The end of last week marked a significant milestone in sport and leisure management in the United Kingdom with the formation of the Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA).
The body has resulted from a merger of the former Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) [itself a merger of the former Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) and the Institute for Sport Development (ISD)] and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM).
While the creation of a new professional organisation on the other side of the world may not appear to have much relevance to Australia or New Zealand, it is worth pointing out that professional associations and institutes, while being a vestige of the old British Empire, are alive and well in our part of the world. In addition, many of Australia or New Zealand's professional bodies in the leisure industry have often looked to the UK for guidance and, in some cases, leadership.
Last week, outgoing IPSAL Chief Executive Marcus Kingwell wrote "there has been a long build up to this event but given the strong widespread support from members and stakeholders, I have no doubt that this is the right move for ISPAL and for the wider sport and physical activity sector."
While the formation of IMPSA is being seen by many as a grand coming together, scratching the surface of the merger reveals a less happy picture.
10 years ago, ILAM had a membership of over 6,000 industry professionals backed by a range of resources including an industry leading, and pre-internet, information centre. It also owned 'The Grotto'/ILAM House, a substantial country house on the banks of the River Thames near Pangbourne, which it had inherited from an earlier parks and landscape management college.
However, as of its formation, IMSPA will have a membership of just 2,000 and will be located in leased office space within Loughborough University's SportPark.
In terms of membership decline, it would appear that as ISPAL moved towards the formation of IMSPA and sought to be more inclusive of sport management, so those members involved in the management of attractions, culture, events, parks, venues and tourism have felt disenfranchised and left.
In addition, none of the former ILAM/ISPAL staff will be moving to the new body so there will be a large hole in the collective institutional knowledge of the new organisation.
According to a leading UK leisure industry commentator "with regard to the aftermath of ILAM and the ISRM, it has gone about as badly as one might have feared.
"The end result of years of work and arguably millions of pounds of expenditure - if one takes into account the sale of ILAM House and the fact that ILAM's closing account will show a few hundred grand in the bank - seems to be a re-titled ISRM with a new set of trustees and a slightly revised set of objectives.
"While engaged on this process both organisations shed most of their members and, judging by the conversations I've had with people across the sector, almost all the goodwill of anyone who might have considered themselves a potential member of a new organisation.
"Just as the current (UK) Government's decision to send the country into economic and financial meltdown signals the end of public services, the sport, leisure and culture sector in the UK has no coherent professional voice to state its case."
For more information on IMSPA go to www.imspa.co.uk
Images: IMSPA's new logo (top) and ILAM House, home of the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management until its sale in 2008 (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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