BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS

In a landmark event for the physical activity sector, the Department for Work and Pensions joined forces with CIMSPA to host a Recruitment Innovation Workshop. The event is part of a wider partnership, which saw the launch of Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy earlier this year

Each person working in our sector positively impacts hundreds of lives every year

In what has been described as a milestone for the physical activity sector, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and CIMSPA teamed up to host an employability event on 3 December. Held at Loughborough University, the event showcased how the sector can support people into sustainable employment. Organisations in attendance included Sport for Confidence, Sport England, Serco and Coach Core.

WORK IN PROGRESS

The one-day workshop highlighted some of the great work already being done across the sector and focused on how sport and physical activity can address the unemployment crisis the country is facing. As of August 2025, 948,000 young people aged 16-24 are NEET (not in employment, education or training) – more than the population of Manchester and Edinburgh combined.

The innovation workshop provided employers and sport and physical activity-focused organisations from across the sector with the opportunity to learn about the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy. The academy is a collaboration between DWP and CIMSPA which supports jobseekers with work experience, recognised training and a job interview in the sector. Following an initial referral from Jobcentre Plus local teams, the Employability Academy will provide the individuals with sector-recognised professional status, which will boost their employability and enable them to take on roles which help more people in their community become physically active.

The initiative has completed its initial pilot in Scotland with great results. The 20 learners who took part in the pilot progressed onto a full Active IQ personal training qualification.

Of these, 13 completed the full qualification to date and gained a personal trainer professional status, with an additional two learners still in training. More than half (12) of the learners have already gained employment within the sport and physical activity sector.

The next pilot will be a coaching pathway taking place in Liverpool, delivered by Liverpool FC Foundation with added occupational therapy support from Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence to enhance candidate outcomes.

SUPPORTING PROFESSIONALS

The DWP sees the sport and physical activity as perfectly positioned to support those who are seeking help from the Jobcentre in two crucial areas. Firstly, to support people back into work directly into sport and physical activity, which in turn will help to create a more diverse and representative sector workforce. Secondly, the sector can also provide support, through physical activity, in tackling physical and mental health challenges within the workforce. This, in turn, will support other sectors who require fit and healthy employees.

Organisations working in the sport and physical activity sector are encouraged to pledge their support to the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy or to offer critical valuable work experience hours, in order to create structured, supported routes into employment.

Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA added: “The sport and physical activity sector employs around 600,000 people and we’re seeing employers struggling to recruit the workforce that they need with thousands of vacancies across the country every month.

“Each person working in our sector positively impacts hundreds of lives every year, helping communities to get active, improving physical and mental wellbeing, preventing long-term health conditions that cost the NHS millions, and helping more people to be economically active because they are physically able to work.

“We’re proud to be working with DWP on the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy, offer jobseekers a great opportunity to discover a career in our fantastic sector. Critically, this work is being led by insight which shows us the skills and roles that employers in the sector need based on local and regional priorities. It has helped to shape the training being provided as part of this pilot which all meets the professional standards defined and valued by employers.

“This approach is crucial to ensuring that those people who are part of the Employability Academy have a real opportunity to start and build a sustainable career which will benefit them with financial independence, their families and their communities.”