FIA UPDATE joint investment programme
David Stalker, CEO of the FIA, reports on the new Joint Investment Programme, with government funding to help the fitness industry meet its skills agenda
he government has pledged at least £270,000 to help the health and fi tness industry meet its skills agenda, as outlined in the TwentyTen Commission – the industry consultation which led to the development of a three- year strategy for the sector. T e investment in training will
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help employers to work in new areas, or improve their off ering in existing areas, including behaviour change, customer service, delivering community programmes, lower back pain management, management of obesity, working with older adults, working with pre and post natal women, and working with people with disabilities. Underpinning the submission have
been the major initiatives the industry is currently implementing, such as the recent guidance produced by the FIA and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy detailing how fi tness professionals and physiotherapists can work together to manage lower back pain.
repositioning the sector Over the last 24 months, our industry has migrated from being a peripheral player to become an integral part of the government’s public health agenda. What proved critical in securing this
funding has been the repositioning of what we do and the major role we could
T e government’s investment will help drive the professionalisation of the fi tness industry workforce
play in improving the health of the nation – a major government issue. T e onus is now on us to upskill our workforce and build our skills sets, across the board, to ensure that we really do exploit the tremendous opportunity of working with the 50 per cent of the population that is currently not suffi ciently active to derive any medical benefi ts from it. We have to continue to develop a
compelling, holistic experience for seasoned exercisers as well as the old, young, disabled and activity novices. T eir experience starts from the moment they set foot in our facilities, through to participating in an exercise class or using the gym.
Funding will boost areas such as disability fi tness 24
professional workforce Commenting on the successful submission, SkillsActive chief executive offi cer Stephen Studd says: “I’m delighted by the success of our fi rst Joint Investment Programme bid and pleased we can continue supporting employers during these challenging fi nancial times by accessing public funding for training. “T e government has acknowledged that we have an important role to play in
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growing the economy, which is a real win for our sector. “I would like to sincerely thank all
of those employers from our sector who committed to working with us and grabbing this unique opportunity to invest in their workforce. We look forward to working with them and the lead provider for the Joint Investment Programme, once appointed, to deliver this training and continue our mission to professionalise the workforce.”
accessing funding T e Joint Investment Programme is a strand of the Growth and Innovation Fund. Work has already commenced on securing a lead provider. SkillsActive and the FIA will contact employers who have expressed interest in accessing the new funding over the coming weeks. Any employers and/or exercise
professionals wishing to access the fund and receive up to 50 per cent towards the cost of staff training in specialist Level 4 qualifi cations or Level 3 awards in Customer Service and Behaviour Change should contact
gif@skillsactive.com
october 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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