Member Article

Huddersfield height specialist provides lift to local rugby club

Rope access specialist firm Access North Structures has announced its sponsorship of Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club, as part of a 3-year deal.

Located just 1.5 miles down the road from the firm’s Armitage Bridge base, the Lockwood Park club will receive a total of £1200 support to put towards its running and grounds upkeep.

As part of the package, a 4-metre Access North Structures banner has already been installed pitch-side at the grounds. Further brand exposure will be provided within the matchday programme, on the sponsors’ board inside the clubhouse and on the website. Plus, the company will be offered direct marketing opportunities through the club along with a number of additional perks, including access to international tickets and social events.

This rugby club backing follows the rope access firm’s recent support of local Australian Rules Football player Luke Booth, which saw him travelling to Melbourne this summer to play for Great Britain in the prestigious AFL International Cup.

Commenting on these sponsorship ventures, managing director Berenice Northcott said: “Helping the local community by giving back where we can is important to the whole Access North team. We pride ourselves on looking after the wellbeing of our workforce, so extending this care to clubs and organisations in the wider area is a natural step for us.

“We did explore a number of different opportunities, but settling on the rugby club was an easy decision. Our co-owner Daniel has strong ties to HRUFC – his first ever try on English soil was actually scored at Lockwood Park – and we knew we wanted to support a local squad, so we’re delighted to be backing them. The first team had an impressive last season and we’re all looking forward to getting behind them over the next three years.”

The yearly contributions will go towards essential facilities as well as the development of senior and junior teams. With more than 250 young members in age grade categories and the junior academy, youth rugby is high on the agenda for the Huddersfield club.

Elaborating on the importance of community support, HRUFC’s general manager Stuart Leach said: “Many of our senior squad and first team are homegrown players, so providing sporting opportunities for children from 4 years and above to learn, progress and enjoy playing rugby is a top priority for us.

“Whilst we have ambitions for our First XV to become well-established within National 2 North, we are additionally dedicated to fielding at least three senior matches every Saturday, further developing our female teams and ensuring all members feel equally valued. As a community rugby club, sustainable financial planning underpins all of these goals, which is why the support of sponsors such as Access North plays a vital role.”

Access North Structures is based in the converted Brooke’s Mill and has expertise in rope access, fall protection, tensile fabrics and ETFE. Carrying out complex work at height assignments throughout the UK, the firm was recently named as runner-up in the ‘Employer of the Year’ category at the Examiner Business Awards.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .