Pearlfinders: Headline Sponsor of the 2026 ESA Awards
and 2026 ESA Awards Category Sponsor of ESA Sponsorship of the Year
Pearlfinders empowers commercial teams at Europe’s most successful sport rights-holders, charities, cultural organisations and agencies to generate more sponsorship revenue.
Our platform provides access to Europe’s largest, most accurate and relevant database of sponsorship budget-holders – with analyst-generated, forward-looking intelligence on potential partners – giving you an edge when pitching partnership opportunities to key decision-makers.
Better insights. Better contact data. Better results. Visit Pearlfinders website
The ESA Awards is appreciative of our partnerships – from event, media coverage and branding support through to category sponsorship.
Pearlfinders
Headline Sponsor of the 2026 ESA Awards
and 2026 ESA Awards Category Sponsor of ESA Sponsorship of the Year
Pearlfinders empowers commercial teams at Europe’s most successful sport rights-holders, charities, cultural organisations and agencies to generate more sponsorship revenue.
Our platform provides access to Europe’s largest, most accurate and relevant database of sponsorship budget-holders – with analyst-generated, forward-looking intelligence on potential partners – giving you an edge when pitching partnership opportunities to key decision-makers.
Better insights. Better contact data. Better results.
IPSEM Squared
IPSEM Squared is a boutique sports and events agency with a global footprint and a local focus. We work with brands, Rights holders, venues, local authorities, suppliers, sports federations, and investors to deliver better outcomes across commercial services, marketing services, and event delivery.
We provide QuantumLeap, the smart, AI-enabled platform used by the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) to manage the ESA Awards.
QuantumLeap (by IPSEM Squared) is a cloud-based SaaS platform purpose-built to measure and improve what traditional IT systems can’t, allowing you to use non-financial data to create a competitive advantage. Trusted by leading firms like KPMG, it delivers structured, intelligent insight into how organisations are performing – blending quantitative and qualitative data to help leaders make better decisions through:
• Strategic and Operational Diagnostics which deliver rich Insights: Assesses strategy and delivery execution, digital maturity, and operational effectiveness to understand what’s working, what’s missing, and where real value lies.
• Compliance & Assurance Improvement: Undertakes certification, audit, supplier evaluation, and contractual and regulatory compliance (including ESG, DEI, Industry and global standards).
• Gap Analysis & Benchmarking: Enables rigorous, multi-stakeholder assessments to reveal gaps between current performance, strategic goals, and industry benchmarks.
• Action Planning & Continuous Improvement: Turns insights into clear improvement roadmaps with defined steps, timelines, and ownership. Supports test-and-learn cycles and Kaizen-style improvements to embed ongoing, measurable performance gains.
• Best Practice Process Design: Co-creates smarter operations using collaborative, customisable tools to map current and future workflows, eliminating inefficiencies, unnecessary documents and disconnected spreadsheets, and reducing manual rework while improving governance control.
• Real-Time Dashboards & Reporting: Automated, customisable dashboards turn data into clear, tailored, bespoke reports for clients, boards, regulators, and internal and external stakeholders.
QuantumLeap has helped organisations worldwide gain a competitive edge through improved performance, rigorous delivery tracking, enhanced compliance, reduced risk, and stronger governance. Its powerful benchmarking and reporting capabilities have built trust with clients, boards, regulators, funders, partners and stakeholders.
Sponsorium
Sponsorium provides an expert software solution designed exclusively for sponsors that has become the global standard in Sponsorship evaluation, management, reporting, and overall good governance. It is used in more than 55 countries and 26 languages.
With +25 years of expertise and over 400 brands having used our platform, we understand that sponsorship is both an art and a science. While intuition and creativity drive great partnerships, our data-driven approach adds measurable insights, evaluating alignment with brand objectives and cost-effectiveness. Our methodology, based on Return On Objectives (ROO), challenges the old-school concept of ROI, recognising that sponsorship is more of a strategic brand investment than a sales tactic.
Meshh
We work with global and local Rights Holders, Teams, Venues and Brands to demonstrate ROI of the physical elements of their sponsorship investment.
Understanding the fan exposure and interaction with on site activations is key to enhancing fan experience and delivering value for all stakeholders. At Meshh we work with our clients to deliver actionable insights across the season and benchmark your outcomes. While not always the largest part of a sponsorship the real world elements are often the most meaningful and warrant the same understanding as any digital or screen exposure. With 8 years experience in 43 countries working with partners like F1, The PGA the NFL and Sail GP we are the industry experts in live event measurement.
To find out more about measuring what matters visit www.meshh.com
NoTurningBack2020
Transforming Careers
Changing the face of marketing
What We Do
NoTurningBack2020 (NTB2020) is a groundbreaking program inspiring sixth formers and undergraduates across the UK, particularly from Black, Asian, minority ethnic, and lower socio-economic backgrounds, to pursue exciting careers in marketing, sports marketing, and PR. Established in 2016, NTB2020 opens doors to exciting possibilities in a dynamic industry.
Why We Do It
Marketing, Sports Marketing and communications are often overlooked as serious career options by underrepresented groups. NTB2020 wants to challenge this belief! Our team of young Ambassadors—rising stars just starting their own careers—showcase their successes and inspire students to dream big and enter this thrilling sector.
What We Offer
Our Ambassadors deliver passionate, 45-minute talks (in person or virtually) at schools, colleges, and universities. They share real stories of challenges, decisions, and achievements, shining a spotlight on the success of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic professionals. Ambassadors connect with students at up to six institutions yearly, providing a personal glimpse into their international work and industry insights.
For Employers
Employers supporting an Ambassador gain access to our Inclusive Employer Community, connecting them with young, diverse talent eager to start careers in marketing, PR, and sports marketing. Benefits include:
Access to students who are predominantly from state schools (75%), Black and minority ethnic backgrounds (75%), first-generation university attendees (40%), and economically disadvantaged backgrounds (40%).
An Inclusive Employer Community where employers can post unlimited roles up to £35,000.
Visibility through a company logo carousel linking directly to EDI strategies, even without live job postings.
Why Join?
Be part of a growing network committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Every week, more diverse young talents sign up to explore paid internships, apprenticeships, and roles with companies passionate about EDI.
How to Get Involved
Nominate an Ambassador or learn more about partnering with NTB2020 by emailing noturningback2020outreach@f1recruitment.com.
Visit our Jobs Zone to see inspiring companies already making an impact: NoTurningBack2020 Jobs Zone. Let’s challenge mindsets and transform futures—together!
Sponsorworks
We enable sponsors, agencies and rights holders to automate the management and evaluation of their ticketing, hospitality and guest registration activities. Whether for seasonal, big events or a small one-off event, we’ve got you covered.
Our industry-leading software reduces manual workloads by up to 95%, streamlines all guest communications and removes the hassle from compliance procedures. What’s more, our flexible platform can have you up and running in just a few days.
Sponsorworks is the platform of choice for global brands such as Diageo, BP, Xero, Aviva, NBC Universal and Qatar Airways as well as a number of EMEA’s top sponsorship agencies. Isn’t it time you jumped aboard?
SPORTO Magazine
Are you a rights holder or agency who wants to spot the next TeamViewer, Cinch or Crypto.com before everyone else?
SPORTO believes that sport is a universal platform without language barriers. The contents of the magazine include sports business topics with a focus on brand building through sport, sponsorship, research, digital communication and fan engagement.
SPORTO Magazine is also the promoter of SPORTO Conference, the annual sports & marketing event in Slovenia.
Wasserman Live
Are you a rights holder or agency who wants to spot the next TeamViewer, Cinch or Crypto.com before everyone else?
Wasserman Live specialise in delivering branding and signage, custom fabrication, live event production and experiential operations across sports, music, entertainment and culture. Working with the world’s most iconic properties and brands, we elevate live events to make them unforgettable. Founded in 1947, our work has been seen by over half of the world’s population.