Increasing employability across Scotland
The first Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy pilot is officially complete, and we spoke to East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture to see how they found the programme
CIMSPA have worked with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help jobseekers start great careers in the sport and physical activity sector.
With collaboration from CIMSPA employer partners and quality-assured endorsed education providers, the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy will provide learning and experiences that meet the sector’s employment needs.
Beginning at the end of 2025, the Scotland pilot is now complete, with eyes turning to the next programme in Liverpool City Region.
East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust run three leisure centres, with nearly 14,000 members. The Scotland-based organisation was one of the first to come on board as an employer for the pilot.
Situated on the outskirts of Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust operate a group fitness programme of over 300 classes a week, including strength and balance, and GP referral schemes. With a 368-strong workforce, the organisation was experiencing some challenges with recruitment, looking for new and innovative ways to support more people on a career pathway. The Employability Academy came at the perfect time.
This first pilot saw 70% of participants progress into work as either a gym instructor or personal trainer, including East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust’s participant Stephen Kearney:
“I play semi-professional football, and I’m involved in goalkeeper coaching. I enjoyed school, especially the social side, PE and cooking, but since leaving school I had more of a focus on football. I also loved going to the gym. Now, all of my experiences have pushed me to want to move into the fitness industry.
“I had already used the gyms that I had my placement in, so I just felt like I was going to the gym and really enjoyed it. Goalkeeping gave me a taste of having a badge to help others, and that’s why I wanted to do the same in this type of role. I love working with people, seeing them improve and bringing the qualification to life.”
How does the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy work?
The DWP refer jobseekers through their Jobcentre Plus local teams, with a focus on individuals who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). Whilst this is happening, CIMSPA’s workforce development team are facilitating employer and education partners in the local area to get involved in the pilot.
CIMSPA employer partners then take on the identified participants through a ‘work academy’, in which they have meaningful work experience in the industry and receive pre-employment support from workplace mentors. Alongside gaining this practical experience, the individual is also taking on a qualification delivered by a quality-assured CIMSPA Training Provider Partner.
At the end of their work experience, candidates are guaranteed a job interview at their placement organisation, which helps them move into work and also provides them with a route to professional status.
Fraser Makeham is an Operations Manager at East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust:
“This programme offered another dip into a talent pool we haven’t been exposed to before – the opportunity to use funded training of individuals and most importantly, it met the recruitment challenges we were facing and closing those gaps. This programme has brought the quality through, the right qualifications to do the role and mentoring for the candidate to deliver the role.
“The involvement in this programme has been simplified by CIMSPA and DWP – we didn’t have to pre-screen candidates and the ongoing support from all involved helped us share the workload.
“We were able to see the individuals bring their qualification to life through work experience on the ground.”
20 individuals took part in the inaugural Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy pilot, with 12 moving into employment and as qualified personal trainers – one of the best conversion rates compared to other sectors working with the DWP.
Fraser discusses the support that the participants received as part of the programme:
“We assigned them an internal mentor to check in with each of them, making sure that they received the best experience and to aid their development.
“We ensured that our gym team leaders had the tools and time to support the candidates coming in for the placements. There was also awareness amongst other staff in our facilities that there would be candidates going onto the gym floors to ensure everyone was in the loop.
“We knew that there needed to be an interview for candidates with potential employment and we were happy to facilitate that – we were delighted that Stephen accepted the opportunity.”
A now-employee of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, Stephen reflects on his time on the programme:
“I worked closely with the gym team leader and fitness assistant who helped me learn how to approach people, how to speak to different individuals and how to best interest with people on the gym floor. I loved meeting new people and wearing that East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture badge.
“I had loads of support – they covered all of the worries that I had, and there was always someone to speak to.
“Halfway through the programme I didn’t realise how much work it would be, but it was worth it.
“In the future, I hope to still be working for EDLC and building my clients up as a personal trainer.”
The current government has a target of an 80% employment rate – that means just over two million more people need to get into work.
With the success of the pilot in Scotland, the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy is turning its head to Liverpool City Region. To strive for the government’s high employment target, we need to create more opportunities for people with physical and mental health challenges.
The next pilot will see Liverpool Football Club Foundation and Virtual Health and Fitness leading the charge for the pre-employment pathways, with additional support coming from Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence who will provide occupational therapy if candidates require specific support.
And it’s not stopping there – further pilots have been confirmed across the UK, including West Midlands, Sheffield and Greater Manchester.
Get involved
Employers of all sizes and sector stakeholders are invited to pledge their support to the Sport and Physical Activity Employability Academy.
By signing the pledge, organisations across the sector can work in close partnership with CIMSPA and the DWP, ensuring employability training is shaped by industry need and driven by national workforce strategies.
