How do you solve a problem like Maria?
Tees Active employ over 378 people who contribute £5.1 million to the local economy. Tees Active are committed to developing a well-trained, motivated and multi-skilled workforce which is flexible and adaptable in the diverse and fast moving leisure industry.
Nobody exemplifies this more than Maria Stainton who applied for a receptionist post at Tees Barrage International White Water Centre in March 2023 and soon discovered she had a passion for the great outdoors and particularly with water sports. Encouraged by her colleagues she sat in some of the water sessions and realised she wanted to be an instructor. Her teammates at the Barrage spent a lot of time encouraging her and helping to develop her water skills and by March 2024 not only was she a fully qualified water sports instructor but also received her Air Trail operator’s certificate.
Maria said “From my first day I felt very welcomed and comfortable, it is a small team at the Barrage, but everyone enjoys what they do and are very supporting of each other. It helped me come out my shell a lot.”
Maria added “I love the interaction with our customers. We get a lot of regulars, especially for the white-water course, getting to know them and forming a bond is lovely, and we get customers from all walks of life such as the HAF groups and team building groups. I enjoy a helping them to have fun and improve skills. This makes you look forward to work.
There is no stopping multi-talented Maria as she has now set her sights on becoming a bushcraft instructor as Tee Barrage launch its newest service the Barrage Bushcraft Adventures programme.
