Member Article

Rugby ‘union’ gathers pace

One of the fastest-rising forces in University sport will benefit from fresh financial muscle after signing a long-term deal with a leading investment management firm.

Northumbria University and Brewin Dolphin have forged a powerful partnership built on a common goal to promote leadership, team building and fair play through sport.

And that bond has been further strengthened with the news that a new three-year sponsorship package has been agreed to support Team Northumbria Rugby.

The agreement will see additional funding released to enhance sporting opportunities for students – at the same time creating a multitude of exciting business benefits for Brewin Dolphin.

With more than 350 staff based at its Newcastle branch – including 40 Northumbria University graduates – the sponsorship aims to engage with future employees, build on brand profile, provide staff and client benefits and strengthen a highly appropriate association for this sport-loving firm.

John Duns, Divisional Director, Brewin Dolphin, said: “Sport and business go hand in hand. There’s undoubtedly a synergy between those who succeed in business, and those who succeed in sport. It’s about drive, passion and dedication and this sponsorship will help us to engage further with the right people for our business.

“Additionally many of our current team already participate in a wide range of sporting activities. We like to live by the ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos and this partnership will provide our colleagues with more opportunities to do just that.”

Northumbria University and Brewin Dolphin have already worked in tandem to support and promote rugby, water-polo and golf.

And Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice Chancellor (Region, Engagement and Partnerships), Northumbria University, is convinced sustainable partnerships are more effective than one-off sponsorships.

She said: “Brewin Dolphin have become firmly ingrained in University culture over the years – attending matches, supporting the Northumbria Sport Foundation’s community work, recruiting graduates – the list goes on.

“Building a sustainable partnership like this creates a deeper understanding between the two parties, a more memorable brand association and a range of longer term benefits for stakeholders.”

Following a summer of intensive recruitment Northumbria kicks off the new rugby season in September with a number of high profile friendlies. The British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) campaign gets underway the following month and Head Coach Simon Culley said: “These are exciting times for rugby at the University.

“We aspire to provide our student rugby players with a professional set-up and working with partners of the calibre of Brewin Dolphin only serves to enhance their sporting experience at Northumbria.

“Everybody involved with rugby at Northumbria is looking forward to a successful season and we’re confident we’ll be very competitive at every level within BUCS competition.”

To find out more about Team Northumbria, visit www.nusportcentral.com. For further details about additional Team Northumbria sponsorships, including football, netball super league and basketball, contact Lucy Nichol on lucy.e.nichol@northumbria.ac.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Northumbria University .