The Sports industry is today celebrating the launch of a new professional development body - The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA).
The Institute will enjoy a double celebration as it officially confirms that the new Institute has been granted Chartership accreditation by The Royal Privy Council, a first for sport. The announcement will provide a welcome boost for those who have dedicated their lives to managing and delivering sport, placing careers in sport and physical activity on a par with those associated with other professional Chartered bodies.
Sean Holt, CEO of The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity said:
“Times are changing and so are we. We are preparing our workforce to cater for the demands of tomorrow. Securing Chartership accreditation recognises the importance of the work that our members do day to day and our role in shaping their future.
The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity will reach out to a wide range of people engaged in a variety of roles such as leisure centre managers, local development officers, coaches, health officers and governing body representatives. It is important to remember that what will define our members is not the role that they do but their ambition to develop their knowledge and skills to become celebrated leaders, deliverers and shapers of the sport and physical activity sector."
The new Institute will be based at SportPark in Loughborough and represents the first unified voice tasked with providing leadership, support and empowerment for professionals working in the UK's sport and physical activity sector. It has been built on two successful historic mergers – firstly ILAM (Institute for Leisure and Amenity Management) with NASD (National Association for Sports Development), followed in early April by ISPAL (The Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure) and ISRM (Institute of Sport and Recreation Management), paving the way for IMSPA.
The success of the mergers marks the culmination of many years of hard work in getting the thought leaders, employers, employees and stakeholders together within one respected body, with the aim of driving sector growth and improving the health of the Nation.
The Institute will launch with a listening brief to ensure that it can clearly articulate and respond to the challenges ahead. A number of key influencer events will kick off around the country starting in London on June 7th. A major membership drive will launch in September 2011 to encourage people to sign up and shape their personal development programmes prior to the Olympic spotlight being directed at UK Sport. To support the Olympic legacy efforts the Institute will be tasked with providing a strong professional development programme with the aim of improving the customer experience, to support participation and retention figures in sport and physical activity.
With the appointment of a talented transitional board, industry heavyweights backing the approach and the Royal seal of approval, confidence is running high at IMSPA. These truly are historic and exciting times for those working in Sport and Physical Activity and as the strapline at the launch will read 'Our future starts here'.
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