CIMSPA responds to the Government’s business support package

The Government today announced a package of £1 billion in support for hospitality and leisure sector businesses, most impacted by Omicron across the UK. We have just received confirmation that the sport and physical activity sector is not included in this package.

CIMSPA CEO, Tara Dillon, responds:

“I am dismayed to see that the sport and physical sector has not been included in this package of support.

Gyms, fitness and leisure centres have already felt the impact of reduced footfall in December and are now facing an extremely uncertain New Year - their most important trading period.

In the middle of a national health crisis, and in the midst of winter, it is frankly staggering that the Government does not recognise the value of a sector that helps to keep the nation physically and mentally fit, and employs hundreds of thousands of people.

Without urgent financial support, thousands of facilities are facing closure, many of them in the most deprived parts of the country. This would be a travesty, not only for the businesses and their employees, but also for the people and communities they serve, and for the longer term health of the nation.

I urge the Chancellor to rapidly rethink this and provide the bespoke package of support that was outlined by ukactive earlier this week.”