agreement to replace REP directory

SHAKERS MOVERS &

OLDHAM COMMUNITY LEISURE Oldham Community Leisure has appointed Simon Blair as its head of business development. In the newlycreated role, Blair will oversee the trust’s marketing and sales functions, as well as its customer relationship platforms. As a member of the senior team, Blair will also be accountable for the organisation’s strategic direction.

SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT COALITION Andy Reed OBE has been named chair of the Sport for Development Coalition (SFDC). Ex-CIMSPA chair Reed succeeds Matt Stevenson Dodd, who had been sitting as interim chair of the SFDC board since 2018. Supported and funded by Sport England, Comic Relief and the Laureus sport foundation, the SFDC is a movement of organisations invested in the positive social power of sport and physical activity. UKACTIVE CIMSPA partner ukactive has expanded its management team. Chris Foster takes on the role of head of learning and development alongside David Gerrish, who has been named head of digital transformation. Emma Th omas and Gemma Williams have both been appointed client services managers. MAX ASSOCIATES Max Associates has welcomed the appointment of Rachel Gomm as principal consultant. Gomm’s role at the leisure and contract management consultancy will see her work with local authorities across a wide range of services, including procurement and facility strategies. FOOTBALL FOUNDATION Th e Football Foundation has announced former Football Association (FA) CEO Martin Glenn as its new chairman. Glenn will oversee the development of the FA’s strategy to aid grassroots football, created in conjunction with the FA, CIMSPA partner Sport England and the Premier League. GOVERNMENT Nigel Huddleston has been appointed as sports minister. Th e MP for Mid Worcestershire replaces Nigel Adams and is the fourth sports minister to take up offi ce in 16 months. Huddleston said he was “delighted” to oversee a sector that “sustains millions of jobs and activities that truly enhance people’s lives” in a statement on his offi cial web page.

CONTRACTS AND DEALS KEEPME AND TEN HEALTH & FITNESS JOIN FORCES Keepme, the AI-retention tool, has joined forces with CIMSPA partner Ten Health & Fitness. The partnership follows a recent £4m growth capital investment from Foresight Group LLP and is part of an ongoing growth strategy for Ten & Health Fitness, set to open in three new locations this year. ACTIVE LUTON CREATES BAME SWIMMING ROLES Active Luton has teamed up with the Institute of Swimming to provide swimming lessons throughout the local community. Active Luton trained 64 female swimming teachers through their CIMSPA-endorsed Swim England Qualifi cations last year, with 21 of the newly qualifi ed teachers having BAME heritage. £62.8M INVESTMENT FOR DURHAM LEISURE SERVICES Durham County Council has approved a £62.8m investment programme to transform leisure services across the county. Working in close consultation with CIMSPA partner Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework, proposals were submitted and approved by the council cabinet in January. 11 www.cimspa.co.uk

ACTIVE-NET BRANCHES OUT INTO SCOTLAND EVENT Active-net, a key networking event for the sector, is taking its blend of one-to-one meetings, seminars and networking opportunities to Scotland. The fi rst active-net Scotland and N Ireland will take place at Crieff Hydro, Perthshire on 9–10 September 2020 in partnership with CIMSPA and ukactive.