Workforce Governance and Registration Scheme: Engaging with the insurance sector
Insurance. Arguably not the most glamorous subject and perhaps something that the majority of people taking part in, or delivering, sport and physical activity, don’t give a great deal of thought to.
And yet, without the right insurance cover in place, most sporting activities simply couldn’t happen. Organising, delivering and participating in sport does come with an inherent level of risk, and the appropriate level of insurance cover is essential for protecting all parties.
In recent years we have unfortunately seen a reduction in the number of insurers active in the sports and physical activity sector. This has been driven by a number of factors, but perhaps the most significant being the number of investigations into poor cultures with cases of abuse and harm, along with the growing concerns surrounding concussion and long term disability. The sad recent cases of abuse and harm in sport that we are all familiar with, and the ensuing compensation claims, have also contributed to this environment.
The net result is that fewer insurers in the market inevitably leads to less competition, which increases the probability of higher premiums for sporting bodies, clubs, businesses, coaches and anyone involved in delivering sport and physical activity.
We see engagement with the insurance sector as a key part of our ongoing Workforce Governance and Registration Scheme project, which has the objective of supporting, safeguarding and regulating the workforce to allow everyone taking part in sport and physical activity to enjoy safe and high-quality experiences, and to be supported in achieving their goals in a positive environment.
A central part of this project is working with sporting bodies and other stakeholders (such as activity providers) to create a better and broader understanding of the coaching workforce; to map training and qualifications to sector professional standards; and to support sporting bodies and others in developing policies and standards for deployment that are fit for purpose. Completing this work will also allow us to develop a prototype national registration scheme.
All of this is designed to get the sector to a position where every person involved in delivering sport and physical activity can effectively be given a ‘Kitemark’ to show that they are qualified, competent and safe to work with.
How does this help with insurance? Well, if insurers and their underwriters can see that there is a consistent set of standards for deployment in place for those who are involved in coaching and instruction across all sports and physical activities, with a regulated national registration scheme to back that up, it can give them more confidence to remain in the sector. This could also, over time, persuade others to re-enter the market, creating a ‘healthier’ competitive environment.
In October, with the help of expert consultant Ian Braid of DOCIAsport, CIMSPA convened a meeting of insurers and brokers, along with a small number of national governing bodies, to explain the Workforce Governance and Registration Scheme project. This was held at the headquarters of AXA XL, the largest insurer of sport and activity in the UK, with whom we have had several meetings and discussions over the last few months.
The representatives from the financial services sector present at the meeting left with a good understanding of the work that CIMSPA and the sector are collectively doing to create consistent professional standards and accredited job roles, and there was an in principle decision to recognise the CIMSPA Kitemark as a critical factor in evaluating risk and setting premiums. This will help the insured in the sector with their future financial planning and budgeting, in what are challenging economic times for us all.
We will continue to work closely not only with the insurance sector but also their specialist legal advisers throughout this project to ensure that sporting organisations, clubs, coaches and participants can continue to enjoy the right level of insurance to underpin the great work that they do.
See the latest Workforce Governance and Registration Scheme Project updates below.