Memorandum submitted by the Fitness Industry
Association (FIA)
Note: The Fitness Industry Association broadly
supports the consultation response submitted by the Sector Skills
Council, Skills Active. Specific additions are below.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ON THE
FITNESS INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION
The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) was formed
in 1991 in response to the need to professionalise the health
club and leisure centre sector. This is a sector that employs
approximately 150,000 staff, engaging over 6 million members within
1,982 private clubs and 2,043 public fitness facilities.
The FIA is a non-profit making trade association
with over 2,000 facility operator members. It is run by a democratically
elected board of directors representing multi-site and single-site
facilities across the private and public sectors.
Although FIA members sign-up to its Code of
Practice as a badge of high quality standards, the FIA is not
a governing body for the fitness industry. It is a membership
organisation offering support and adding value to its members'
businesses and acting as a representative for the industry. The
FIA encourages its members to participate in its programmes not
only to help expand their business but more importantly to demonstrate
their social responsibility in giving back to the community.
The mission of the FIA is to improve the health
of the UK population by helping to increase the number of regularly
physically active individuals. This increase in physical activity
does not have to be entirely based within the health club or leisure
centre setting, but rather using the site as a resource for expert
coaching, advice and exercise programming. The FIA is committed
to getting "more people, more active, more often".
NATIONAL POLICY/ISSUES
Are the Government priorities for skills broadly
correct—for example, the focus on first Level 2 qualifications?
The FIA broadly support and appreciate the need
to ensure basic skills for employment on leaving full time education.
How do other targets such as the "50% into
HE" fit with the wider skills agenda?
The FIA support the view that this target should
be achieved flexibly through the use of part-time study programmes
for older adults, foundation degrees linked to work and development
of management skills in later stages of a career.
What is the extent of joined up working between
Government departments, particularly, the DfES and the DWP?
The FIA support the Leitch proposals for a new
Employment and Skills Commission. The Commission could aim to
co-ordinate/advise/integrate government policy on employment and
skills across DfES, DWP and possibly DTI.
Do current funding structures support a more responsive
skills training system? How could they be improved?
No. The FIA believe that there is an inbuilt
conflict between Public Sector Agreement targets for the LSC and
sector/employer priorities. The opportunity should be taken between
now and full implementation of Leitch after April 2008 to review
all existing LSC post 16 expenditure, sector by sector, against
employer/SSA priorities to achieve better value and shared investment
across a better spectrum of skills.
SUPPLY SIDE:
Is there a case for a less regulated supply-side
system with fewer intermediate agencies and bodies? What are the
potential risks and benefits of such an approach?
The FIA welcome the recommendations in the Leitch
Review regarding the increased employer engagement in skills through
the empowerment of Sector Skills Councils and the expansion of
skills boards across the country. The FIA hope that this will
result in increase influence for employers and not simply become
another barrier between employers and decision makers.
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs),
for example, was setup by the FIA to help safeguard and promote
the health and interests of people who are using the services
of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers. Funding
and supply should follow these leads from employers. There should
be a single sector led approach to planning which should be the
embedded concept in every sector through continuing development
of the SSA process which should extend down to regional level.
Adult Learning Inspectorate to inspect quality of providers.
January 2007
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