Health and fitness educator Premier Global NASM has joined the physical activity sector’s professional body as a skills development partner.

It has become the first partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to automatically enter every successful participant of recognised qualifications into membership of the professional body.

Premier Global NASM is a provider of personal trainer and continuous learning courses. Its Level 2 fitness instructing and Level 3 personal training certificates are now CIMSPA-endorsed and join more than 290 other qualifications recognised by the institute.

All learners who successfully complete these qualifications with Premier will gain a 12-month CIMSPA affiliate (exercise and fitness) or practitioner (exercise and fitness) membership included within their qualification.

Nick Bradley, chief executive of Premier Global NASM (part of the Ascend Learning Group), said: “Our combined brands of Premier Global and NASM have been at the forefront of world-class fitness education and training for over 50 years – our mission being to equip fitness professionals across the UK with the inspiration and information to transform lives. We can only achieve this purpose by creating courses and qualifications that adhere to the highest professional standards, demanded by the industry; and that deliver robust foundations and learning pathways to help build successful careers.”

Speaking about the new partnership, Tara Dillon, CIMSPA chief executive, said: “By building CIMSPA membership into the qualification itself, Premier is helping their students get a real head start – immediately recognised by their sector’s professional body and listed on the CIMSPA directory – the only register they need to be on. CIMSPA will then take the lead on ensuring they can access quality-assured CPD and an effective career pathway – all built in partnership with the sector’s key employers.

“With our network of awarding organisation, skills development and employer partners we’re building end-to-end quality into the sport and physical activity sector’s workforce development processes for the first time – from qualifications through training to CPD and career development.”