After the overwhelming success of a sports sponsorship conference in Glasgow last year, GRM has announced its second hosting of the Via Sponsorship conference in March 2020 – with QTS as a new partner.
The two Scottish companies found synergy in the partnership with their shared values in supporting young athletes achieve sporting success.
Taking place in Glasgow on the 26th March, the conference’s core aim is to boost the profile of sponsorship and to provide an education and networking platform for businesses and sponsorship seekers to learn, connect and generate opportunities in sponsorship.
Last year’s conference ended with a bang, with each attending athlete given the opportunity to receive a £500 sponsorship boost from London-based agency, Pinnacle Sports Group. This year, QTS has signed up as a conference partner, citing its popular youth athlete programme as the key driver for involvement.
Managing director of QTS, Alan McLeish, said: “Since the inception of the QTS Youth Athlete programme, we have helped 19 young people achieve their sporting ambitions. We are proud to have a diverse range of sports represented, including boxing, cycling, volleyball and hammer and discus.
“As a company, QTS has successfully leveraged partnerships across the sporting world, including Derby FC, Kilmarnock FC and Ayr Racecourse, with the goal to increase our brand recognition to attract more talent.
“I hope that our involvement with the Via Sponsorship conference will not only highlight our commitment to young people in sport but that it will also demonstrate how investing in sport can be beneficial to other private businesses in Scotland.”
With its portfolio of high-profile speakers, the conference looks teach its delegates through presentations and workshops, the benefits of sponsorship for business growth and how to best utilise a sponsorship relationship for success.
Speakers include European Sponsorship Association chair, Andy Westlake, founder and CEO of SponsorshipX, Mark Harrison, and the Sport Industry group leader of Ernst & Young LLP, Tom Kingsley.
Via 2020 will also see the return of Atlantic rowers, team BROAR, as they detail their voyage as the first three brothers to row any ocean.
Director of GRM, Gordon Ritchie, said: “We were delighted with the results of last year’s conference.
“This year’s Via Sponsorship will be bigger and better and, with arts and culture being present, we want to showcase just how private businesses can benefit and develop by using sponsorship as a marketing tool.
“This conference has proven to provide a successful platform for our delegates to learn and network and I would encourage attendance from those looking to gain the most benefit from a sponsorship relationship.”
The results of last year’s conference continue to stand out, as sponsored Scottish athletes bring home gold after reaping the benefits of extra training and new kit provided by the boost.
Scottish cyclist, Lauren Bell, who claimed two new records for Scotland at the National Track Championships in Manchester last month, told Via: “The sponsorship boost helped me get to competitions and buy new parts for my bike, so I would just like to say thank you very much for this opportunity.”
For more information about the Via sponsorship conference including speakers and schedule visit: www.viasponsorship.scot
