The Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) has become the first national institute to be awarded Academy Provider status by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure (NSA).

ISPAL has been appointed Academy Provider for Leadership and Management and will be responsible for delivering a range of discounted CPD programmes from September 2009. It is estimated that the programmes will reach more than 280 industry workers during the first year.

The courses, which will be made available via the Skills Academy, include free training needs analysis and can be delivered on site to suit the organisations taking part.

Sue Sutton, ISPAL chief executive, said: "The partnership with the National Skills Academy really does celebrate joined up thinking and should provide employers and employees within the sector the opportunity to make training decisions with complete confidence.

"We are very proud to have achieved Academy Provider status and look forward to extending our support to the industry."

The latest figures from SkillsActive's Sector Skills Agreement show that 64 per cent of managers do not feel they have the business and management skills they need to do their jobs.