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UK sponsorship news update ...

November 2009

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30th November, 2009
GlaxoSmithKline announced as Tier 3 Sponsor as London 2012 anti-doping plans confirmed

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today announced GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as its Official Laboratory Services Provider in a Tier Three deal.

GSK will provide facilities and equipment to enable Kings College London to operate a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited satellite laboratory at Games-time.

There will be thousands of samples analysed throughout the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will be in operation 24 hours a day throughout the Games. The facility will be based at one of GSK’s research and development sites in the UK offering the capacity for King’s College to independently run the laboratory, working with the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee during London 2012.

Alliance

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: "Doping control is a requirement of any Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We have taken a partnership approach to delivering it for London 2012 and I’m thrilled that GlaxoSmithKline is on board. Its involvement, working with the King’s College experts, will see world class facilities available for an independently run anti-doping operation throughout the Games".

"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games provide GSK with a huge opportunity to be part of the delivery of an outstanding world event", said Andrew Witty (right), CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. "I'm delighted we've put this alliance with King’s College London together to ensure that excellent science can play a key role in ensuring the Games are conducted to the highest ethical standards and that athletes can lead healthier lives.

"The Olympic and Paralympic ideals of people striving to achieve their best are core to those of GSK, as we share those values of excellence. There is great alignment in these missions and I look forward to our people making a significant contribution to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games".

One of the UK’s leading universities, King’s College London‘s Drug Control Centre has a track record in anti-doping control, analysing samples collected from athletes competing in major sporting events and training.

Working with UK Sport to implement the UK’s anti-doping policy in sport, the centre carried out more than 8,000 tests across seventy sports last year. The Centre, led by Director, Professor David Cowan, is well respected internationally and has a proven record of successfully delivering analysis services for major games. It was the first human sports drug-testing laboratory established outside of an Olympic Games.

"I am delighted that GlaxoSmithKline has chosen to make this important contribution to our ongoing work at King's College London to help deter drug cheats from coming to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games", said Professor Cowan, who is Director of the Centre. "With this significant partner we have the capacity to be able to help protect the health of the athlete and the integrity of the Games".

GSK begins work immediately.

Related news

19.11.2009 BMW becomes a Tier One Partner and exclusive automotive sponsor of the 2012 Games
21.10.2009 London 2012 announces Thomas Cook as Official Supporter
29.9.2009 Visa announced as Presenting Sponsor for Britain's Team 2012
28.9.2009 Olympics timekeeper Omega extends sponsorship through to 2020
11.8.2009 Standard Life sponsors British Basketball on its journey to London 2012
31.7.2009 Olympic Games Act puts off potential sponsors: survey
15.7.2009 Panasonic UK appoints brandRapport to leverage 2012 sponsorship
17.6.2009 LOCOG signs up The Nielsen Company as Official Market Research Services provider to London 2012
1.6.2009 LOCOG announces Holiday Inn as latest London 2012 Olympics sponsor
27.3.2009 Crystal becomes sixteenth London 2012 commercial sponsor
15.1.2009 London 2012 appoints Adecco as Tier Two Supporter, as Tier One Supporter Nortel files for bankruptcy protection
3.12.2008 Number 10 hosts inaugural meeting of London 2012's The Chairman's Club
21.10.2008 Cadbury becomes latest London 2012 Tier Two supporter
9.8.2009 Nortel announced as London 2012's Official Network Infrastructure Partner and seventh Tier One sponsor
9.7.2008 BP signs as latest Tier One Olympics partner
25.3.2008 Risk that 2012 Olympics sponsorship target "will not be achievable": NAO report
24.8.2007 New Tier 1 category added to London 2012 sponsorship programme
12.7.2007 EDF unveiled as London 2012 Tier One sponsor and sustainability partner
16.3.2007 Lloyds TSB becomes first domestic sponsorship partner of London 2012
5.2.2007 High profile airline and sportswear sponsorship categories launched for London 2012 Games

Useful link

About us: sponsorship - London 2012

 

27th November, 2009
M&G to sponsor RHS Chelsea Flower Show

M&G, the UK's leading fund manager, will be the new headline sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the Charity Gala Preview for the next three years. Funds from the sponsorship will support the RHS as a charity.

The agreement will provide opportunities for M&G to continue to build brand awareness through the world's most famous gardening show. The Charity Gala Preview sells out in hours, say the RHS, and is believed to be attended by more FTSE 100 Chief Executives than any other event.

RHS President, Giles Coode-Adams, underlined the importance of the deal: "This partnership with M&G will support our work to help millions of people to garden, fund vital horticultural research, brighten up communities and develop the next generation of gardeners.

"RHS shows provide inspiration for people around the world. With a phenomenal response from specialist growers, top designers and leading lights, including a show garden by M&G, 2010 RHS Chelsea will be bursting with horticultural delights and world-class displays".

Highlights

Michael McLintock, chief executive of M&G, said: "We see our sponsorship of RHS Chelsea as a natural partnership. Chelsea is about achieving the highest standards and it is that approach that has driven M&G to become one of Europe's leading active asset managers".

Show garden highlights to date include the biggest ever garden by the Eden Project, the return of regular RHS best in show winner, Tom Stuart-Smith, with a garden for Laurent-Perrier and a garden for Tourism Malaysia designed by celebrity gardener, James Wong.

M&G will also bring a show garden to Chelsea to celebrate its sponsorship. The final garden selection will be made on 7th December, 2009.

 

26th November, 2009
Plans unveiled for new World Snooker Tour, set to launch in 2010/11 season

World Snooker Limited have today announced plans for a joint venture with IMG, the world's premier and most diversified sports, entertainment and media company, which will create an unprecedented new World Snooker Tour.

The intention is to capitalise on the burgeoning interest in professional snooker in many countries around the world, and develop snooker’s professional circuit in a way similar to that of global sports such as tennis and golf.

The new concept envisages a minimum of fifteen professional ranking tournaments, plus invitation events, being played throughout the first year, with the number of events to be increased in subsequent years. It is anticipated that the first World Snooker Tour events will be phased in next season (2010/2011).

World Snooker and IMG, who currently produce the BBC’s snooker coverage and manage World Snooker's International Broadcast rights, will work closely with independent promoters worldwide in the planning of the World Snooker Tour and replicate the success of established tournaments in the UK and China.

World Snooker Chairman Sir Rodney Walker, who first met with IMG several months ago to discuss a roadmap for the future of snooker, said: "We have brought forward today’s announcement of the proposed World Snooker Tour in response to misleading, inaccurate and downright untruthful comments about the sport which have been made in the past few months.

Strengths

"In the last five years, the sport has progressed from an uncertain financial position with a history of turmoil", he continued, "to a sport with financial stability, renewed long-term worldwide broadcast contracts and new sponsorship agreements.

"Together with IMG we believe the time is now right to build on these underlying strengths to put in place a World Snooker Tour. We hope the players and promoters will recognise the opportunities of being part of this ambitious plan and help in bringing it to fruition".

Graham Fry, Managing Director, IMG Sports Media Production, put the announcment in context: "I have long believed in the potential of snooker and IMG has developed a formula which should lead to major growth in the sport. This new approach will significantly increase the number of sanctioned ranking tournaments which in turn will improve both the earnings for players and promoters. This will also help in the development of new talent".

Adam Kelly, Marketing Director, IMG Sport Media, who is leading the project from a commercial perspective, added: "The strategy is founded on two major elements, profitable rights distribution and premier quality production. I believe we have something here that can unite the snooker community. With the support of the players and the World Snooker Board this approach can lead to a brighter and stronger future for the sport".

 

26th November, 2009
ESA Awards: PUMA Ocean Racing scoops best International Sponsor award

PUMA Ocean Racing has received the European Sponsorship Award for best International Sponsor campaign for its efforts during the Volvo Ocean Race. PUMA was short-listed for two categories, business to consumer and international.

PUMA, specifically the PUMA Ocean Racing team, was the only business to consumer company to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The company brought its mobile pop-up stores to all eleven ports, and PUMA City to Alicante, Spain and Boston, Massachusetts.

PUMA City is a tour de force of architecture and design: the massive 11,000 square-foot structure is made from twenty-four, forty-foot long steel shipping containers, each weighing in at eleven tons. It was built in China and designed to be a mobile unit.

In addition to retail efforts, PUMA also engaged consumers through social networking channels such as a blog, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and an iPhone application.

Inclusive

PUMA’s Volvo Ocean Race campaign was the most innovative marketing campaign ever taken on by the company. With its eye-catching boat, il mostro, PUMA was able to boast the greatest media exposure of all the individual boats. PUMA Ocean Racing received the most television coverage and the second most print coverage.

"It's a real honour to be nominated for this award", said Antonio Bertone, Chief Marketing Officer. "We entered into the sailing category with the overall goal of making sailing inclusive and inviting new people into the sport.

"Our PUMA Ocean Racing team brought sailing to places in the world that have never seen sailing as an extreme, competitive sport. Our entry into the Volvo Ocean Race helped us show the world we’re serious about sailing and are committed to this new category".

Other award winners were Wrigley’s Extra: Extra 90+ (Business to Consumer Award); DHL Express Sweden – DHL Football Delivered (Business to Business); Heineken Internal Table Football Competition (HitFC) (Business to Employee); and Nicotinell - Helping Football Fans Kick the Habit (Business to Community).

 

25th November, 2009
UK Radioplayer to open up new online radio sponsorship opportunities

A new online radio player unveiled by the BBC and commercial radio will offer new sponsorship and other commercial opportunities.

The UK Radioplayer, due for launch early next year, is a pop-up console which will be open to stream more than four hundred licensed national, local, community and student radio stations, offering a unique, constantly updated live and on-demand audio service. It allows listeners to search every station on the UK Radioplayer network, identifying news programmes, sports highlights, musical genres or even individual songs, using a revolutionary new search engine designed for radio.

Users can store their favourite stations on pre-set buttons, for easy access. This mocked-up demo of how the player might look and work includes illustrations of the commercial opportunities that may be possible, subject to final approval.

The announcement came as the industry revealed that that Heads of Terms for the project have been signed by the BBC, RadioCentre, Global Radio and Guardian Media Group.

The player is launched through radio stations' websites. It has a standard look and functionality, irrespective of which station is being listening to.

Stations which choose to join the Radioplayer will have the freedom to accompany their live streams with additional material of their choice – on-demand audio, click-to-buy music services, webcams, track listings, adverts or the weather, for example.

In the first instance, the service will be made available to all Ofcom-licensed networks. It will initially be available through desktop computers, with later versions intended for smartphones and other internet-connected devices like IPTVs. All BBC radio services will be included in the player, subject to the Corporation's approvals process.

The UK Radioplayer follows discussions in the Radio Council about how the industry might deliver cross-sector digital projects. The player will be launched subject to consultation with the BBC Trust and RadioCentre board.

 

20th November, 2009
Xchanging becomes title sponsor of The Boat Race

After five years as presenting sponsor of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, Xchanging plc - the global business processing company - has become the first title sponsor of the event, ahead of the 156th Race next April.

Henceforth, the race that traces its history back more than 180 years will be known as The Xchanging Boat Race.

Xchanging branding will feature prominently on a new event logo displayed on the Tideway course and at the start in Putney and the finish at Mortlake.

"We are pleased and honoured to assume title sponsorship of an event that typifies the best of sportsmanship and competitive intensity", said David Andrews, founder and CEO of Xchanging.

"Xchanging draws strength and inspiration from the determined example of the Oxford and Cambridge crews", he added. "We expect the 2010 Xchanging Boat Race to be another compelling sporting battle and wish both crews all the best".

Identify

Commenting on Xchanging’s new sponsorship commitment, Robert Gillespie, Chairman of The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL), organisers of the Race, said: "We are delighted that Xchanging wishes to identify so closely with the event and invest in its future."

Xchanging first became involved with the Race in 2005 and renewed its sponsorship for a further five years in 2008. Since then, the number of countries across the world screening live or recorded highlights of the Race has risen by more than fifty to total 153 in 2009, including China, Russia and Brazil.

In just ten years, Xchanging has become a global business processing company with blue-chip customers in forty-two countries. It now employs over 8,400 people in nine countries. Xchanging recently opened a new US headquarters in Chicago.

The 2010 Xchanging Boat Race will be staged at 4.30pm on Saturday, 3rd April. It will be screened live on BBC 1 in a two-hour programme.

-----------------------------------------------

Picture: LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19th: Oxford President Sjoerd Hamburger (L) of The Netherlands and Cambridge President Deaglan McEachern of the USA pose on the balcony of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel over looking Big Ben on November 19th, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

 

20th November, 2009
COMMENT: Thierry Henry - damaged goods or enduring role model?

With his current sponsors rushing to his defence and swearing abiding loyalty, Thierry Henry's income stream from sponsorship might appear to be safe, writes Richard Fox. He may yet be able to brush off his hand's brush with the ball.

But even though the dust is still flying around a handball incident that snatched away Ireland's place in the FIFA World Cup finals - some estimates suggest it cost them £100m - it seems more than likely that it will have permanently damaged the player's saleability to sponsors.

Sponsorship of individuals can be a risky business. In a way, that's part of the appeal of the genre and why what the sponsored parties don't do can often be as important as what they do do.

Steering clear of extra-marital affairs, avoiding drugs, not beating people up in night clubs - these and other attributes, such as not cheating, are important qualifications that a potential sponsor will look for in the CV of a candidate front-man or front-woman.

In many ways, sponsored celebs. are walking posters. They become signs, triggering an instant reaction based on their carefully-nurtured, personal brand image. They become a shorthand for the qualities and associations that their image-conscious sponsor is seeking - and is often prepared to invest in very heavily.

Byword

But if the celeb.'s image changes, or is damaged, the effect isn't neutral. Some celebs. slowly fade away and thereby lose their currency and their relevance. But others find themselves suddenly caught up in adverse publicity. The sponsor is seen to be associated with, supportive of and, to an extent, synonymous with the failings of their protégé.

This particular incident looks set to run and run - perhaps to become a byword for cheating. It is such a huge talking point, the subject of such intense media focus, that there's little chance of Henry's brand image making a recovery.

So Henry's current and potential sponsors will very soon have to ask themselves whether they really wish to be tarred with the same brush ...

 

19th November, 2009
BMW becomes a Tier One Partner and exclusive automotive sponsor of the 2012 Games

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), has announced that BMW has become the Automotive Partner of London 2012.

BMW will provide the four thousand or so vehicles which are required at the Games to transport athletes, technical officials, media, LOCOG operational teams, national Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, the IOC and marketing partners.

In addition, BMW becomes a Sustainability Partner supporting London 2012’s commitment to deliver its "low carbon" and "healthy living" Games.

Ian Robertson, member of the board of management of BMW AG, responsible for sales and marketing said: "Sustainability is a central pillar of our business and guides all aspects of our operations. This has led to our being named by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as the most sustainable automotive company, for the fifth year in a row. Therefore we have a natural affinity with London 2012 and its commitment to low carbon and healthy living".

Challenging

He continued: "We see our partnership as a major opportunity, over the next three years and beyond, to focus attention on our range of the most fuel efficient premium cars – and also to shine a light on the future of individual mobility. This partnership will be an inspiration for our customers, employees, dealers and suppliers".

LOCOG set challenging targets with respect to CO2 and European emission standards for the car fleet. BMW will provide a fleet of cars which not only meet the Euro 6 emissions standard but also beat the maximum average of 120g CO2/km established by LOCOG. BMW leads the automotive industry in emission-lowering technology through its Efficient Dynamics programme.

The company will also showcase electric vehicles as part of its activation in 2012.

LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: "Operationally, an automotive deal is vital for any organising committee and so I’m thrilled BMW is on board. They share our vision to stage a sustainable Games in 2012 and will be a valued partner. We welcome BMW on board and look forward to working with them over the next three years".

Support

During the Games, BMW bicycles will be available for use by athletes in the Athletes Village and by London 2012 staff. BMW motorcycles will also be used in certain Olympic and Paralympic events.

A proportion of the fleet will be wheelchair-accessible and BMW will convert a number of vehicles for use by disabled drivers and passengers.

BMW has invested over £1bn in the UK since 2000 and employs over 8,000 people in manufacturing, distribution and financial services in Britain. The company has created over 50,000 further jobs through support services, suppliers and dealer distribution networks. BMW will also activate the deals across the iconic Mini brand between now and 2012.

Related news

21.10.2009 London 2012 announces Thomas Cook as Official Supporter
29.9.2009 Visa announced as Presenting Sponsor for Britain's Team 2012
28.9.2009 Olympics timekeeper Omega extends sponsorship through to 2020
11.8.2009 Standard Life sponsors British Basketball on its journey to London 2012
31.7.2009 Olympic Games Act puts off potential sponsors: survey
15.7.2009 Panasonic UK appoints brandRapport to leverage 2012 sponsorship
17.6.2009 LOCOG signs up The Nielsen Company as Official Market Research Services provider to London 2012
1.6.2009 LOCOG announces Holiday Inn as latest London 2012 Olympics sponsor
27.3.2009 Crystal becomes sixteenth London 2012 commercial sponsor
15.1.2009 London 2012 appoints Adecco as Tier Two Supporter, as Tier One Supporter Nortel files for bankruptcy protection
3.12.2008 Number 10 hosts inaugural meeting of London 2012's The Chairman's Club
21.10.2008 Cadbury becomes latest London 2012 Tier Two supporter
9.8.2009 Nortel announced as London 2012's Official Network Infrastructure Partner and seventh Tier One sponsor
9.7.2008 BP signs as latest Tier One Olympics partner
25.3.2008 Risk that 2012 Olympics sponsorship target "will not be achievable": NAO report
24.8.2007 New Tier 1 category added to London 2012 sponsorship programme
12.7.2007 EDF unveiled as London 2012 Tier One sponsor and sustainability partner
16.3.2007 Lloyds TSB becomes first domestic sponsorship partner of London 2012
5.2.2007 High profile airline and sportswear sponsorship categories launched for London 2012 Games

Useful link

About us: sponsorship - London 2012

 

18th November, 2009
MCC to sell off naming rights to "the home of cricket"?

A widely-reported story in The Times today says that the MCC is proposing a £400m redevelopment of Lord's, to be funded in part by the selling of flats around the periphery of the stadium, but with the option of offering more sponsorship packages, which might include attaching a sponsor's name to the ground.

Under the redevelopment plans, Lord's would increase its seating capacity to around 37,000 and build an underground academy, brasserie and a bigger museum.

More specifically on the academy, a statement issued previously by Lord's spoke of their goal being to "develop the indoor school into an international cricket laboratory with a sports injury clinic and treatment rooms, plus analysis suite and gymnasium".

Intense

It seems unlikely that such a proposal would be greeted with much enthusiasm by the cricketing establishment (writes Richard Fox), but least of all by the highly conservative MCC members, who can be expected to mount furious resistance to any move to re-christen "the home of cricket".

The funding of cricket, acknowledged as one of the UK's national games, is already under intense scrutiny at the moment, with culture secretary Ben Bradshaw considering changing the status of Ashes Test matches to add them to the so-called "crown jewels" list of sporting events.

Such a move would enforce exclusive live broadcast of Ashes matches on free-to-air television, implying a severe loss of income from broadcasting contracts for the sport.

18.11.2009 Statement on the Vision for Lord’s - issued by Lord's in reply to the article in The Times

 

17th November, 2009
Namaqua Wines to sponsor Sky News' winter cricket coverage

Namaqua Wines will be the broadcast sponsor of Sky Sports' coverage of England's tour to South Africa, in a deal brokered by Essentially Group.

The action gets under way this Friday with the first Twenty20 match taking place in Johannesburg.

The sponsorship, brokered by Nick Hoyle at Essentially Group and Stephen Ladlow at Sky Media, will feature Namaqua branding on opening and closing sequences and breakbumpers either side of advert breaks, together with on-air promos. The creative is being produced by Sky Sports.

Namaqua has previously sponsored Sky Sports' cricket coverage, having supported coverage of the Twenty20 Cup in Summer 2008.

Namaqua is South Africa's biggest selling wine brand, both in the South African home market and worldwide, with sales of over 4.6 million 9 litre cases per annum. It now sells well over a million nine litre cases per annum in the UK alone.

Quality

Simon Halliday of Raisin Social, Namaqua’s UK importer said: "England’s tour of South Africa should make for some fantastic viewing and this is a great opportunity to associate our brand with such an exciting fixture on this winter's sporting schedule".

David Shore of Sky Media underlined the significance of the deal for the broadcaster: "It’s great to re-sign Namaqua as broadcast sponsor. It confirms that Sky Sports' cricket coverage delivers excellent quality audiences and superb coverage that brands wish to be associated with".

Already facing a personnel mini-crisis with the absence of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad for the first T20 match, the England team confront a stern challenge this winter against Graeme Smith’s South Africa, currently rated by the ICC as the world’s top team. They contest two Twenty20 internationals, five One-Day Internationals and four Test matches.

Sky Sports' live coverage will be the first cricket from South Africa in high definition. David Gower will present, with commentary from the likes of Sir Ian Botham, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and David Lloyd.

 

16th November, 2009
Microsoft unveils opportunity to sponsor Windows 7 screens

Microsoft Advertising has unveiled two new exclusive branding opportunities available on Windows 7.

Microsoft is enabling global marketers to utilise the Windows 7 desktop or internet browsing experience exclusively for their brand, via their Windows Theme Experience and Windows Personalization Gallery offerings. The announcement was made at the Monaco Media Forum in Monte Carlo.

Both of these Windows 7 theme experiences are being tested by a handful of brands, says the company, as part of a pilot program that runs until October 2010. The themes allow new consumer engagement opportunities across Microsoft’s product portfolio and let consumers connect with their favourite brands outside traditional online advertising. The themes are opt-in for consumers, who have the choice to download the branded themes they find most attractive.

Maximise

Microsoft describes Windows Theme Experience as "a robust sponsorship opportunity that offers engagement beyond the desktop with a combination of elements including Internet Explorer 8 add-ons, Windows 7 and Windows Vista web-connected gadgets, Windows 7 backgrounds and borders and operating system audio elements".

In addition, brands will be able to maximise their presence on Microsoft properties worldwide, including MSN and Windows Live, and may be able to be included in Windows Galleries and the new desktop gadgets and add-ons that will ultimately drive consumers to a sponsor’s dedicated download page. These new themes are intended for a brand’s most passionate fans, says Microsoft, and allow for a deeper engagement by letting consumers embed their favourite brand into their PC experience.

The Windows Personalization Gallery offers a desktop branding experience for users throughout the operation of their Windows 7-based PC, including backgrounds, slide shows, borders and application audio elements.

Global advertisers already on board include Ducati, Infiniti, Porsche and Twentieth Century Fox. In addition to these global brands’ themes, there are seven Microsoft themes: two for Xbox "Gears of War"; three for Zune: Characters, Elements and Zodiac; and Bing’s Best and Lugares Coloridos.

 

 
16th November, 2009

Britannia Rescue to sponsor the British Bobsleigh Association

Britannia Rescue has announced that it has agreed a new sponsorship deal with the British Bobsleigh Association. The sponsorship starts this month (November 2009) and will include the run-up to the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, which take place in February 2010.

By becoming the main sponsor, Britannia Rescue will provide funding for the team's ongoing training requirements. The British bobsleigh team is one of Britain's top medal hopes at the Winter Olympics and the Britannia Rescue sponsorship provides them with vital financial support.

This is one of the first commercial sponsorship deals for a British winter sports team and will include Britannia Rescue branded bobsleighs and training kit.

Britannia Rescue is the fourth largest breakdown provider in the UK and is part of the LV= insurance, investment and pensions group of companies. The company operates a network of over three hundred independent rescue agents across the UK and it boasts an average response time to callouts from distressed motorists of less than forty minutes.

Simon Stevens, general manager of Britannia Rescue, said: "We are delighted to have agreed this deal with the British Bobsleigh Association. Bobsleigh is a fast and dynamic Olympic sport and this is a great fit with the Britannia Rescue business. This sponsorship will help us increase awareness of our brand and the great value products we offer to motorists looking for breakdown cover".

The Chairman of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association,Martin Allison, put the agreement in context: "This deal has certainly been a case of Britannia Rescue coming to our rescue! The sponsorship and funding that Britannia Rescue is providing is key to giving the team every chance of success at the Winter Olympics".

 

 
12th November, 2009

Pukka Pies signs up as UK Championship snooker's title sponsor

World Snooker has announced Pukka Pies as the new title sponsor of snooker's UK Championship.

One of the sport's premier events, the tournament, which runs from December 5th to 13th at the International Centre in Telford, will be known as the Pukka Pies UK Championship. This follows the signing of an agreement, initially for one year, between World Snooker and the Leicester-based pie manufacturer.

Pukka Pies is a privately owned family business, founded in 1963. It employs 270 people and produces over fifty million pies and pasties per year, at the most modern pie production facility in Europe.

Five-times UK Champion Stephen Hendry said: "Snooker gets fantastic television exposure and viewing figures so we have a lot to offer sponsors. I'm delighted that we've got Pukka Pies on board for the UK Championship."

Leicester's Mark Selby, the World number 7, was equally upbeat: "It's great news for snooker to have another big sponsor on board. The UK Championship is one of our best tournaments - all of the players are desperate to win it and it's up to us to make sure it's a brilliant event. As a Leicester man I'm also delighted to have a local company involved in snooker."

World Snooker chairman, Sir Rodney Walker, said: "We're delighted to welcome Pukka Pies on board as title sponsor of the UK Championship. It's a famous and successful British brand, which makes it an appropriate sponsor for one of our biggest tournaments. Everyone at World Snooker and the players are looking forward to working closely with Pukka Pies to make this year's tournament a great success."

Pukka Pies enjoy a diverse range of sporting partnerships encompassing football, netball, hockey and motorsport. They are the sponsors of the official England Football Supporters Band and club sponsors of England's most successful ladies hockey team, Leicester Ladies.

 

 
11th November, 2009

Loaded partners Durex Ora! for Loaded Laftas Comedy Awards

IPC Ignite's Loaded has announced a brand new sponsor for its Loaded LAFTAS comedy awards. Now in their seventh year, the LAFTAS will be sponsored by Durex Ora! – the "frank and honest" online community due to launch in January, "where you can cut through the smut to talk honestly about sex".

The Loaded LAFTAS with Durex Ora! are bigger and better than ever, say the organisers, with more categories covering all kinds of comedy. From Funniest Man and Woman to Funniest Film and Newspaper Columnist, the thirteen categories include three new entrants: Funniest Twitterer, Best DVD and Funniest Panel Show. All the winners will be chosen by Loaded readers via a dedicated microsite at www.loaded.co.uk/laftas.

Voting opens this week, for ten weeks, with the awards heavily marketed across the Loaded magazine and website, as well as IPC Ignite's other men and music brands, Nuts, NME and Uncut.

The nominations will be unveiled in early January and the star-studded awards ceremony itself will take place on January 28th, 2010 at London's Cuckoo Club.

Sex

A spokesman for Durex Ora! said: "At Durex we think about sex all the time. In fact, we've been thinking about sex for eighty years now and we've learned a lot about how to make it even better. In our 80th year, as we prepare to launch Durex Ora!, we're delighted to partner with Loaded to sponsor the LAFTAS".

Last year saw Leigh Francis crowned as the Funniest Man and Ruth Jones as the Funniest Woman. US comedy show My Name is Earl picked up the award for the Funniest TV Show, whilst In Bruges was crowned the Funniest Film. The coveted Best Stand Up award went to Jimmy Carr, whilst the Funniest Double Act was awarded to Adam & Joe.

 

6th November, 2009

England 2018 announce PwC as first sponsor

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) were this morning officially announced as the first sponsor backing England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World CupTM.

Ian Powell (PwC Chairman) and Julie Clark (PwC Head of Sport) greeted Paul Elliott MBE, ex-Chelsea player and England 2018 board member at PwC's Embankment Place offices today, where they all signed a 'Backing the Bid' wall.

With a long track record of advising football clubs, from the top of the Premier League through to those in the lower divisions, PwC will act as business adviser for the campaign to host the World Cup 2018 in England. Led by Julie Clark the 14-strong PwC team will be working to provide rigour and independent advice to various aspects of the bid, helping England 2018 in their discussions with key stakeholders including the UK government, applicant host cities and FIFA.

Impact

Julie Clark, Head of Sport, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "We are tremendously passionate about our partnership with England 2018, as well as the UK sports market, and look forward to providing economic impact assessment, guidance on tax and guarantees, and advice on the budget to the bid team. PwC has a strong regional network of offices which is very well aligned with the list of applicant host cities and the sponsorship therefore benefits the firm across the UK."

Preliminary economic impact figures demonstrate staging the tournament could equate to £3.2bn for the country.

Ian Powell, Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, added: "We are delighted to have been appointed as the first top tier sponsor for the England 2018 World Cup bid, and I am very excited to champion this with a call to UK businesses to back the bid. We also recognise that football has the power to break down barriers and hope that our partnership with England 2018 will help us deliver our own community programmes even more widely across the UK."

England 2018 Chairman, Lord Triesman, commented on the partnership: "PwC will provide us with excellent support throughout the campaign. We are delighted a firm of such global business pedigree has chosen to support us in this way and feel their services and expertise will be valuable assets to the England 2018 World Cup Bid.

 
5th November, 2009

Epson announces its sponsorship of Redman-Holmes staged Smart-Arts exhibition

Leading imaging specialist Epson has announced its sponsorship of the Redman-Holmes staged Smart-Arts exhibition being held at La Galleria, Pall Mall, London from 10th December, 2009.

Artist David Holmes designed one of the postage stamps for the 2012 Olympic Games issued by the Royal Mail recently. This inspired him and photographer Paul Redman to invite other artists who have also been commissioned to design postage stamps to join them to exhibit and sell their work at a collaborative exhibition.

The original works from the participating artists, which include illustrations, photographs and lino cuts, have been scanned or photographed to produce digital files. A limited edition of thirty A3 prints of each work have been produced using Epson’s Stylus Photo R2880 A3+ printer and UltraChrome K3 Vivid Magenta ink to ensure accurate colour reproduction and high quality, long lasting prints.

Innovative

The award-winning Stylus Photo R2880 is able to deliver quality at high speed, thanks to its Epson Micro Piezo print head, which is coated with ink repelling Teflon to ensure unparalleled accuracy in dot placement. The UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta enables superb grey balance and precise colour without any colour cast, says the company. It also maintains the superior features of the UltraChrome K3 ink such as colour accuracy of neutral and dark colours, short-term colour stability and smooth tonal gradation from shadow to light.

In addition to individual works from Paul Redman and David Holmes, the exhibition will include examples of their innovative Photo-Peinture collaboration. These works are a combination of Redman’s photography enhanced with acrylic, oil and water colour paints directly on to the print by Holmes.

Smart-Arts runs from Thursday, 10th December until Tuesday, 22nd December, 2009 at La Galleria, Pall Mall, London SW1.

 
2nd November, 2009

LV= sponsors rugby's Anglo-Welsh tournament

Insurance, investments and pensions group LV= is the new title sponsor of the LV= Cup, rugby's Anglo-Welsh tournament. The competition is jointly managed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

LV= has over 3.6 million customers and employs over 3,800 people, and has been expanding its businesses and its sponsorships. The initial two year deal for the LV= Cup, with an option to renew for a further two years, will build on LV='s existing investment in rugby union and complements its LV= County Championship sponsorship in cricket.¹

The high profile LV= Cup is a sixteen team competition involving the twelve English Guinness Premiership clubs and four Welsh regional teams. This year's competition commences on 5th November, 2009 and the final will be played in March 2010 at a neutral venue to be confirmed. The eventual winner, if an English club, will gain a place in the Heineken Cup for next season.

The tournament already has a broadcaster, with Sky Sports committed to promoting the LV= Cup. They will screen one live match per round, plus the semi-finals and final, for the next five years. The competition also has a committed supporter base with an average of 8,500 spectators at each pool game over the last three years, and 55,000 attending last April’s final at Twickenham Stadium.

Expanding

The RFU, WRU and LV=, as well as Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) and Regional Rugby Wales, which oversee the teams playing in the competition, have all jointly committed to extensively promote the LV= Cup using existing channels and media.

David Radford, LV=Group Marketing Director, commented: "We are delighted to be extending our sponsorship interests in rugby with The LV= Cup. As an expanding business we see The LV= Cup providing a good fit with our target audiences and we’re pleased to put our support behind this popular competition".
 

¹ LV= has been the title sponsor of the LV= County Championship, the premier domestic cricket championship, since 2002.

E&OE

Creative Commons License
Parts of this work are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Lord's plaque: author Ned Richards: source http://www.flickr.com/photos/nedrichards/15934485/

Picture of Thierry Henry: author Sono pazzi 19:05, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

Picture of snooker cue: author Neil Rickards

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