The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and UK Coaching, which currently operates the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), On the 27 February announced an agreement to combine REPs with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory, creating a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals.
The initiative will create a unified recognition system for people working in the sector and a single endorsement mechanism for training providers. All current REPs members will be given the opportunity to transfer into the CIMSPA membership scheme, with the new directory being hosted and managed by CIMSPA.
UK Coaching will provide CIMSPA fitness and coaching members with access to their online learning and development platform and will also continue to offer insurance for CIMSPA exercise, fitness and coaching members.
The new unified directory will be launched in the coming months. In the interim, all members are advised to renew with their respective membership bodies as normal to maintain their professional recognition and, where appropriate, access to insurance.
In parallel with the creation of a single directory, CIMSPA and UK Coaching will also complete the standardisation of training provider support. Commercial training providers will be able to access a unified endorsement system, aligned with the sport and physical activity sector’s professional standards framework and backed by the sector’s only chartered professional body.
Tara Dillon, CEO, CIMSPA welcomed the announcement:
“I’m very pleased that we have reached this agreement with UK Coaching to deliver a single directory of qualified exercise and fitness professionals that confirms the status of those working within the sector. It will be an exciting time ahead, as we work towards making this a reality. In the meantime, we have one clear message for REPs and CIMSPA members: renew and stay engaged with REPs (UK Coaching) and CIMSPA as we build a single directory that benefits members, employers and the public.”
Mark Gannon, CEO, UK Coaching, added:
“This is an exciting partnership between both our organisations that will provide all exercise and fitness professionals with the ability to retain their professional status, a pathway towards chartered status and a destination to access best-in-class learning and development resources required to maintain their professional status.”
The agreement to unify the CIMSPA directory and Register for Exercise Professionals realises important elements of the Government’s 2015 Sporting Future strategy and Sport England’s 2016-2021 Towards an Active Nation strategy. Tim Hollingsworth, CEO, Sport England, who announced the agreement at the CIMSPA & QUEST NBS Conference, said:
“Sport England welcomes this important milestone towards building a unified and excellent sport and physical activity workforce. A single directory for the professionals working in our sector will enhance our ability to provide skills, training, recognition and career development. This in turn will empower the workforce to deliver even more positive experiences for everyone seeking to be active in communities right across the country.
“I would like to thank both CIMSPA and UK Coaching for how they have worked towards this and congratulate them on agreeing this partnership.”
CIMSPA and REPs members can access more information at cimspa.co.uk or exerciseregister.org
