CIMSPA and UK Coaching are combining REPs and the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory. Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA and Mark Gannon, CEO of UK Coaching, explain what it means for exercise professionals and employers

What’s the plan?
Tara
We’re very pleased to announce that CIMSPA and UK Coaching have reached an agreement to combine the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory, creating a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals, which will be hosted and managed by CIMSPA.

Mark
UK Coaching will in turn provide all CIMSPA members with access to its learning and development platform, which holds a wealth of resources for all those who deliver physical activity and sport.

In order to maintain their professional status, exercise and fitness professionals are required to commit to their own learning and development through CPD and our platform will provide CIMSPA members access to CIMSPA-accredited learning and development.

This agreement enables members to access our system as a one stop shop for CIMPSA-endorsed CPD, together with a whole host of professional career development learning and tools.

How will it work internationally?
Tara
CIMSPA has a partnership with Europe Active and EREPS, which gives CIMSPA membership international portability – allowing our members to work in many countries around the world.

What are the benefits?
Tara
Ultimately, this is about the two organisations working together to create, for the first time, a unified recognition system for the sector, together with a single endorsement mechanism for training providers.

This will help CIMSPA and UK Coaching provide the best possible service to the workforce and will also realise important elements of the Government’s 2015 Sporting Future strategy and Sport England’s 2016-2021 Towards an Active Nation strategy.

What will this mean for REPs members?
Mark
Nothing will change immediately and, as it’s a requirement of the sector for fitness professionals to maintain their professional status and insurance while being deployed in their job role, all exercise and fitness professionals should continue to register with their respective membership bodies for the time being, while plans are swinging into action.

UK Coaching and CIMSPA are working together to ensure a seamless transition to a single system. We’ll be communicating to our respective members over the coming months and will be doing all we can to make this as smooth a transition as possible.

Tara
This is a really exciting opportunity for all of us – simplifying the process around professional recognition and providing a clear pathway for learning and development, along with other benefits.

The big picture is ultimately about elevating the status of the profession; giving employers and customers confidence that anyone who’s a CIMSPA member is a trained professional who will deliver a quality service.

REPs members won’t notice any immediate change. There’ll be a transition of membership.

One of the most important outcomes of the partnership will be the recognition of the new CIMSPA Kitemark for professional status and recognised CPD, which UK Coaching will host.

How will this impact employers?
Tara
We see a big benefit for employers in simplifying and bringing clarity to the system. CIMSPA membership will become the only professional recognition that employers need to look for when engaging new team members.

Many employers are already CIMSPA partners and require all their staff to have a CIMSPA membership, and we’ll be working closely with others to make them aware of the new landscape.

The same goes for training provider partners, who’ll be able to access a unified endorsement system that’s fully aligned with the sector’s professional standards framework and backed by the chartered professional body.

When’s it happening?
Mark
Over the next few months, we’ll start to unify the two membership bodies, bringing about a single directory of exercise and fitness professionals.

We’ll be in regular contact with members, employers and training providers in due course to explain the process of roll-out. We understand this is a big change for the sector and we’re here to help every step of the way.

What does this mean for UK Coaching?
Mark
Coaching is a people business; whether you are a swimming teacher or a fitness instructor, you use coaching skills to provide a great experience for participants.

UK Coaching has a learning and development platform that supports those delivering physical activity and sport and as a result of this partnership we’ll make this available to CIMSPA members.

UK Coaching will continue to provide all other services to customers and to add value to members through our learning and development platform.

CIMSPA members will be able to get insurance cover through UK Coaching.

Tell us about CIMSPA
Tara
CIMSPA is the chartered professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. Our vision is to shape a recognised and respected sector that everyone wants to be part of.

We’re committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and inspire our nation to become more active.

CIMSPA promotes recognised and endorsed qualifications, awards and continuous professional development, through its network of awarding organisations, employers and training provider partners. It also provides a development pathway for members, all the way from students through to chartered and fellowship status.

Will the REPs name disappear in the UK and if so, when?
Mark
Yes. Once all members have had a chance to transfer to CIMSPA, the REPs brand will disappear. This will take about a year, as REPs members renew over the next 12 months or so.

Find out more:
CIMSPA: www.cimspa.co.uk
UK Coaching: www.ukcoaching.org