Connecting the Dots: A significant moment for the sector
As the CIMSPA-blue dust settles following on from what was a five-year anticipated event, it’s time to take stock and glean what we, as a sector, gained from the CIMSPA Conference 2025
Hosted at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Wednesday 24 September, over 300 delegates and more than 20 different exhibitors attended the day. With a theme focused on collaboration and innovation, Connecting the Dots’ aim was to bring together leaders, practitioners and changemakers to explore how we unite our efforts and amplify our impact. By spotlighting real-world examples through engaging keynotes, expert panels and practical workshops, CIMSPA endeavoured to explore how we can collectively elevate our workforce, and with it, the wellbeing, productivity and unity of the nation.
Owning our place as a sector
CIMSPA CEO, Tara Dillon, reflected on her experience of the conference:
“I stood on stage at the CIMSPA conference, looking out at a room full of people who make up the beating heart of our sector. Practitioners, employers, educators, leaders – the fantastic people who keep our communities moving, literally and figuratively.
The theme was Connecting the Dots, and it wasn’t just another strapline; it was a call to action. A moment for all of us to step back and say: we’re not waiting for permission anymore. We’re ready to lead.”
Continuing on to talk about how the conference highlighted “the need to be honest about the picture we’re working in”, Dillon put the sector’s metaphorical cards on the table and explained the scale of the challenge we face in the prevention of economic inactivity and ill health as well as greater inclusion. She declared that these “are not nice–to–haves, they are urgent national priorities.”
Discussed as a facilitator in helping to achieve movement in the right direction for these challenges is the introduction of professional status, and the professional recognition and respect that it hopes to grow for the sector workforce. The conference presented the perfect platform to contextualise professional status and its implications for recognition and credibility amongst allied sectors such as health and education. It was an opportunity to begin connecting the dots between our sectors and start to demonstrate that individuals within the sport and physical activity sector are part of a recognised and respected workforce.
Dillon explains why professional status is a game-changer:
“It’s more than a badge or a title. It’s a way of saying ‘I’m part of a skilled, credible, trusted profession’.
This is how we build credibility. This is how we grow respect in health, education, local government and devolved administrations, and beyond.”
Dots in detail: A deeper dive into the themes of the conference
With four key focus themes, the day featured sessions and workshops with practical ideas and real-life examples for attendees to tailor their experiences and mould the valuable insights on offer to suit and apply to their role in the sector.
The ‘Health and Active Wellbeing’ theme explored the vital role our workforce plays in the prevention and management of health conditions. Workshops shone a light on strengthening relationships and the collaboration between our sector and allied healthcare professionals. The sessions covered topics such as the power of physical activity for mental health, the necessary shift in practice since the introduction of GLP-1 medications and how the use of the use of biometrics can personalise training to help improve health outcomes.
On the main stage, Will Watt, founder of social value and wellbeing economics consultancy State of Life, passionately advocated for the use of data to support wider recognition of the true value of physical activity. In his captivating session, he highlighted to delegates how it can be used a key driver to influence investment and policy decisions at the highest level. A diverse and thought-provoking panel session also shared real-world examples embedded in discussion around the impact our workforce can have in transforming lives and alleviating pressure on the NHS, from prevention through to recovery.
The ‘Education and Career Development’ theme explored the links between professional status and greater recognition as well as the opportunities that a place-based approach to skills policy and flexible learning present. Workshop sessions included pathways to professional recognition through specialist training, the benefit of embracing professional status and building a skilled workforce through apprenticeships.
The ‘Workforce Planning and Management’ theme cross-examined insight and data to consider the future shape of the sport and physical activity workforce. The workshops explored how recruitment, retention and staff development practices can be evolved to enable a sustainable workforce, identify skills gaps and build a stronger, more inclusive workforce to offer individuals meaningful careers that make a difference.
Speaking in the ‘Knowledge is Power’ workshop, Steven Osborne, Lecturer in Sport Management and Development at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Chair of the Sport and Physical Activity Workforce Observatory, shared:
“The CIMSPA 2025 conference was fantastic, featuring many inspiring stories, panel discussions and case studies of the amazing progress being made in national sport and physical activity workforce planning and workforce development.
“The event was a perfect platform to present and discuss the purpose and progress made in establishing the national Sport and Physical Activity Workforce Observatory, as well as the new national workforce-specific areas of research interest (ARIs) developed through comprehensive consultation with industry stakeholders.”
The final theme was ‘Inclusive Participation’, which focused on the role that professionals with lived experience have in addressing disparities in participation, particularly in those populations that are facing multiple challenges. Workshops included the use of real-world examples to explore what works when engaging underrepresented groups and helping to close the participation gap. An empowering session on breaking barriers in diverse communities showcased how Active Girls and Active Women programmes are making a meaningful impact in Leicester, with participants of the programme providing their moving accounts of their experience.
Closely following the topic of female participation and health and active wellbeing, CIMSPA’s Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, Annette Wade-Clarke, prompted a captivating keynote session with broadcaster, writer and women’s health expert Dr Nighat Arif. This inspiring, insightful and open conversation focused in on how system change is needed to improve how women and girls are trained in a sport and physical activity environment. Solutions explored included more tailored learning and specialised delivery to help expedite the move away from outdated methods that are traditionally based on the male body.
Dr Arif also covered her take on the rise of longevity medicine and how important the role of the sport and physical activity sector is in implementing it.
Wade-Clarke reflected by sharing her thoughts:
“It was brilliant to hear Dr Nighat’s enthusiasm for the role that professionals in our sector play in helping individuals and communities be active and healthy. Discussing the evolution of longevity medicine with her and how our profession contributes to people living better for longer was a particular highlight for me. It was great to hear about the recognition that her and her fellow medical professionals have for the way our sector is a conduit for engaging hard–to–reach communities.”
Strengthening connections
As well as the jam-packed agenda, the conference also prioritised the golden opportunity to ‘connect the dots’ between people. Encouraging delegates to join the conversations and enjoy the energy that comes from sharing space with like-minded professionals, the exhibition and networking space enriched their experience. Showcasing the very best innovations, services and expertise in sport, physical activity and wellbeing, the exhibitors and sponsors of the conference were fundamental in the facilitation of creating those connections.
Headline sponsor EGYM brought along their suite of smart gym equipment and digital solutions, providing a primary conversation-starter. Delegates were able to have an exclusive trial whilst gaining an understanding of how this type of technology can help transform healthcare from repair to prevention.
Exhibiting was Ellen Hughes, Strategic Accounts and Partnership Manager at myFitApp:
“We had a fantastic time attending the CIMSPA conference 2025. We had the privilege of providing the app for the event and it was fantastic to hear from other exhibitors and attendees during the day who were able to use it to find all the information they needed on the conference, as well as being kept up to date with push notifications that were sent throughout the day. The conference was well structured with time to exhibit, network and attend some brilliant talks from industry professionals.”
Closing the conference
The day’s final speaker was Matt Hampson OBE, former professional rugby player and founder of the Matt Hampson Foundation.
The former England Under-21 international’s inspirational talk was an impactful and emotional way to round off the day, as he described his journey from a rugby-mad youngster to his dream job as a professional, and how a freak, life-changing changing accident on the rugby field left him paralysed from the waist down. Hampson then moved on to his journey of recovery and self-reflection, which led him to create the foundation. He explained how it now works to inspire and support new generations of young people who are seriously injured through sport.
His praise for the support of the rugby community was evident throughout, whilst foundation staff members in the audience were also eager to share their own personal stories that led them to be working alongside Hampson.
A new era for the sector
After a powerful reminder of the sense of community that our sector instils, Tara Dillon closed the event with a rallying call to turn the day’s conversation into connection, and connection into lasting change. The energy and optimism that remained in the room at the end of the day signified a moment for the sector that resembled a shift in mindset. A shift to the realisation that the sector doesn’t need to wait for government, decision or policymakers to validate what they already know.
Looking to the future, Dillon concludes:
“The truth is, we don’t need to wait for government, or for the NHS, or for anyone else to tell us our work matters. It already does.
“Our workforce is the thread that runs through the nation’s health, economy and wellbeing.
“The future we all want to see is one where physical activity isn’t an afterthought, but a national priority. Where we don’t have to fight to prove our worth, because our impact speaks for itself.
“And the best part? We already have everything we need to make that happen.
“We just need to keep connecting the dots.”
Building on an overall review of the event, Clare Dunn – Associate Director of Business Engagement at CIMSPA, said:
“It was fantastic to see so many professionals representing all areas of the sector in the one building, all eager to discover insight and inspiration to help them elevate and amplify the impact of sport and physical activity in the UK, and the feedback we’ve received after the event has all been incredibly positive.”
As the conversation now turns to ‘what’s next?’, with CIMSPA yet to announce plans for a 2026 event, the foot is well and truly now on the professional status pedal within CIMSPA. Through it, we will ensure that as many individuals of the sport and physical activity workforce as possible are being recognised for their excellence and professionalism. By the turn of the next conference, professional status will be more than a title – it will be embedded into recruitment culture; it will be a professional identity linking to a clear career pathway; it will be an individual’s assurance of quality and impact. It will be pride.
