The physical activity sector's chartered professional body has received £1.2m (US$1.6m, €1.3m) from Sport England to create a highly skilled workforce and transform the delivery of sport and exercise services.

The cash, which covers the next two years, will enable the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to contribute to the workforce development goals of Sport England’s 2016 Towards an Active Nation strategy.

Sport England “was very impressed with the CIMSPA business plan to grow its membership and satisfy the needs of industry’s employers”, its director of sport, Phil Smith, said.

The financial backing comes as CIMSPA puts its four-year strategy into practice. Over this period, the institute will work closely with government to ensure:

• Apprenticeships are embedded into the workforce

• Career opportunities are created for people to progress within the sector

• The industry provides quality assured training

• The views of everyone working in the industry are represented

The development of new professional standards will help measure and track the institute's progress and how it responds to both customer and sector needs.

“This vote of confidence will allow us to quicken the pace of our work across the entire sector, working with a range of stakeholders across sport, fitness and leisure, to both roll out professional standards for the sector and develop a recognised profession for those working within it,” said Tara Dillon, CIMSPA chief executive.

The funding commitment was also welcomed by Tracey Crouch, parliamentary under secretary of state for sport and civil society, and Steven Ward, ukactive chief executive.

Ward said: “This is now a chance for CIMSPA to ensure the development of new professional and apprenticeship standards that deliver the specific knowledge, skills and behaviours required by employers for their workforce.”

Sport England’s Towards an Active Nation is available to read here.