Leisure trusts have voted unanimously to support the National Skills Academy Employer Protocol.

Sports and Recreation Trust Association (sporta) formally agreed to encourage all its members to adopt the employer protocol at its recent AGM. The protocol aims to broaden and enhance the quality of staff training and to simplify the leisure industry's qualification structure.

Leisure industry leaders will work together through SkillsActive towards a single skills training and qualification framework.

Sporta's honorary secretary, Mark Sesnan, and North West regional representative, Ian Kendall, will represent sporta on the new strategic employers steering group, which - supported by the National Skills Academy and SkillsActive - will lead the development of the protocol.

The group will be chaired by Martin Havenhand, a former chief executive of Yokshire Forward, and will comprise of two representatives each from sporta, the Leisure Management Contractors Association (LMCA), the Chief Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) and the Fitness Industry Association (FIA).

Mark Sesnan said: "sporta's aim is to work hand in hand with the private and public sectors to create one strong voice for our sector.

"As such we have agreed to support the National Skills Academy and SkillsActive in developing a singular skills framework and delivery system, as well as backing the industry's bid to create a Chartered Institute for Sport, which will act as a single professional body representing a united sports sector."