Awarding organisation CYQ to rebrand as YMCA Awards

CYQ is to change its name to YMCA Awards from 1 June, ahead of plans to enhance its services to adapt to the changing landscape of careers in health and fitness.

The awarding organisation, which is part of health and fitness charity Central YMCA, is making the name change on the back of research which suggests incorporating the better known YMCA brand will bring greater recognition among learners and employers.

Rob May, director of YMCA Awards, says the rebranding marks a new chapter in the organisation’s evolution.

“The active leisure sector and its vocational learning partners are going through enormous change, responding to economic pressures, the growing importance of digital technology in our daily lives and addressing rising levels of inactivity in society,” said May.

“The industry, government and public are reacting to this need for change and, similarly, YMCA Awards also has a major role to play in helping create a vision for a more active nation.”

Amongst the new offerings from YMCA Awards will be enhanced e-learning services, allowing educators to reach more people with a completely digital learning service, supported by coaching and mentoring from their tutors. A pilot involving 10 colleges is due to complete at the end of June and YMCA Awards will be using the findings of the project to help fine-tune its understanding of effective e-learning.

May added: “Advances such as these are crucial to providing the skills and qualified professionals we need to help our nation achieve its targets for greater fitness and activity, as well as supporting greater numbers of people in their career development.”