The plan aims to grow and retain a high-quality representative workforce in the local sport and physical activity sector that supports healthcare needs.
In collaboration with local employers, education providers, local authorities and healthcare organisations, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) have implemented a local skills plan for the sport and physical activity workforce in Derby and Derbyshire.
Developed by the Derby and Derbyshire Local Skills Accountability Board, the 2026-2029 plan covers the Peak District, Chesterfield, Amber Valley, Erewash, Derbyshire, South Derbyshire, Bolsover and Northeast Derbyshire.
Derby and Derbyshire have diverse geographical areas, from urban cities to rural countryside and peaks; this means that each area also experiences different challenges and skills needs. The city of Derby is facing health inequalities and areas of urban deprivation, whilst the rural areas of Derbyshire are seeing issues linked to an ageing population, lower qualification levels and access to services.
The local sport and physical activity sector workforce can support the area with its health and wellbeing needs. This skills plan takes a joined-up approach and aims to support sport and physical activity provision in Derby and Derbyshire to reflect the needs of the local communities that it serves, starting with addressing workforce skills gaps and challenges.
The local skills accountability board will work closely with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and its Inclusive Growth Framework, which is prioritising supporting creating a region of opportunity, supporting health and wellbeing and creating pride in place. The sport and physical activity sector can contribute towards this goal, from supporting community cohesion to encouraging more people to get physically active.
Local organisations across sport and physical activity, education and local government have collaborated to create this bespoke plan for Derby and Derbyshire, which has three main recommendations:
- Create education pathways that connect learners, education providers and employers to meet local industry needs.
- Work with the health sector to support the wellbeing of local communities.
- Improve workforce diversity through local insight and opportunity.
Ryan Kirby is the Workforce Development Manager for Derby and Derbyshire at CIMSPA:
“The Derby and Derbyshire Skills Plan is already delivering real momentum across our region. Some great work has begun, with exciting new talent pipelines taking shape and Further Education courses being developed to meet the evolving needs of employers.
By strengthening collaboration between education providers and industry, we are building a sector skills system that creates opportunities and supports sustainable roles across Derby and Derbyshire.”
Wayne Sills, Leisure Services Manager at Derby Active and Chair of the Derby and Derbyshire Local Skills Accountability Board said:
“The Derby and Derbyshire Skills Plan has been developed by a wide range of partners from across the city and county.
“Through sharing and pooling our ideas, knowledge and experience, the plan aims to, and is already supporting and developing individuals who see sport, leisure, physical activity as a career.”
Lauren Slater is the Activity and Wellbeing Manager for Everyone Active:
“There is a great sport and physical activity network in Derby. This skills plan enables organisations to link purposefully with the education sector to ensure that our future workforce is being developed to meet the needs of the sector, including information sharing and updating the curriculum content where students can be qualified by the sector, ready for the sector.”
Alex Hall is the Curriculum Manager at Chesterfield College:
“The local skills plan has provided us with an opportunity to bring education experts together and collaborate meaningfully with the sport and physical activity sector.
“It has allowed us to cement the focus areas to meet the employability skills gaps for our area, and we are now confident in our direction and believe it to be purposeful, realistic and achievable.”