Aligning skills, health and opportunity in Buckinghamshire
In a win-win for local organisations, new initiatives are matching skills supply and demand
Buckinghamshire is taking a joined-up and insight-driven approach to strengthening its physical activity workforce. Using a combination of skills diagnostics, employer feedback and local health data, the region’s local skills accountability board has taken steps to understand the county’s challenges and respond with practical, targeted solutions.
CIMSPA began this work with Leap’s support by engaging directly with employers through its local workforce skills diagnostic survey, gathering information on current skills gaps and what organisations need from their future workforce. This insight has been invaluable in shaping a clearer understanding of the issues facing the sector, from the need for more robust entry level pathways to the desire for greater confidence in inclusive recruitment and improved development opportunities across all career stages.
Through joint engagement with employers and education providers, the partners built a clearer picture of local skills shortages, knowledge gaps and workforce pressures. One example of this collective work in action was sector involvement in the Bucks Skills Show, the county’s biggest careers event. This year’s show welcomed more than 6,000 attendees over the two-day event, including 500 SEND students, teachers from 47 schools, parents and adult career seekers.
Partners including Leap, CIMSPA, Active in the Community, Everyone Active and Future Training showcased the opportunities available in the sector through inclusive, practical activities designed to appeal to students of all abilities.
James Sexton, General Manager of Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, part of the Everyone Active Group, reflected,
“It was great to attend the Bucks Skills Show and be able to engage with so many students. We were delighted to be able to tell them about the range of careers available within the Sport, Leisure and Physical Activity sectors and hope to see some familiar faces opt for a career with us in the next few years.”
Their experience reinforced the importance of being visible, accessible and engaging when inspiring the next generation of talent.
This combination of data, insight and engagement has helped Buckinghamshire to shape two targeted programmes that directly address the challenges identified.
Fit for the Future
The first initiative, Fit for the Future, was developed in response to a gap highlighted by both employers and education providers of the lack of structured, meaningful work experience opportunities for young people. Leisure operators were keen to support students but often lacked a consistent framework or tools to do so, resulting in missed opportunities for talent development.
Fit for the Future provides a dynamic, engaging introduction to the leisure industry, giving young people hands on experience while supporting employers to build a pipeline of future professionals.
With contributions from Buckinghamshire Skills Hub, CIMSPA, Buckinghamshire College Group, inclusive employers and the Leap team, the programme blends real workplace experience with skills development such as CV writing and interview preparation. It offers young people a clearer sense of the breadth of careers in the sector, while enabling employers to shape future talent in a way that aligns with local needs. Fit for the Future acts as a genuine career pathway that helps young people see long term opportunity within the leisure sector.
Anya Forbes-Phyall, Project Officer (Workforce) Disability and Inclusion at Leap, explains how the programme provides meaningful support for young people:
“I’m incredibly proud of Fit for the Future: Leisure Careers and the brilliant young people who take part in it. Watching them grow in confidence, find their voice, and discover new possibilities for their future is inspiring. The strong relationship we’ve built with the school has been a huge part of this success, they are enthusiastic and engage with us to help create an environment where each young person who attends feels understood, included, and able to thrive.
“By opening up pathways into the sport, physical activity and leisure sector, we can share our passion for people and their wellbeing. We share real career stories, to show them what’s possible and empower them to take their next steps.”
Move Together Buckinghamshire
The second initiative is Move Together Buckinghamshire, which responds to the county’s growing need to support inactive older adults living with long-term health conditions.
Designed for residents aged 50 and over, a particular target audience is those in Opportunity Bucks wards or referred through partner GP practices. The programme focuses on individuals doing less than 30 minutes of moderate activity per day and living with conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, mental health challenges or mobility limitations.
Through personalised support, confidence-building interventions and encouragement to integrate movement into daily life, Move Together helps residents take ownership of their wellbeing and remain actively engaged in their communities. It represents a clear example of how the workforce can be equipped to respond effectively to local health priorities.
Kirsty Gillingham, Director of Active in the Community CIC which delivers Move Together, is confident that the initiative has a tangible impact on the local community:
“Move Together Buckinghamshire shows what happens when you put specialist practitioners at the heart of physical activity support. Our PARS team doesn’t just hand people a list of local classes, they take the time to understand someone’s long-term health conditions, their confidence levels, and what’s actually feasible in their life, then build a personalised plan around that.
“The results speak for themselves. We’ve had clients managing everything from cancer to chronic pain tell us they’re moving more than they have in years, not because they were pushed into a gym, but because a skilled practitioner helped them find movement that genuinely worked for them. That person-centred expertise is what turns a referral into a real behaviour change.”
Collaboration brings results
Together, these initiatives show how Buckinghamshire is using evidence, collaboration and targeted action to build a more confident, skilled and inclusive workforce. By aligning workforce development with local health challenges, employer needs and young people’s aspirations, the county is creating a model that enables communities to thrive. Buckinghamshire’s approach demonstrates how insight can be transformed into impact and how a stronger, more connected physical activity workforce can help improve the lives of residents across the county.
CIMSPA’s workforce development manager for the region Michelle Howden commented on the collaborative efforts of the local skills accountability board:
Get involved in local skills work
CIMSPA’s local skills project brings together organisations from across the sector to match supply and demand in the sector workforce. By focusing on each region of the UK individually, we can tailor solutions to their unique needs.
Do you want to be a part of the solution for your region? Get involved today by contacting your local workforce development manager.
“By bringing together employers, education providers and other stakeholders from across the sector, we’ve been able to take a joined-up approach to meeting skills needs in Buckinghamshire.
“Over the course of the next few years, I look forward to continuing to work with these enthusiastic and driven partners to deliver the county’s local skills plan. We’ll grow successful initiatives like Fit for the Future and Move Together, and we hope to develop new solutions to challenges that local organisations are facing.
“I feel privileged to be part of this journey that the sector is going on in Buckinghamshire.”
Future plans
With the launch of the region’s local skills plan for sport and physical activity, more initiatives like these are on the way. The Buckinghamshire Local Skills Accountability Board’s Chair Dr Kevin Campbell-Karn SFHEA is keen to use the data collected to create impact in a wider range of areas:
“The need for this plan is clear. We must bridge the gap between the current skills of our workforce and the evolving demands of a modern economy. Our data highlights a rising demand for specialised roles, from group exercise instructors to lifeguards and sports coaches. Simultaneously, through our senior management and leadership professionals we have a profound responsibility to align our efforts with the broader health and social care landscape. By embedding physical activity into healthcare pathways, such as through the Joy Marketplace, we are not just creating jobs, we are improving community engagement and fostering better health outcomes for every resident.”
Although in recent months Benson James Miyoba, previously chair of the board, has stepped down from his role, he is excited to continue the work set out by the plan:
“As we look toward the future of Buckinghamshire, we recognise that the heartbeat of our community lies in its movement. Whether it is a child learning to swim in the north of the county, an athlete training in the south of the county or a resident regaining their independence through active lifestyle programmes, the sport and physical activity sector is fundamental to our county’s social and economic health.
“However, to sustain and grow this vital impact, we must ensure that our greatest asset, our workforce, is empowered, skilled and representative of the diverse communities we serve. This Buckinghamshire local skills plan arrives at a critical juncture. Our sector currently contributes a significant £213 million in turnover to the local economy across 361 companies. Yet, with 57% of our sector comprised of micro-enterprises, many of our local employers face unique challenges in accessing the high-quality training and recruitment pipelines they need to thrive.”
Kevin went on to summarise the plan’s core message and purpose:
“We are immensely proud of the collaborative spirit defining the Buckinghamshire Local Skills Accountability Board. This plan is not merely a document; it is a commitment to action. It is a roadmap to the right training, delivered in the right place, at the right time. By placing employers at the heart of the skills system and streamlining pathways for young people, we are building a resilient, forward-thinking workforce.
“We invite all partners, educators, and employers to join us in this mission. Together, we will grow and inspire a workforce that moves Buckinghamshire toward a healthier, more inclusive, and prosperous future.”
