The sport and physical activity sector's professional development body has increased its network in the West of England and Wales after the signing a partnership deal with Halo Leisure.

 The social enterprise and leisure trust, which operates 20 facilities across Bridgend County, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Wiltshire, has joined the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) as an employer partner.

 Employer partners only use training providers and products that have been verified by the body as they look to raise workforce skills standards. CIMSPA has 64 employer partners in the UK.

 The initial phase of the partnership will see Halo’s gym staff move into CIMSPA membership streams for exercise and fitness professionals, with a second part planned to transition some staff from the charity’s management team into membership.

 Scott Rolfe, Halo Leisure chief executive officer (CEO), said: “Our mission is to create healthier communities and having the backup from CIMSPA in terms of leadership, support and empowerment is key to helping us achieve this. Halo’s team of exercise and fitness professionals will have their passion and experience matched with national recognition from CIMSPA. We look forward to developing our workforce through CIMSPA’s programme of training, events and CPD [continuing professional development].”

 Tara Dillon, CIMSPA CEO, said: “It’s great to have another key operator add their workforce to the 64,000-plus sector staff we are already engaged with, through our employer partners, to enable us to offer them quality CPD and career development opportunities.

 “What’s exciting here is how keen Halo Leisure are to inform and educate their members and users of their relationship with CIMSPA and the quality standard this partnership contributes to – safe, well-managed facilities with skilled staff on hand and able to provide fitness, health and wellbeing support.”