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From Insight to Foresight: A sector-wide approach to informed decision making

From Insight to Foresight: A sector-wide approach to informed decision making

Following the launch of the 2030 CIMSPA Strategy, CIMSPA is delighted to be launching the workforce skills observatory; a UK-wide research centre for all things workforce in UK sport and physical activity.

The sector has experienced significant change in a relatively short period of time. In the last 10 years alone sport and physical activity has seen a 50% increase in the number of businesses operating in the sector, a 25% increase of the workforce and vast behaviour change in the way participants are consuming sport and exercise requiring a constant focus on our people developing new skills. And as we now navigate towards a more regulated and protected professional status for many of the sector’s occupations, it’s critical that we enhance our ability to make informed decisions around workforce planing and workforce development.

Within the CIMSPA Strategy; Releasing the Power of our Profession, CIMSPA has provided clear evidence that 91% of all businesses within sport and physical activity are SME; small to medium sized enterprises. This is both a strength and a vulnerability for the sector. It provides us with great versatility and diversity to meet broad and ever-changing participant needs but with 70% of all businesses being in start-up mode and 60% of the workforce working within the SME’s, the majority of jobs have risk attached.

So, what is the observatory and how will it work?

Simply put, the observatory is a single ecosystem that will centralise all available workforce related research, influence future research and make all of this intelligence accessible to stakeholders and decision makers across the UK sport and physical activity landscape.

The observatory consists of 4 core components:

A digital platform that will house and make accessible all of the available workforce research. CIMSPA’s first sector-wide dashboard is already available for CIMSPA partners; CIMSPA Data Lens
A workforce research community to share practice, knowledge and foster a sector-wide culture of insight-informed decision making
A balanced governance framework including both a board and a sub-committee providing strategic oversight and capacity for the observatory. Both the board and sub-committee are already established. The board consists of 14 established research leads from across both industry and academia as does the sub-committee. If you’d be interested in getting involved with the sub-committee please contact our Business Insight Manager Osian McGuinness at osian.mcguinness@cimspa.co.uk
Benchmarks and guidelines making the data accessible but also providing the necessary clarity and guidance for future research to be conducted in a compatible way so that it can be added to the rich picture presented by the observatory

Balanced with both academic and industry research and insights, the work of the observatory will help better prepare current and future members of the workforce from initial training and first role all the way through their career journey.

As a few examples of how this will work in practical terms:

Within CIMSPA the observatory will inform the development of professional standards to ensure those working in the sector have the right skills in the right places
Educators will be able to confidently design curriculum based upon industry trends, workforce profile, jobs market and employer needs
Employers will be able to benchmark their workforce, identify development areas and effective workforce plans, be more targeted with recruitment and easily conduct market research

What’s really important to mention is that the data and insights will provide the sector with a forward outlook to be predictive in planning and decision-making.

The Impact

But the reach and impact of the observatory stretches far beyond just these impacts, this logic map provides an indication of just how integral the observatory will be for the sector’s ability to effectively plan, develop and manage the incredible people who deliver sport and physical activity:

Component	Input or Activity	Output (by March 2025)	Short and Medium Term Outcomes	Long Term Outcomes
Workforce Planning	Sector specific labour market analysis Skills gap identification and forecasting Career pathway development Dissemination of research and data	Multi-source data platform A functioning observatory board An engaged research community including academic and industry stakeholders Benchmarks, guidance and resources for all stakeholders An operational framework informing the revision and development of Professional Standards	Reduced skill shortages Increased workforce productivity Enhanced industry innovation Improved employment and retention rates Alignment of education with industry needs Improved talent acquisition and allocation Reduced horizontal and vertical skills mismatched and skills gaps Increased organisational agility Better workforce utilisation Enhanced employee engagement and morale Streamlined recruitment processes Immediate cost efficiencies, reduction in unnecessary labour costs Improved risk management, preparedness for workforce related risks Enhanced collaboration with education institutions Increased adaptability to technological changes	Sustainable talent pipeline Increased workforce productivity and efficiency Long-term organisational resilience Alignment of education systems with industry needs Cultural and organisational transformation Systematic addressing of workforce diversity and inclusion Effective succession planning Economic growth and sectoral development Enhanced industry attractiveness Fostering of a lifelong learning culture
Workforce Development	Research and insights sharing Curriculum development and advisory Skills diagnostics and local data packs in all UK regions	Publication of technical resources and journals for different sector occupational groups inline with the Professional Standards Fully informed Professional Standards based upon the latest research and employer needs Local skills plans for all UK regions	Enhanced employee skill levels Increased employee engagement and morale Improved productivity Reduction in skill gaps Enhanced adaptability to change Immediate operational improvements Better employee retention Quick response to technological advancements	Sustained workforce competency and expertise Continual learning and adaptation Long-term industrial resilience and competitiveness Systematic career progression and professional growth pathways Strategic alignment between industry and education Increased innovation and productivity Enhanced industry attractiveness and talent attraction Improved diversity and inclusion Robust succession planning and leadership development Economic growth and sectoral advancement
Workforce Management	Best practice guidelines and resources Research backed, effective and engaged code of conducts Feedback mechanisms and continuous improvement	Sector and industry benchmarks and guidance for workforce management, engagement, and diversity	Improved employee engagement and satisfaction Enhanced performance and productivity Reduced turnover rates Streamlined recruitment and onboarding processes Immediate operational efficiencies Effective conflict resolution and team dynamics Improved compliance with labour laws and regulations Better resource allocation and cost management Rapid response to market changes Stronger manager-employee relationships	Best practice guidelines and resources Research backed, effective, and engaged codes of conduct Sustainable organisational ecosystem Strong organisational cultures and employee loyalty Long-term employee retention and reduced turnover costs Continued workforce skill development and adaptation Increased workforce diversity and inclusivity Enhanced reputation of industry leadership Robust succession planning and leadership continuity Strategic alignment with future industry trends Fostering of innovation and competitive advantage Economic contribution and industry stability

Impact Area	Impacts
Workforce	Increased retention and career length Improved diversity and inclusion Increased attraction as a career Increased pay Improved conditions
Employers	Improved recruitment with more employable candidates Increased profitability More productive workforce Decreased business failure Reduced turnover costs
Education	Improved destination outcomes with more learners going into employment Reduced skill gaps at a local level A fit-for-purpose talent pipeline nationally, regionally and locally More impactful and applied research
Participation	Increased trust and confidence in the sport and physical activity workforce Increased participation More diverse participation Improved health, wellbeing and fitness of the UK population Reduction in lifestyle related health issues
Sector	Greater investment and funding Improved attraction for supply chain Greater business resilience Improved recognition

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the observatory please contact Head of Insight Phill Wright at phill.wright@cimspa.co.uk

Our strategy

Individual and collective professional recognition for the sport and physical activity workforce.

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From Insight to Foresight: A sector-wide approach to informed decision making

So, what is the observatory and how will it work?

The Impact

Get in touch

Our strategy