The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity's (CIMSPA) business plan has received Sport England investment to transform delivery of sport and activity services across the sector.

The Sport England investment and commitment of £1.2 million covers a 21 month period and will enable CIMSPA to contribute to the workforce development goals of Sport England's 2016 Towards an Active Nation strategy.

It will enable delivery of key aspects of the chartered institute's current four-year strategy. Over this period, the institute will also work closely with government to ensure apprenticeships are embedded into the workforce, develop professional membership pathways for new and emerging job roles, and represent the views of those working in a growing sport sector.

CIMSPA will also complete the sector's professional standards matrix, create career pathways for individuals to enter and progress within the sector, and provide the industry with quality assured training.

The formation of professional standards will provide the framework upon which employers and employees will gain greatest benefit through the promotion of new pathways and role specific training. It will be through the growth of these standards and the number of employer, training and awarding partners that will help measure and track how CIMSPA is responding to both customer and sector needs.

Sport England's backing confirms CIMSPA as the sector lead for professional workforce development and a key partner for government and its agencies and demonstrates Sport England's commitment to increasing physical activity nationwide.

Tara Dillon, CIMSPA CEO welcomed the new funding: "We are delighted that Sport England have chosen to invest in CIMSPA as a funded partner. This vote of confidence will allow us to quicken the pace of our work across the entire sector, working with a range of stakeholders across sport, fitness and leisure, to both rollout professional standards for the sector and develop a recognised profession for those working within it."

Andy Reed, CIMSPA Interim Chair, added: "Our partnership with Sport England keeps CIMSPA at the centre of the work to achieve the government's workforce improvement ambitions, as asked in the The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity's (CIMSPA) business plan has received Sport England investment to transform delivery of sport and activity services across the sector.

The Sport England investment and commitment of £1.2 million covers a 21 month period and will enable CIMSPA to contribute to the workforce development goals of Sport England's 2016 Towards an Active Nation strategy.

It will enable delivery of key aspects of the chartered institute's current four-year strategy. Over this period, the institute will also work closely with government to ensure apprenticeships are embedded into the workforce, develop professional membership pathways for new and emerging job roles, and represent the views of those working in a growing sport sector.

CIMSPA will also complete the sector's professional standards matrix, create career pathways for individuals to enter and progress within the sector, and provide the industry with quality assured training.

The formation of professional standards will provide the framework upon which employers and employees will gain greatest benefit through the promotion of new pathways and role specific training. It will be through the growth of these standards and the number of employer, training and awarding partners that will help measure and track how CIMSPA is responding to both customer and sector needs.