The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity has today announced new plans for a business review of the Institute, in order to prepare itself fully for its new governance structure as required by its new Charter, due to be ratified by its members in late 2013.

Over recent months, faced with the challenge of running a membership business in difficult economic times, CIMSPA representatives have been exploring ways of sustaining the Institute financially. This culminated in the Institute exploring whether through a tender it could procure an organisation capable of delivering an aspect of the Institute's operations. However after reviewing the proposals from a series of organisations, the Trustees have decided to end this procurement process in its current format without awarding a contract. Rather the Trustees felt that the long term interests of the Institute would be best served by launching a review of the Institute. Subsequently as an interim measure CIMSPA Trustee David Stalker, has been asked to support the CIMSPA Executive Team to conduct a review of the Institute's function and ambitions in order to develop a sustainable three year business plan.

The review will initially last for three months during which David will also put in place a series of measures to improve the service currently provided to members. David will hold an executive capacity within the Institute, and will be supported where necessary by his team at ukactive. As part of the review Marc and David will be consulting with CIMSPA members which will include hosting a consultation event at the FLAME Conference on the 3rd July at Telford International Centre, further details will be released nearer the time.

CIMSPA's Chairman, Marc Newey, stated "The Trustees and I felt that it was crucial that following the procurement process we identified a clear plan for the Institute which potential joint venture partners could in turn support. With Sean Holt stepping down last Friday we did not want to burden the Executive Team with conducting this review and recognised the importance of having someone who is slightly detached from the day to day operations to lead such a review."

Commenting on the review David Stalker stated, "Having been a Trustee of CIMSPA for over 2 years and having worked in the sector for over 20 years I am fully aware of both the importance of the Chartered Institute and also the challenges it has recently faced. Despite these challenges I am still convinced that the Institute is an integral component of any strategy to grow the sector and ensure we are a key partner of Government moving forward."

"My team at ukactive and I are committed to supporting the growth of the activity sector and ensuring the sustainable long term future of the sector's first Chartered Institute will do exactly that. We can only achieve this aim if the key bodies, employers and individuals in the sector are completely united and supportive of this review so I will be relying and calling on the sector's input over the coming weeks and I look forward to speaking with you all."

Additionally, SAFE Chairman and DC Leisure Sports Development Director Richard Millard stated "I welcome the review and looking forward to contributing both personally and through my chairmanship of the Sport and Fitness Employer Group. I have been a member of both ukactive and CIMSPA for many years and am confident that the performance review is the best means of securing a sustainable future for the Institute."