yoga Instructor (RYT 200hr+).
- Zumba Instructor.
The number and combination of qualifications you hold will help determine the level at which you join the Neilson Fitness Team:
Fitness Instructor
Enhanced Fitness Instructor
Advanced Fitness Instructor
The broader your recognised qualifications and experience, the more varied your programme can be – and this will be reflected in the level at which you join us and your salary.
We welcome applications from candidates holding recognised UK and international fitness qualifications and equivalent certifications.
For further information about the qualifications we accept, please click here: List of Accepted Qualifications
You do not need to have completed every required qualification before submitting your application.
If you’re currently working towards, booked onto or planning to complete one of the required qualifications before your start date, please go ahead and apply and provide details of the qualification and your expected completion date within your application.
First Aid Requirements
A First Aid certificate is mandatory for the Fitness Instructor role.
At a minimum, this must be a one-day, in-person Emergency First Aid at Work course.
Your certificate must be in place by your start date and remain valid for the duration of your contract.
If you haven’t yet completed your First Aid qualification but are booked onto or planning to complete the required course before your start date, you can still apply – just provide the details and expected completion date within your application.
ONLINE-ONLY FIRST AID COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
For further information about Neilson’s First Aid requirements, please click here: First Aid Guidance
Commission
Alongside your monthly salary, you’ll have the opportunity to earn end-of-contract commission based on Personal Training sessions.
What’s in it for you?
Joining Neilson is more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build confidence, experience incredible destinations, and become part of a close-knit team creating unforgettable holidays every day.
The experience, resilience, and people skills you’ll develop along the way will stay with you long after the season ends – wherever life takes you next.
Alongside the experience, you’ll get:
- A paid seasonal role in an incredible overseas destination.
- Shared staff accommodation, so you’re right at the heart of resort life and part of the team from day one.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on duty, so your meals are taken care of.
- Travel to and from resort, subject to staff travel policy.
- Use of selected resort facilities in your spare time, so you can enjoy the destination too.
- Friends and family holiday discounts, giving the people at home the chance to experience Neilson for themselves.
- Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you settle in, develop your skills and make the most of your season.
- Opportunities to gain additional qualifications through the Neilson Academy.
- Career development opportunities through our Jump Up and Jump Higher programmes.
- Visa and work permit support where applicable.
- Role-specific uniform provided.
- One day off each week, plus accrued holiday.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance.
- 24/7 independent mental health support.
It’s a season that gives you more than a payslip – you’ll come home with new skills, new friends, incredible memories and an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left resort.
Please note: All Neilson Active employees are required to complete a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
