SkillsActive, the industry's sector skills council, acts as a conduit between Government, related organisations and sector employers. Its role is to ensure that employers' needs are understood and supported by Government, and heard and translated into a framework of qualifications, training and CPD. In addition, SkillsActive aids employers' access to a range of solutions to support their ambition to upskill and grow.

In support of this key role, the new Sport and Fitness Employers group, SAFE, was born in February 2011.

Here, Rich Millard, chair of SAFE, explores the role of the group and the impact its members will have on the future of the sport and fitness industry.

What is SAFE?

Managed in partnership by SkillsActive and the FIA, SAFE is a strategic group made up of leading sport and fitness employers. Meeting on a quarterly basis, the group comprises 20 individuals from a range of constituents; including representatives from private and independent organisations, National Governing Bodies (NGBs), the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), the Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA), the Sports and Recreation Trust Association (Sporta) and the Leisure Management Contractors Association (LMCA).

SkillsActive and employers across the industry are working closer than ever before; it is SAFE's mission to professionalise all industry employees thereby demonstrating to stakeholders that, as a sector, we are 100 per cent fit for purpose and highly credible in our approach to improving the nation's health through sport, fitness and physical activity.

As a group we have adopted the Employer Skills Protocol as our skills strategy; this initiative was developed and launched by SPELG in May 2010. Notably, the Protocol has gained the support of the Government so it is now that, as an industry, we must do everything in our power to embrace and support its implementation, ensuring its relevance across active leisure and the home nations. Furthermore, SAFE is working avidly to ensure that this strategy works in parallel with the FIA TwentyTen Commission and can be supported by National Partners such as the Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity.

What is SAFE's role over the next four years? Mirroring the aims of the Skills Protocol, SAFE makes strategic and delivery recommendations on a) redirection of funding for training, b) improvements in recruitment, c) increasing the investment in the sector's workforce and d) advancing the quality and range of services available across the sector.

As a group we will directly impact upon:

1. Ensuring sector related qualifications are fit for purpose - all awarding organisations must seek SkillsActive support for the development of qualifications that receive national accreditation and public funding 2. Overseeing the development of sector national occupational standards

3. Influencing and informing public sector funding policy and practice 4. Supporting the development of REPs as an industry-accepted 'license to practice'

5. Facilitating effective sector partnerships

A key development over the next four years will also see employees holding a skills passport (known as an activepassport). The industry's leading operators invest heavily in their employees to not only ensure they hold the correct technical and practical skills, but also to fine tune their soft skills to provide the best possible service to our customers. It is through the activepassport that employees will be able to showcase their employability and experience/achievements to date.

Concluding thoughts In a matter of months, the industry's leaders have taken a great step forward; we are now working collaboratively and the sector is beginning to reap the rewards - the recent Joint Investment Programme (JIP) success being one example. We must continue this momentum to embrace and support the Skills Protocol in order for the industry to witness dramatic skills transformation over the next four years.

The SAFE virtual network and online discussions are open to all across the industry. We encourage you to engage with our work and offer your thoughts. To find out how to join the extended SAFE network contact [email protected]

For general information on the work of SAFE and the JIP funding that will be available to the sector visit www.skillsactive.com