CIMSPA announces September launch for free Digital Marketing Hub to boost sport and physical activity

The Digital Marketing Hub will launch on 14 September with a webinar hosted by Jake Humphrey (TV Broadcaster) and a panel of experts from Google, the Digital Marketing Institute, London Sport and Our Parks.

Quick look

• Watch our explainer video for a quick look at the Digital Marketing Hub HERE
• Launch webinar with Jake Humphrey and a panel of marketing experts will deliver a launch sesion to explain the importance of fidigtal marketing and the aims of the hub.
• Google just one of the names that will be delivering sessions to help upskill coaches, volunteers and grassroots organisations.
• Register today for your invite to the launch webinar on 14 September. https://digital.cimspa.co.uk/

CIMSPA has announced a launch date of 14 September for the sport and physical activity sector’s free Digital Marketing Hub, funded by Sport England through the National Lottery and powered by content from the Digital Marketing Institute. Designed to help the sport and physical activity sector recover and rebuild from the pandemic, the hub will be launched with a webinar, hosted by TV presenter and host of The High Performance Podcast, Jake Humphrey, will take place on 14 September 2021.

The Digital Marketing Hub which is delivered by CIMSPA and supported with National Lottery funding and expertise from Sport England, is designed to help people and organisations to improve how they apply digital marketing tools and techniques, to encourage more people to play sport and be active. It comes as a direct response to Sport England and Digital Marketing Institute research* which found a significant opportunity to improve digital skills within the sector:

81% of respondents said that attracting new participants was very or extremely important, but 63% said they don’t have a clear plan to deliver that through digital channels.

This research also highlighted that whilst the digital skills gap has always existed within the sport and physical activity sector, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue and made engagement more important than ever before. The Hub is tailored to small businesses, self-employed professionals and volunteers at frontline organisations and clubs, as well as marketing and communication professionals at larger organisations.

The CIMSPA Digital Marketing Hub is free to anyone involved in delivering sport and physical activity in England. Individuals and organisations can find out more and register to reserve your place on the launch webinar at https://digital.cimspa.co.uk/.

With the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) as lead partner, the Hub will contain a wealth of resources including expert led video lessons, toolkits, templates, webinars and walkthroughs. All DMI content is on-demand meaning participants can curate their own training, scheduling and focus on the area’s most valuable to them. Also included will be a host of benefits, including discounted access to web platforms.

A strategic partnership with Google means that anyone signing up to the Hub will also benefit from mentoring, webinars and relevant Google Digital Garage learning.

Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA, said: “The Digital Marketing Hub is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to gain skills and knowledge from experts from across the marketing sector, as well as those specifically positioned in sport and physical activity. “Digital marketing has an increasingly important role to play, especially for self-employed and freelance professionals who rely on it to reach and engage their customers. In the last 18 months it has become even more important to develop these skills, with many businesses and individuals needing to rebuild as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.”

Al Strang, Director of Strategic Marketing at Sport England, said: “Our research found that many people and organisations who are working to help people to be active are doing so without the knowledge or confidence they need in digital marketing. It is important that this skills gap is addressed so that the sector can emerge stronger than it was prior to Covid-19.

“The Digital Marketing Hub is part of our strategic ambition to tackle inequalities and ensure every single person in the country has the opportunity to be active. It will play a key role in upskilling those organisations involved in the delivery of sport and physical activity – including local clubs, charities, community groups and organisations with national reach. This will support the nation to feel that sport and physical activity is accessible to them.”

Ken Fitzpatrick, CEO at the Digital Marketing Institute, said: “The reopening of society is a really exciting time for everyone, not least sports clubs and organisations who have no doubt missed their members. With participants online more than ever before, digital skills are important to not only connect with existing members, but also reach a new audience and attract new joiners.

“Digital Marketing Institute is both excited and proud to support CIMSPA, Sport England and thousands of members to grow their online presence. With our research demonstrating a clear appetite for digital training and resources, we are eagerly anticipating success stories and a real impact on communities at a grassroots level.”

REGISTER FOR THE DIGITAL MARKETING HUB

The Digital Marketing Hub is aligned with ReTrain to Retain, an ambitious £5m job retention and support package for sport and physical activity, also funded by Sport England through the National Lottery.

*Research conducted by the Digital Marketing Institute on behalf of Sport England, undertaken with over 1,000 people involved in sport and physical activity marketing and communications.