CIMSPA, the professional body for the UK sport and physical activity sector, has kicked off a full governance review as it bids to fulfil its responsibilities set out in the government sport strategy.

The review is being led by Anthony Collins Solicitors and is consulting across the sector, taking in submissions from industry stakeholders such as the Royal College of Physicians, Sport England and ukactive.

Concluding in September 2016, the review will end with the recruitment of a permanent chair following the exit of David Stalker who spent six years with the body.

Andy Reed, the former Labour MP who recently undertook the County Sports Partnership (CSP) review, will take over as chair in the interim.

CIMSPA – the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity – was tasked by the government in its Sporting Future blueprint to develop a “single, clear and rigorous set of standards” for all sport and exercise professionals with the help of Sport England.

As a result, Sport England ceased to fund fellow professional body SkillsActive.

Tara Dillon, CIMSPA chief executive, said that the body had “changed beyond all recognition” under the stewardship of Stalker but the “hard work doesn’t stop here”.

“To continue to attract investment in the sector we need employers to take a place at the table and deliver workforce development plans,” she added.

Sports Think Tank director Reed said: “It is crucial the CIMSPA quickly delivers the integrity and quality of governance that can help it to realise the ambitions set out for it in Sporting Future.

“This will require greater levels of employer and individual member engagement in the leadership of our sector’s chartered body.”

Reed added that his primary concern was overseeing the review and “ensuring CIMSPA receives the financial backing it needs” to deliver in the strategy.

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