- Move signals England Athletics’ commitment to put sustainability as a central element of future planning
- Appointment of SB Partnerships to lead search marks significant milestone for new consultancy, launched only nine months ago
England Athletics has appointed the consultancy SB Partnerships (SBP) to lead the search for its first Official Sustainability Partner.
England Athletics is the membership and development body for grassroots athletics and running clubs in England, with over 140,000 registered athletes across 1,700 clubs and associated bodies nationwide.
SBP was chosen to manage the search due to its focus on securing sustainability-led partnerships between brands and rights holders and the extensive experience of Founder and Director, Sam Baring, who previously held senior positions at The Rugby Players’ Association, Ascot Racecourse, and the AOK Events Group.
The consultancy, launched in Autumn 2020, has gone from strength to strength with clients including caytoo, Be Military Fit, The Race Around, and the Leyton Sailing Team.
To support SBP’s growth, Dylan Williams has been recently appointed as Head of Sponsorship Sales. Having joined from CSM Sports & Entertainment, his experience of working with the British & Irish Lions, the European Tour, and The Ocean Race will be invaluable to SBP’s work with England Athletics.
Commenting on the partnership Andy Anstey, Commercial Manager at England Athletics, said: “Our inaugural search for an Official Sustainability Partner reflects our commitment to sustainability and our desire to secure a partner to help us as we start to develop our strategic approach. With its unique mix of experience and drive, we are confident SBP is the right consultancy to help us find this partner.”
Sam Baring, Director, SBP said: “We believe passionately in the power of sport to connect communities and England Athletics’ programmes are the perfect catalysts to doing just that. SBP’s brand side work aligns sustainability objectives with commercial goals and the Official Sustainability Partner opportunity with England Athletics provides a fantastic platform to those ambitions. We have particularly identified brands from the property and construction sectors as being targets for this opportunity given the strong relationships that England Athletics has with local authorities and councils across the country. We’re looking forward to getting started on the search and welcome all discussions which may lead to the right match.”
–ENDS–
Contact details:
Sam Baring, Director, SB Partnerships [+44 7340 914 054 / sam@sbpartnerships.co.uk]
Andy Anstey, England Athletics [aanstey@englandathletics.org]
About England Athletics
England Athletics’ vision as the not-for-profit membership and development body for grassroots athletics and running in England is “for athletics to become an inclusive sport where everyone belongs and can flourish.” England Athletics currently supports 1,650 affiliated clubs and organisations (covering track and field, road running, fell, hill, trail and cross country clubs), 142,000 registered athletes, 30,000 licensed coaches and leaders and 5,450 officials. By listening and consulting with the membership to understand what is needed at a grassroots level to develop the sport, England Athletics supports clubs and athletes from start to finish with, for example, recruitment and retention of participants, more competition opportunities, development and training of coaches, leaders, officials and volunteers, sustainable clubs, and more high-performing athletes and runners.
To find out more visit https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/placing-athletes-and-runners-at-the-heart-of-everything-we-do-2/
About SB Partnerships
SB Partnerships (SBP) is a sponsorship consultancy, launched in September 2020, that specialises in delivering value for brands and rights holders through strategic partnership programmes. Working across sport, the arts and not-for-profit, SBP’s core focus is sustainability-led partnerships – working with brands and rights holders alike in mapping out their sustainability objectives and aligning them to a sponsorship strategy. For more information, please visit www.sbpartnerships.co.uk