Leisure professionals planning to attend this year’s Quest and CIMSPA annual conferences will be able to save themselves a trip, after the bodies announced the meetings would be combined into a two-day event.

Quest, the quality scheme for sport and leisure, has held its annual conference with sister initiative the National Benchmarking Service (NBS) since 2010. This year, for the first time, the event will run side by side with CIMSPA’s annual conference as part of a programme which also contains an evening reception and networking event.

The Quest NBS Conference will take place on Wednesday 10 February 2016 at Holywell Park, Loughborough, with the CIMSPA Conference taking place at the same venue the next day.

Delegates can choose to sign up for one or both days and/or the evening reception. The first day is open to anyone interested in Quest and NBS, whether they are already in the scheme, just signed up or are simply considering it. The second day is open to anyone with an interest in CIMSPA’s work.

Caroline Constantine, Quest operations director, said: “CIMSPA and Right Directions, which manages Quest and NBS on behalf of Sport England, have enjoyed a unique corporate partnership since April 2014.

“Holding our annual conferences in tandem is another great way for us to share best practice and promote the benefits of both CIMSPA membership and participation in Quest and NBS to an even wider industry audience.”

Upcoming changes to the Quest and NBS schemes will be announced by Constantine at the Quest NBS Conference, which will also feature an update from Sport England.

Other high-profile speakers on the Quest NBS day will include Neil Watson, CEO of research and technology company Substance; Lee Mason, CEO of the County Sport Partnership Network; and Dr William Bird, the strategic health advisor for Natural England, which is responsible for developing a ‘Natural Health Service’ that uses the natural environment as a major health resource. There will also be presentations by England Netball and Martin Symcox, CEO of lifeguard training provider IQL.

During the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in three of six possible workshops on a range of industry topics, including Customer Insight, Health and Safety and Community Outcomes.

The CIMSPA day will include an update on the organisation’s workforce development project and other work, alongside keynote presentations on the changing face of the sector and strategy for the future.

During the day, delegates will be able to take part in three breakout sessions from a possible nine. Sessions will be broken down into themes – Ops Room, Tech Shop, Legal Court and Area Commissioning – and will include updates on new qualifications and professional standards and new sentencing guidance on health and safety breach.

Speakers will include Carl Bennett, founder of Amber Health Insight, who will talk on Local Priorities – Informing Intervention Design; and Dr Steven Mann PhD, research director at ukactive, who will share his insights on The Potential Impact of Physical Activity on Public Health.

CIMSPA CEO Tara Dillon said: “CIMSPA is delighted to be joining forces with the popular Quest NBS Conference to host a two-day event. With double the number of high-profile speakers, interactive workshops and quality networking opportunities, this new joint conference is yet another example of how CIMSPA and Right Directions are working together to raise standards in the industry.”

For more information on the event, click here.