Image: The scheme looks to improve skills in fitness

SkillsActive has launched its new ActiveAmbition programme in a bid to drive business growth by professionalising the active leisure sector and improving standards.

The initiative will also look to raise the aspirations of current and prospective employers and employees through effective skills development.

ActiveAmbition has been part-funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills through the Employer Investment Fund (EIF). It will see SkillsActive working with employers, trade associations and stakeholders across the UK over the next two years.

According to SkillsActive, the new scheme will expand on the work undertaken on the skills protocol within leisure.

James Emmett, head of employer engagement at SkillsActive, said: "It is widely recognised that upskilling existing and new employees is vital to the growth of the sector.

"ActiveAmbition represents a framework to provide improved skills delivery for the industry, building on the work undertaken by operators during 2011 to create the Skills Protocol and the subsequent report by the Skills Protocol Employer Leadership Group (SPELG)".

ActiveAmbition will enable SkillsActive to work with all active leisure sub-sectors and the home nations to create appropriate skills protocols that fit with their development needs and growth ambitions.

The programme will connect employers to solutions identified as priorities through activepassport, networks of approved training providers and the single qualifications framework.

To find out more about ActiveAmbition, please visit click here to visit the ActiveAmbition website