The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and UK Coaching have announced an agreement to combine the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory, creating a single directory for exercise and fitness professionals in the UK, which will be closely aligned with the European Register of Exercise Professionals. Sport England CEO, Tim Hollingsworth made the announcement at the CIMSPA & QUEST NBS Conference on 27th February.
This hugely important initiative will create a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals in the UK, resulting in a unified recognition system for people working in the UK sector and a single endorsement mechanism for training providers.
CIMSPA has previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Trust with EREPS and this MoUT will be reviewed and updated in line with this important initiative. The MoUT is based on the key principle of the reciprocal recognition of the members of CIMSPA and those of EREPS to enable fitness professionals from mainland Europe and those from the UK to have their status recognised across Europe.
Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA, underlined the close working relationship with EREPS: “I’m very pleased that we have reached this agreement with UK Coaching to deliver a single directory of qualified exercise and fitness professionals that confirms the status of those working within the sector. It will be an exciting time ahead and I very much look forward to continuing our close alignment with EREPS, to the benefit of professionals right across Europe.”
Julian Berriman, Director of the EuropeActive Professional Standards Committee overseeing the operation of EREPS, was also delighted with the close association with CIMSPA: "I am extremely pleased to see that CIMSPA will be operating a single directory of exercise and fitness professionals in the UK. EREPS looks forward to continuing to work closely with CIMSPA to enable qualified professionals to have their hard-earned membership recognised across European borders and beyond. The UK is a hugely important and respected European fitness market, and it is vital that we maintain strong links with it in the on-going development of the largest economic fitness zone in the world".
Photo from left to right: Mark Gannon, CEO, UK Coaching; Tim Hollingsworth, CEO, Sport England; Tara Dillon, CEO, CIMSPA