The recently departed Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn - the longest ever serving in that post - first talked about the Improvement Agenda.

He recognised the need for this industry’s workforce to become more skilled and to provide higher standards of service to the customer (which of course includes you and me!)

Nothing controversial – or so you would think! The Improvement Agenda is one of the reasons why ISPAL has government backing - to deliver improvement across the whole sector; to help the workforce to operate at a higher and more professional level, ensuring services based on understanding, knowledge and a wider skill set than ever before.

How? Through training and CPD.

There is of course a cost – which must be seen as a necessary investment. The benefit back into the sector needs to be recognised as “value for money”.

But whose money, whose pocket, should pay for this? The employee? The employer?

We know the benefits are three fold – to customers, staff and employers. So how big is your training budget? Workforce Development Plans are currently being put together within the sport and leisure industry but all will be in vain if they are not underpinned with a budget.

ISPAL’s autumn programme (to be found at www.ispal.org.uk) answers the needs of many. All staff, at every level, should have the opportunity to improve – employers surely need to invest in employees? But - one ISPAL member told us that he would dearly like to upskill, but his role is considered “too junior and unimportant to warrant the investment.” So, no improvement agenda operating at this particular centre….