The future of workforce development is 'place based'...

I've been heard to say..."the future of workforce development is 'place based'".

This article from Clare Dunn MCIMSPA CMgr really got the cogs whirring and reminded me that I need to share a few thought fragments around the future of workforce development in sport and physical activity.

One of the critical challenges in workforce development, not just in sports but across various sectors, is the lack of representation. Many workforces do not reflect the diversity found in our general population. There are numerous reasons for this, stemming from systemic, systematic, and cultural dimensions - all contributing to a space that feels unwelcoming or inaccessible to certain groups.

Why does this matter?

You might wonder why this issue is significant. The answer lies in the fundamentals of how we grow participation in areas that have been excluded from sport and physical activity. If we genuinely want to increase participation and develop talent within these communities, (and I would argue that is where the real potential is to be found) having a workforce that understands and relates to the diverse environments and challenges people face is crucial. It's often referred to as the "people like me" effect, where individuals working within their communities serve as powerful catalysts for change for the people closest to them.

A real-life example...

A few years ago, I met someone involved in martial arts coaching in a deprived area of one of our major cities. Despite operating with limited resources and without formal qualifications, this individual was making a significant impact within the community. His club provided not just athletic training but also a safe space for young people, keeping them off the streets and out of trouble.

He faced several systemic barriers, like the inaccessibility of governing body courses and the irrelevance of the content to his environment. Yet, his impact was profound, illustrating the potential of decentralising educational and training systems.

The 'Grey Market' in coach and workforce development...

A staggering statistic from UK Coaching's 'Coaching Population Survey' that often comes up is that up to 50% of coaches do not have formal accreditation. Many of these coaches operate at what is known as the "helper level," (also referred to as 'level 0') contributing significantly despite their lack of formal recognition. This creates a form of 'grey market' in coaching which highlights the need for a shift in how we approach workforce development.

Not only are these people missing out on the support and protection that they could get from being part of a wider collective support enterprise but the organisation that is tasked with oversight and participation growth misses out on the information around what they do and who they do it with.

The power of decentralisation....

So, how do we bridge this gap? The answer lies in decentralisation. A shift from top-down, one size fits all, 'you come to us' approach to a ground-up model where we bring education and training to them, tailored to their specific environments and challenges.

This approach requires a shift in thinking...organisations must let go of some control and trust in the communities they serve. By engaging local experts and designing learning environments suited to local needs, we can create a more inclusive and effective system and build the workforce from the ground up - in the image of the people they serve.

Case studies and success stories

Organisations like StreetGames UK, through their decentralised 'doorstep sport' approach, demonstrate the feasibility and success of this model. They work with locally trusted organisations to provide opportunities and build networks that foster participation and talent development in hyper-local settings.

Similarly, Coach Core Foundation build local networks of employers and training providers to take young people who have been failed by the education system to join a new career in coaching leading to work based apprenticeship qualifications and future employment or higher education.

The Sport for Development Coalition has a network of organisations that use sport for social change - they have an army of people who are genuinely transforming lives working across a range of sports but too often they feel under supported and constrained by outdated education models.

The Active Partnerships network provides the infrastructure, local insight, network building to signpost to the areas and support required...they have provided the foundations for the sport and physical activity sector to have 'first mover advantage' in taking advantage of the shift of government policy towards a more devolved skills funding model.

Sport England has provided the strategic guidance and funding to enable these organisations to work in this way and has invested in CIMSPA over the past 8 years to establish flexible, cross sector professional standards, labour market intelligence and more recently a network of local skills specialists to support the develop of local skills plans and local skills accountability boards (LSABs).

Moving forward...

The journey towards a decentralised, inclusive workforce development model is difficult but necessary. It requires thinking from the ground up and trusting local communities to lead the way. The benefits are immense: a more representative workforce, improved participation, economic development and a profound social impact

For the first time in my career - sport and physical activity is at the forefront of the nation's workforce development ambitions...if we can grab hold of the momentum that has been built and take advantage of the sweeping reforms that have already taken place in wider public policy and within the sector itself - we stand to build an industry that is finally recognised for the huge value it brings to public health, economic prosperity and social cohesion.

I'm available to collaborate with any organisation looking to innovate and think differently to tackle these challenges, whether in the UK or beyond. Feel free to reach out via LinkedIn message.