CIMSPA response to the 2017 Spring Budget announcement

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) has welcomed the government’s Spring Budget commitment to funding post-16 technical education.

In the Spring Budget statement, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a significant long term investment in post-16 education. Over £500 million per year will be allocated for the implementation of the post-16 skills plan as recommended in the June 2016 report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education, chaired by Lord Sainsbury.

£100 million will be allocated in 2019/20 for the first technical level qualifications and this will rise to over £500 million by 2022, when it is expected that delivery of all 15 routes will be in place. This significant investment will transform the skills sector, enhancing the UK’s ability to compete in a global skills market.

Speaking on behalf of the sector’s chartered professional body, Tara Dillon, CEO said:

“CIMSPA welcomes this investment commitment which represents ambitious and significant reform to the skills landscape.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for sport, fitness and physical activity and it aligns perfectly with our sector’s continued growth and development as an emerging profession.

“Our sector is already working hard to deliver the outcomes government has explicitly tasked us with in the Sporting Future strategy and access to this additional funding will enable us to develop a workforce with the skillset required to increase public participation in sport and physical activity.

“However, it is critical that the sport and physical activity sector is recognised as an independent pathway within the framework outlined by Lord Sainsbury’s panel. CIMSPA will continue to work with colleagues in the Department for Education to ensure the sector is appropriately represented.”