A serious evening of industry insight took place last month, as 150 of the industry’s top training companies, employers, colleagues, higher education providers and commercial vocational providers gathered at the inaugural Active Training Awards Ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Marlow.
Exceptional performance
The aim of the awards was to recognise and toast exceptional performance and commitment to vocational training and development within the physical activity sector. Key organisations and people who triumphed on the night include Future Fit Training, Swimming Nature, ICON TRAINING, Piloxing, GLL, Aspire/InstructAbility, Schwinn Cycling, Life Time Training and Gary Paish of Everyone Active. The Active Training Awards is run in partnership with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and is sponsored by Active IQ.
Active Training
The Active Training Awards consolidates a positive shift in the area of training and workforce development over the past 12 months. In particular, this includes the awarding last month of Trailblazer status to the physical activity sector, placing responsibility for defining apprenticeship standards for personal trainers and leisure managers in the hands of employers.
ukactive’s CEO and CIMSPA’s chairman David Stalker said, “Training and development is rapidly changing to meet demands in today’s workforce.”
The CEO commented on “driving the discernable shift” in training standards and how it’s great to be able to recognise top players across the breadth of the industry as they continue to deliver the best-in-class vocational training he describes as a “bedrock” of our society.
Full list of winners
Innovative Training Programme of the Year – Future Fit Training
Innovative Concept of the Year – Swimming Nature
Large Training Provider of the Year – ICON TRAINING
Small Training Provider of the Year – Piloxing
Employer of the Year – GLL
Special Populations Training Programme of the Year – Aspire/InstructAbility
Supplier Learning & Development Provider of the Year – Schwinn Cycling
Apprenticeships & Traineeships Provider of the Year – Lifetime Training
Most Inspiring Physical Activity Professional – Gary Paish, Everyone Active
Nigel Wallace, client services director at Lifetime Training, collected Lifetime’s award on the night:
“This is a very significant award for us and by retaining it, it is one that demonstrates our ongoing dedication and commitment to both our customers and learners. Our aim is to continue to invest in quality training and development programmes that deliver real impact for the sector’s businesses while creating the very best career opportunities for our learners.”
The impressive win follows a raft of awards in the sector, including the 2014 ukactive Flame Awards Supplier of the Year accolade.
In other news, Fitness First has been awarded a two-star accreditation. Read the full story here