Deloitte confirms another 4 years of Deloitte Ride Across Britain
LONDON — Business advisory firm Deloitte and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) have announced the renewal of their partnership for the next four years, through to the end of 2016. The firm have also announced a four year renewal of their title sponsorship of the Deloitte Ride Across Britain corporate challenge, with the BPA continuing as Deloitte’s preferred charity for the event.
Deloitte’s partnerships bring together several essential dimensions in building success for disability sport from grassroots to elite level. In addition to ongoing financial support for the BPA and ParalympicsGB, the firm will sponsor the ParalympicsGB Team Launch events for 2014 and 2016. Deloitte will continue as the presenting partner of the BPA’s Parasport website which helps people find the right sport for their disability and get active in it. The Deloitte Ride Across Britain will also extend to 2017 – this new and ambitious corporate challenge was initiated in 2010 to back the Paralympic team and plays an important role in raising awareness of Paralympic sport.
Deloitte started their relationship with the BPA in 2006 when they worked together to develop Parasport, a website that gave people information on disability sport and where to play it. With an average of 40,000 users per month, Parasport is now well established as ‘the yellow pages’ for disability sport. When Deloitte became the Official Professional Services Provider to the London 2012 Games, the partnership grew to encompass tangible support for the ParalympicsGB team, including fundraising through the Deloitte Ride Across Britain which has already raised over £1m for the BPA since 2010. The Ride sees over 700 people a year cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End over 9 days, including ParalympicsGB stars taking on the challenge as part of their training regime.
Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, commented: “Deloitte are a fantastic long term supporter of the BPA and we are delighted that we will continue to work together. Their support in the build-up to London 2012 truly made a difference both to how we were able to support the team and how we are able to leverage the inspiration of the Games to promote opportunities at grass roots level. They are a great partner for any business and so we are really pleased that they will continue to be a part of our Paralympic family through to Rio 2016.
“To have renewed another commercial partnership less than six months on from the conclusion of London 2012 demonstrates the strength of our brand and proposition in the UK and the commitment that our partners have to helping us to achieve our vision.”
Heather Hancock, Managing Partner for Talent and Brand at Deloitte, commented on the renewal of both sponsorships: “Our relationship with the BPA has seen Deloitte make a genuine difference to people who wanted to play a sport that suited their disability, but didn’t know what to choose or where to play it. London 2012 led to unprecedented levels of activity on the Deloitte Parasport website, and we are delighted to be investing in the Games legacy at the grass-roots level, as well as ensuring ParalympicsGB can recreate last summer’s success at the upcoming Sochi and Rio Games. Both elements will, we hope, inspire even more people to get into sport.”
“Creating the Deloitte Ride Across Britain was a bold move to establish a new corporate challenge. We are delighted by its impact, on our clients, our people and the public who have got behind the Paralympic movement, given generously to support it, and achieved their own life ambitions in the process. Both of these renewed relationships clearly set out Deloitte’s ambition to remain a leading supporter of disability sport in the UK post London 2012.”
Julian Mack, CEO and co-founder of Threshold Sports, the company that conceived and delivers Deloitte Ride Across Britain said; “We are delighted to have renewed our partnership with Deloitte. The firm has supported the event right from conception and has already seen over 15% of its workforce either participate or be directly involved with the Ride, and fundraised an incredible figure for the British Paralympic Association. All events need a partner that believes in its potential and share brand values and it is this support that has enabled us to create a truly iconic challenge. We look forward to welcoming the future alumni of Deloitte RAB as they embark on the ultimate experience in breathless sightseeing and help unlock Threshold’s mantra of More Is In You.”
