Slingshot Sponsorship Shortlisted for CIBAs 11th October, 2011

Slingshot Sponsorship has been shortlisted for three categories at the Camden & Islington Business Awards for their innovative approach regarding the Equifax and Direct Marketing Association UK sponsorship campaign, led by Slingshot’s Managing Director, Jackie Fast.  Categories shortlisted include Best Creative Business and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as the People’s Choice Award.

Slingshot Sponsorship delivers and develops long-term brand strategies that engage targeted audiences through sponsorshiprights. Integrated and tailored in each approach, Slingshot diversifies across a range of industries with clients based in publishing, sports, entertainment, media and charities.

Jackie Fast, Managing Director of Slingshot Sponsorship, is thrilled to be shortlisted:

It is such an achievement to be nominated for three categories alongside some very high profile campaigns.  Since launching the agency in 2010, nomination of our work is real recognition of the growing strength of our agency and underlines the measurable positive impact that our work and insight had on both the sponsor’s and the rights owner’s businesses.

The strict criteria set out for the Camden & Islington Business Awards indicated that only the strongest candidates within the area would be shortlisted for the award. Slingshot’s successful nominations illustrate its capabilities in creating successful partnerships that generate ROI through sponsorship.

The winners of the Camden & Islington Business Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on Thursday, 27th October 2011.

ABOUT THE CAMDEN & ISLINGTON BUSINESS AWARDS (CIBAs)

The purpose of the CIBAs is to recognise and celebrate those business owners in Camden and Islington who have successfully grown and maintained their business positioning throughout 2010 and 2011.

Winning this award is a superb opportunity to raise a company’s business profile and increase PR exposure across London.  As the first of its kind in Camden and Islington, it is a great opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals.

CIBAs’ objectives:

  • To celebrate the work and efforts of businesses across Islington and Camden.
  • To encourage and champion enterprising behaviour across the 2 neighbouring boroughs
  • To boost the awareness of SME business success across London and the UK.
  • To increase the exposure of the local businesses within the Camden and Islington Area.

Click here to vote for Slingshot Sponsorship to win the People’s Choice Award!

Mencap Announces ASUS as Headline Sponsor of Little Noise Sessions 2011 6th October, 2011


Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions
curated by Mencap ambassador Jo Whiley, will see its first year partnering with new headline sponsor, ASUS – a deal which was secured by Slingshot Sponsorship.

Having been dubbed some of the most ‘sought-after tickets in London’ by Clash magazine, the sponsorship is an exciting prospect for Asus customers, with promotions set to include an impressive range of exclusive prizes.

Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions 2011

Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions are back with a bang for the 6th year running – and there’s definitely nothing little about 2011’s lineup!  Taking residency in their new home, the iconic church St John-at-Hackney, this is going to be an unmissable set of shows!  Kicking off the opening night with an almighty headline performance are Mercury and BRIT award winners Elbow.  Join Mencap from 22 – 27 November to celebrate a week of simply stunning gigs in aid of learning disability charity Mencap. Tickets go on general release from 10 October with an exclusive presale for subscribers from 7 October. Sure to sell out fast so subscribe NOW at www.littlenoisesessions.org.uk.

Elbow front-man Guy Garvey said:

We are dead proud to be added to the list of amazing bands that have done the Little Noise Sessions for Jo Whiley and Mencap. In fact we have organised a warm up tour of Europe before the show to make sure we are in tip top condition when we play!

Additional headliners throughout the week will include Marina & The Diamonds, Goldfrapp, Example and Sinéad O’Connor plus a whole host of established and up and coming supporting acts.

Mencap ambassador Jo Whiley said:

Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions are back for the 6th successful year and we’re excited to be moving to St John-at Hackney – a venue that in its 700 year history has never played host to a music gig like this! Each year we aim to surprise and inspire the audience, with a week of unbelievable shows coupled with a simply stunning backdrop. See you there!

Ellie Gray, Mencap’s Director of Fundraising said:

We are delighted to have such a great line up for Mencap’s 6th Little Noise Sessions and we are really grateful for all of the artists who have given their free time for this really important cause.  The money raised will help Mencap support people with a learning disability, who are amongst the most marginalised in our society.

Subscribers to the Little Noise Sessions website have exclusive access to a host of great content including; priority ticketing, backstage footage, audio, photos and all the latest news from the Little Noise backstage blog, for just £6 for six months. Subscription fees will go directly to Mencap – helping raise vital funds for the 1.5 million people in UK with a learning disability.

To keep up to date with all the latest information on Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions follow them on Twitter @Little_Noise or check them out on Facebook.

The Line-Up So Far

  • OPENING NIGHT – Elbow, Maverick Sabre solo performance
  • WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER – Marina & The Diamonds, Icona Pop, Spark
  • THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER – TBA
  • FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER – Goldfrapp, Alpines + more
  • SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER – Example, Ed Sheeran, Birdy, Fenech Soler
  • SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER – Sinead O’Connor, King Creosote + more

About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.  We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

See www.mencap.org.uk for more information.

About ASUS

ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best-selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia, wireless solutions, networking devices and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3398 awards in 2010, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3000 engineers, the company’s revenue for 2010 was around US$10.1 billion.

uk.asus.com

Sony Ericsson Harness Social Media for UEFA 12th September, 2011

The 2010/11 UEFA Champions League final proved to be the event of the football season, featuring a showdown between two European giants, Manchester United and Barcelona. Having both won their domestic leagues earlier in the month, the game was undoubtedly the spectacle to be watched closely by millions around the world.

As the Official Mobile Handset Provider of the UEFA Champions League, Sony Ericsson chose to reach this engaged audience through the power of social media – specifically an innovative approach using Foursquare. Showcasing the capabilities of the Xperia mobile handset range, Sony Ericsson launched two promotions the day before the final.

The first saw fans build their own football team through Foursquare by finding a player in eleven locations around London, each revealing a prize on the inside of their jersey. Prizes included Sony Ericsson PLAY handsets, official UEFA merchandise and a pair of tickets to the 2011 UEFA Champions League final. The second promotion engaged fans attending the final to unlock the Sony Ericsson Xperia Footy Final Badge at the Sony Ericsson Football Hotspot located at Wembley Stadium, in an effort to win tickets to the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco, 2011.

With over 6 million fans on Facebook, Sony Ericsson not only knew their target audience, but created promotions that resonated with UEFA fans in a unique way.  Future plans will see a focus through their social networks throughout the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League season offering Facebook-exclusive competitions, new mobile applications, and further Foursquare promotions.

Stephan Croix, Head of Global Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorship at Sony Ericsson, informed Marketing Week that:

Social media will now become an additional investment in our Champions League sponsorship, we will dial up the volume to help build the brand and continue to drive commercial success.

Sony Ericsson is now the  40th biggest brand on Facebook providing regular engagement with the ever-changing mass mobile handset market.  This platform not only allows the brand to gain valuable insight into consumer trends and demands, but also continues to strengthen the brand further proving the importance of harnessing new media channels within sponsorship activations.

What Car? Announce Hankook as Associate Sponsor for Motoring Oscars 25th July, 2011

Hankook one of the world’s largest and fastest growing tyre manufacturers is to become an Associate Sponsor of the 2012 Motoring Oscars, the What Car? Car of The Year Awards. Hankook are also to sponsor the Ultra Low Carbon Award Category.

What Car? publishing director Andrew Golby said: “We’re delighted to welcome Hankook as a partner of the What Car? Awards. Like us, they recognise the increasing importance of low-carbon vehicles, and our readers feel the same way. Car buyers are placing an increasing priority upon energy-efficient technologies, and look to What Car? for guidance. The ultra-low-carbon category is an accolade that every manufacturer will be keen to win, and we look forward to announcing the result of our judging next January.”

Tony Lee, Managing Director Hankook UK said. “Hankook are pleased to become Associate Sponsor of the What Car? 2012 awards, and to also sponsor the Ultra-Low-Carbon category which is very much in line with the launch of our new Kinergy Eco tyre range. Looking after the environment and reducing our CO2 footprint are becoming an increasing concern for today’s consumer.

“The Kinergy Eco tyre combines the very latest materials, like silica nanoparticles, which are not commonplace in this segment, and cutting-edge compound technologies.  This has allowed Hankook to reduce the rolling resistance of the Kinergy Eco by 12 percent.  The energy savings is reflected in lower fuel consumption, thereby contributing to an improved overall CO2 footprint.”

The benefits of the sponsorship agreement includes the alignment with the most authoritative and trusted brand in motoring, brand positioning and awareness to an audience of key influencers and decision makers from the motoring industry.

The What Car? Car of the Year Awards are acknowledged by many as the UK Motoring Oscars.  It is the automotive industry’s best known and most influential awards ceremony and the event is coveted by car makers both in the UK and overseas.  The What Car? awards issue is a key influencer for consumers in their car buying decision making process and is the brands best selling issue and driver of website traffic.

The event is to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London on the 11th January with top class entertainment yet to be announced.  Previous headline acts have included Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Carr, Al Murray and Jo Brand.

 

About WHAT CAR?

What Car?, the UK’s biggest car-buying brand, has two magazines, a market-leading website and several established brand extensions. Its flagship magazine has helped Britain’s car buyers make purchasing decisions for more than 30 years, and its tests are widely regarded as the most trusted source of new-car advice.

Latest National Readership survey results indicate that 797,000 people read What Car? magazine every month (NRS Jan-Jun 2010).

whatcar.com is the UK’s leading car-buying website, offering trusted reviews and data on every new car. A winner of numerous awards and accolades, whatcar.com is recognised as one of the UK’s leading consumer websites for car purchases and attracts over 2 million visits per month.

What Car? is owned by Haymarket Media Group – the United Kingdom’s largest independently owned publishing company with a portfolio of more than 150 titles, ranging from specialist consumer magazines to business titles and customer publications, published via wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and under licence worldwide.

About HANKOOK UK

Hankook is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing tyre manufacturers for innovative, high-quality and high-performance radial tyres for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/rallies).  Hankook sells its products in more than 180 countries with production facilities in Asia and Europe currently producing over 86 million tyres annually.

Hankook Tyres were first introduced into the UK in the early 1980s and since then the company has progressively built a level of brand awareness and reputation for quality equalling that of many longer established brands.  The extensive range of tyres are available through a network of quality retailers in support of which Hankook is committed to on-going development and further strategic expansion.

The company invests five percent of its revenues in Research and Development every year.  Their five Research and Development centres in Korea, Germany, USA, China and Japan develop the very latest in market-specific, customised and innovative technologies.  They greatly contribute in providing optimal tyre solutions designed to meet the regional requirements and demands of their customers.

Internationally leading car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Opel, and Volkswagen rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment.

Hankook are also involved with several internationally renowned motorsport events including the international touring car series DTM with Audi and Mercedes-Benz and the Le Mans 24 Hour Race with Ferrari.

The company invests some five percent of its revenues in Research and Development every year.  Such research has led to the introduction of the Kinergy Eco line of tyres which combines state-of-the-art tyre technology in the areas of safety, handling, and comfort with the environmental consciousness that is becoming an increasingly important criterion for today’s vehicles.

The Kinergy Eco tyre combines the very latest materials, like silica nanoparticles, which are not commonplace in this segment, and cutting-edge compound technologies.  This has allowed Hankook to reduce the rolling resistance of the Kinergy Eco by 12 percent.  The energy savings is reflected in lower fuel consumption, thereby contributing to an improved overall CO2 footprint.

McCain Foods to Partner with London Irish End of Season Party 21st April, 2011

McCain Foods & London Irish partner to encourage more families to get more active more often.

The last London Irish Big 5 game, End of Season Party, will kick off on April 23rd promising to be another wonderful day for families with activities and live entertainment alongside the last league game – London Irish vs. Northampton Saints.  To provide a unique experience for London Irish fans, The Big 5 event series combines activities and entertainment to support the exhilarating rugby games held throughout the year.  Many brands have been taking advantage of the opportunity, activating experiential campaigns and reaching an engaged audience of London Irish rugby fans and young families.

McCain Foods, principal partner of UK Athletics, has signed a partnership deal with the event and will be bringing its interactive McCain Track and Field road show experience to the London Irish End of Season Party. The McCain Track and Field roadshow will give youngsters the unique opportunity to try out the different basic elements of athletics in a fun environment. McCain ambassador and 400m hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton, who won bronze at the European Championships last August and is a 2012 hopeful, will be on hand throughout the day to offer tips to youngsters taking part in the day.  

 The London Irish End of Season Party promises to be a great family day out and we are pleased to be bringing a taste of athletics to the event. As principal partner of UK Athletics we are committed to getting more families more active more often, and the McCain Track and Field Roadshow experience is an ideal introduction to the sport.

Bill Bartlett, Corporate Affairs Director at McCain

With an event expecting over 12,000 supporters in attendance, the last home Premiership rugby game is set to be a memorable one.  Additional brands involved with End of Season Party include Grosvenor Casinos, EA Sports, Equifax and Hilton Hotels.

The deal was secured through Slingshot Sponsorship.

End of Season Party tickets are selling fast, be sure to book your ticket today! 

Call the Ticket Hotline on 0844 249 1871 or click here to buy tickets.

Sponsorship Competitions: Hilton Hotels & London Irish Case Study 8th April, 2011

We recently put together a great sponsorship campaign utilising social media, print and events for official sponsor of premiership rugby Hilton Hotels within the London Irish Rugby Club’s Big 5 events.  By acting as a sponsor of the events, Hilton Hotels were able to access the London Irish fan base through their more engaged channels: the London Irish Facebook page, the St. Patrick’s Party, and local paper Reading Post.

The aim of the Hilton campaign was to promote the Hilton Hotel Spring Sale.  Working with London Irish, we created three different promotions through three different channels:

  • 2 tickets for the Fan Fair rugby game plus one nights accommodation at Hilton Reading promoted on Facebook
  • 2 tickets for the Fan Fair rugby game plus one nights accommodation at Hilton Reading promoted at the popular St. Patrick’s Party 
  • 4 tickets for the Fan Fair rugby game plus lunch with the players promoted through Reading Post

Facebook & Sponsorship

Social media can act as a sponsorship platform to reach an engaged online audience.  We promoted the competition as a free offer for fans of the London Irish Facebook page enabling users to share with their friends.  By positioning the offering within the social context of sharing Facebook provides, it added value to the user experience rather than becoming a disruptive advertisement.  The 5,000+ fans of the Facebook page loved it, achieving the main objective of promoting the Hilton sale, but also driving traffic and generating more Facebook friends for the London Irish Facebook page.

London Irish St. Patrick’s Party

The popular St. Patrick’s Partyattracts a sell out crowd each year.  With live entertainment and experiential campaigns run throughout the stadium, we wanted to ensure that any additional promotions could cut through and make an impact.  To win the Hilton prize, fans were put on stage for a ‘dance-off’ with the band while the Spring Sale information was displayed on screens.  By engaging the crowd through an audience vote, we ensured that the competition was impactful with the lively audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reader Offer with Reading Post

The local paper, Reading Post, providing a prime front page position to promote both the London Irish Big 5 games as well as the Hilton Hotels Spring Sale through a reader competition.  By working with this publication, we were able to compliment our earlier promotions of online and experiential by supplementing our reach to an older and local demographic.

 

 At Slingshot Sponsorship we aim to add value through partnerships ensuring that any sponsorship campaigns we create build brand engagement.  The combination of diverse channels and integrated sponsorship rights from both parties ensured a successful and engaging response from London Irish fans – creating value not only for the sponsor and the rights holder, but also for the fans.

 

Sponsorship that Saves the Planet 27th March, 2011

It is common to associate sponsorship with commercial value, fundraising activity, experiential campaigns and brand engagement, but rarely in terms of the environment.  However, we managed to pull off a sponsorship campaign with our client London Irish that did just that!

Alongside the London Irish Rugby Club Big 5 games, Valentines’ Day and Festival of Rugby, the award-winning environmental charity Global Action Plan promoted its environmental youth initiative Climate Squad as a part of a brand experiential campaign through the support of Slingshot Sponsorship.

Climate Squad’s environmental initiatives at the London Irish Big 5 included Operations: Pump It Up and Bust a Flush.

Operation Pump It Up saw young volunteers pumping up fans car tyres in the Madejski Stadium’s parking lot.  It was an opportunity to engage drivers and save carbon by ensuring fan’s tyres were pumped to the correct levels.  The implementation was not only informative, but caught fans when they had time to spare to listen to how such a small activity can reduce their carbon footprint and save them money. 

The second initiative with Climate Squad, Bust a Flush, showed how simple water saving devices and tips to reduce water use could help protect the environment.  With human sized hippos approaching fans and providing free giveaways, this created significant engagement for both children and adults alike.  While children had their faces painted by giant hippos, adults learned how to create a more sustainable future for their families.

The Global Action Plan initiatives were a great way to raise awareness of water scarcity and to introduce simple ways to practically reduce a household’s impact on the environment.  Furthermore, it provided an informative and fun way to engage young people with London Irish before kick-off.

The astounding results through Global Action Plan’s activity during the London Irish Big 5 including:

  • 209 water saving devices over 2 days
  • 1.73 tonnes of carbon saved with Bust a Flush
  • 5.93 tonnes of carbon saved with the Pump it Up

This resulted in a total of 7.66 tonnes of carbon savings throughout the sponsorship programme.   

Jackie Fast, Managing Director of Slingshot Sponsorship commented: “Climate Squad’s Pump It Up campaign was extremely engaging with the London Irish rugby fans.  We had cars queuing up to have their tyres pumped by the young volunteers and get eco-driving tips.” 

Fast continued, “Bust a Flush was also a resounding success. The hippos were a really fun and effective way of getting a message across – and worked exceptionally well with our London Irish Rugby Club’s Big 5 event.  It was great to see so many young volunteers deeply engaging with the fans, giving out devices and tips on how to make simple changes in your home that make a big difference” 

London Irish fan, George Crone further commented, “Bust a Flush was a great way to raise awareness of water scarcity and to introduce simple ways to reduce individual household’s impacts!” 

We pride ourselves in ensuring that all of our sponsorship programmes at Slingshot create value for everyone involved – the sponsor, the audience and the property.  However, in this unique case we were also able to create value for the environment, making it one of the few sponsorship programmes that actually can save the planet!

For further information on Global Action Plan’s initiatives, please contact Louise Groom: 0207 420 4429; [email protected]

London Irish Rugby Experiential Campaigns with St. Patrick’s Party 22nd March, 2011

The highly anticipated London Irish St. Patrick’s Party, event 4 of the Big 5, will kick-off Saturday 26th March at the Madejski Stadium, Reading with a crowd of over 20,000 expected!

The legendary St. Patrick’s Party will include live entertainment and activities for London Irish supporters alongside the London Irish vs Exeter Chiefs game, which kicks off at 3pm.  Activities will include brand experiential campaigns, set up through the support of Slingshot Sponsorship, London Irish Rugby Club’s experiential/event sponsorship agency.  Brands supporting the event include EA Sports, Aviva, Highland Springs, Equifax, Hilton Hotels, Grosvenor Casinos and Pump Technology.

Jackie Fast, Managing Director of Slingshot Sponsorship commented, “By working with brands and the London Irish Rugby Club, we were able to support a series of events that fans can truly get engaged with.  Additional activities alongside the games provide families with a full day of entertainment, which is fun for the entire family.  This level of engagement is the perfect platform for brands to get involved with, ensuring that their positioning is reaching the audience at a time when it is sought.”

Brands involved had the opportunity to participate in sponsorship by providing an experience for London Irish supporters – an unrivalled opportunity to support London Irish Rugby Club as well as engage with supporters through experiential campaigns they were already running.  This provided a great sponsorship opportunity for everyone involved – the brands, London Irish Rugby Club, and most of all the supporters attending.

St. Patrick’s Party tickets are selling fast and with only a handful of seats left be sure to book your ticket today!

Call the Ticket Hotline on 0844 249 1871 or click here to buy tickets.

Global Action Plan supports London Irish Big 5 10th February, 2011

Global Action Plan has signed on to support London Irish Rugby Club alongside the London Irish Big 5, set up through the Slingshot Sponsorship agency. The legendary rugby club has this season expanded the annual St. Patrick’s Day Party into five big events with live entertainment and activities for supporters young and old. 

Global Action Plan is an award winning environmental charity that works with all kinds of groups, from school children to corporate employees, to bring about engagement and action on sustainability issues. For the London Irish Big 5 events, Global Action Plan will be promoting their youth volunteering project, Climate Squad, with its wide-reaching environmental initiatives; Operations Pump It Up and Bust-a-flush.

Some of the young volunteers will be based in the car park of the Madejski Stadium pumping car tyres and explaining to car owners how keeping your car tyre pressure at the recommended level can save you up to 8% on fuel costs and reduce emissions.

Felicity Greenland, London Irish Marketing and Events Director, comments: “We are very happy to have Global Action Plan involved in our Big 5 programme. We are excited about helping to showcase environmental issues as well as providing an engaging experience for our supporters.”

Through their support, Global Action Plan will be provided with a fantastic profile opportunity to get involved in sport sponsorship and to promote their cause to an engaged audience.

Trewin Restorick, Global Action Plan CEO, states: “We are looking forward to bringing our Pump it up Programme to London Irish and the Big 5.  We can’t wait to showcase how our charity works and how young volunteers can get involved.”

Global Action Plan has agreed involvement with the February 12th – Valentines vs Newscastle Falcons and the February 26th– Festival of Rugby vs Harlequins. 

More Information

London Irish Big 5: http://www.london-irish.com/Big5.ink

Global Action Plan: http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/

Slingshot Sponsorship: localhost:8080/slingshotsponsorship.com