The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) has won a ringing endorsement from the government to lead the way in professionalising the sport and physical activity sector and raising standards.

Yesterday’s (17 December) publication of the government’s new sports strategy, the first in a decade, featured a strong focus on workforce development and highlighted the pressing need to improve professional standards in order to increase physical activity participation nationwide. If offers encouraging signs for the work of CIMSPA and also casts doubt on the future relationship between Sport England and SkillsActive – the sector skills council for Active Leisure and Wellbeing.

Produced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Sporting Future – A New Strategy for an Active Nation report said: “Sport England will support the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, in developing and implementing a single, clear and rigorous set of standards for all sport and exercise professionals, with a similar clear and rigorous system for assessment, and awarding and validating qualifications, starting in January 2016.”

The government backing is a major coup for CIMSPA, which has been working with employers, ukactive and other industry bodies to galvanise the sector behind an employer-led chartered institute. The organisation hopes the sports strategy will signal a new chapter in the professional development of the physical activity sector, following a period of intense debate over the direction of workforce development.

"The clear remit from government for CIMSPA to develop and implement a single, clear and rigorous set of standards for all sport and exercise professionals brings clarity to the sector and is recognition of the work we have done to create an employer-led professional body to take the industry forward,” CIMSPA chief executive Tara Dillon told Health Club Management.

"Better trained physical activity sector staff will lead to greater participation levels and more medals at elite level. We will now work with Sport England and all our partners to kick off a number of initiatives and projects in the new year to ensure sector qualifications for levels 1 to 9 are fit-for-purpose and produce the talent needed to turn the tide on physical activity."

The DCMS decree is also significant as it charges Sport England with working alongside CIMSPA to deliver a single set of standards for the sector, despite Sport England’s ongoing relationship with SkillsActive. The sector skills council is listed on the Sport England website as its national partner to facilitate "career development in the sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravan industries and aims to set the best quality standards for skills."

Asked to clarify what the recommendations in the sports strategy mean for Sport England’s relationship with SkillsActive, a spokesperson said Sport England will work with any organisation that can help deliver the strategy, adding that DCMS has made it clear a strong, independent chartered institute is needed for the sector.

“Sport England works with both CIMSPA and SkillsActive to ensure that all levels of the paid sports workforce are supported, and recently have worked together with them on a joined up piece of research,” said the spokesperson.

“It was agreed in December 2014 that SkillsActive would receive funding until March 2016. We are in continued discussions with both parties on how they can support our future strategy. Beginning in January, Sport England will host its own consultation process, where the sector will be asked on its views on how to best deliver against the needs of all sports and exercise professionals. This will include views on both CIMSPA and SkillsActive.”

It remains unclear how the sports strategy will affect operations at SkillsActive, or if it will have any impact on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), which is part of SkillsActive and is used by thousands of exercise professionals to administer their public liability insurance. SkillsActive has been approached for comment.

To see the full Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation report, click here.