News: Diamond partnerships extend into new season at Rotherham United

Rotherham United's innovative commercial deal which sees businesses come together as "Diamond Partners" is continuing into the new football season.

Last year the deal enabled the Millers to have the Rotherham Hospice logo proudly emblazoned across the chest. For the the 2024/25 season, the kits will feature another Rotherham charity, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.

AESSEAL, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group and Steelphalt formed the alliance to become this season’s Diamond Partners and, in turn, provide Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice with the opportunity to be front and centre on the first team kits throughout the upcoming campaign.

Based at North Anston, Bluebell Wood provides care and support to families who have a child who has a life limiting condition and is not expected to live into adulthood.

Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Rotherham United, said: “We are immensely proud to say that we will proudly carry the Bluebell Wood logo and the message that it holds around the country with us as our main front of shirt sponsor this season, which has once again been made possible thanks to the kindness of five Diamond Partners.

“On behalf of everyone at Rotherham United I want to reiterate how truly grateful we are to AESSEAL, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group and Steelphalt for once again being so charitable with their own resources to facilitate this amazing Diamond Partnership. Their kindness – particularly in the current financial climate – should not be underplayed and having seen the impact of this arrangement for the Rotherham Hospice last season, we know how much this will mean to everyone associated with Bluebell Wood.

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“To elaborate on that point, this partnership represents much more than a shirt sponsorship agreement. Not only does it align with all of our values and beliefs as a club that we recognise the role we have to play at the heart of the community, it will also significantly increase the public profile of Bluebell Wood and present them with a number of fundraising opportunities that might not previously have been possible.

“It goes without saying that we will look to maximise that exposure and use our own status both as a club and in our community work to ensure that our second year of having a group of Diamond Partners on-board is as successful as the first.”

Heidi Hawkins, Bluebell Wood's Chief Executive, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be Rotherham United’s new Diamond Partner for 2024/2025. The new shirts look amazing and having our logo proudly on the front means such a lot to everyone at Bluebell Wood as well as all the families we support in Rotherham and beyond."

Rotherham manufacturing success story, AESSEAL will gift Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice all the hospitality and other benefits that are part of the sponsorship package.

Josie Lewis, IT and Project Manager of AESSEAL plc, and lifetime supporter of Rotherham United, said: "Rotherham United and its associated charitable arm, the Rotherham United Community Trust, are a great community asset it is for Rotherham, and AESSEAL is proud to associate our brand with them.”

Bluebell Wood website
RUFC website
AESSEAL website

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News: Kit deal supports charity goals for club and business community

In a first for the club, Rotherham United has signed an innovative commercial deal which has seen six businesses come together as "Diamond Partners."

It means that for the 2023/24 Championship season, the Millers will have the Rotherham Hospice logo proudly emblazoned across the chest.

The club hopes that by establishing this Diamond Partnership of businesses that the profile and subsequent fundraising for the Rotherham Hospice not only continues, but accelerates.

The partners are AESSEAL, Equisolve Consulting Ltd, Hughie Construction Ltd, IPM Group, Mears, and Steelphalt.

Rotherham United Commercial Director Steve Coakley said: “For the forthcoming 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship campaign we were determined to look at doing something different, innovative and community-based because we felt that best represented what Rotherham United is all about.

“This unique partnership will be the first of it’s kind in Rotherham United history. It has allowed us as a club to provide a platform for an allegiance of business associates to unite in the name of charity to become our first ever Diamond Partners."

“We are simply using the vehicle of our status as a Sky Bet Championship club alongside our responsibility as a community-driven organisation at the heart of the town, to facilitate this opportunity for six businesses who absolutely mirror those beliefs.

“As a club we have always tried to shout from the rooftops in local circles about the amazing service that the Rotherham Hospice provides to our local community and beyond, but thanks to our new Diamond Partners, we will now be taking the hospice name and branding around the country with us and broadcasting it to the global audience that the second tier of English football attracts.

“The key goals and objectives for our front of shirt sponsorship for 2023/24 were to be innovative and different whilst steering clear of sectors that would cause any element of controversy or division amongst supporters and we truly believe this unique collaboration is something which everyone will be right behind.

“However, this could only be achieved by getting the type of buy-in from like-minded organisations who were selflessly willing to forego having their own branding displayed and we will forever be thankful that these six pioneering businesses have enabled this to happen.

“The six businesses have been aptly named our ‘Diamond Partners’ as we feel that is reflective of the role they have in our community. The Hospice is one of the jewels in the crown of our town and we are proud beyond words to have agreed this historic business deal in their name.”

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The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and requires a staggering £3m per year to allow them to continue to carry out this invaluable service.

Rotherham Hospice Director of Income and Communications Stephen King said: "Everyone connected to Rotherham Hospice would like to thank Rotherham United for their unbelievable support. This partnership will have a huge impact on our patients, families, volunteers, and staff. This partnership will bring the people of Rotherham together in support of their hospice.

"What makes this even more special is the support of the local businesses who have made this possible. Their generosity means that it will be our logo sitting proudly on that famous red and white shirt. The exposure Rotherham Hospice will receive next season is incredible."

Rotherham United Chairman Tony Stewart added: "Our support for the Rotherham Hospice is something that we have been incredibly proud of throughout the club's history and we have taken great pride in the way that we have looked to innovate in the ways in which we have backed their fundraising efforts.

"Our Honorary Life President John Breckin has been the driving force behind ideas such as the 'Give the Hospice a Hand' fixture a couple of seasons ago and has done brilliantly to establish a summer charity cricket game each year involving the first team, to name just two events we have been extremely proud to support.

"As a club, we are constantly looking to evolve, whether that be on the pitch, off it, or in the community and this concept to bring some of our entrusted club sponsors together as 'Diamond Partners' ranks right up their with our most satisfying achievements to date in the charity sector.

"On behalf of everyone at Rotherham United I would like to wholeheartedly thank the six businesses that have made this unique proposal a reality.

"I truly believe that the rest of the football world will sit up and take note of this commercial innovation and hopefully this may prompt more clubs to follow suit in pledging their support to charity in a similar manner."

RUFC website
Rotherham Hospice website

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News: Millers sign significant sponsorship deal

Rotherham United has announced a new multi-year deal with IPM Group to become the club’s new Stadium Facilities Management Partner. It will also see IPM's branding on all three of the Millers shirts during the 2021/22 campaign.

Following extensive discussions with the club, a lucrative deal for both parties involved sees Killamarsh-based IPM Group assume several duties at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The IPM Group logo will be displayed on the club’s home strip for the 2021/2022 season, following its summer release. Whilst innovative access management sub brand – inteliPod, will take pride of place on the change and alternate shirts throughout the forthcoming Sky Bet League One Season.

Alongside the marquee shirt sponsorship agreement which enables the team to where red at away games, IPM Group will take on an active role in the matchday and day-to-day operations of the football club, serving as the clubs Primary Partner for Stadium Management, including stewarding provision, stadium cleaning, CCTV monitoring and maintenance.

A ‘multi-year’ deal will also see an option to extend the front of shirt agreement beyond 2021/2022.

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IPM Group’s chief executive Rick Bailey commented “We are delighted to secure this partnership with Rotherham United, as a local company it gives us the opportunity to support and partner with a local family football club with excellent links to the community. We aim to provide employment opportunities to the Rotherham community within the New York Stadium and within South Yorkshire."

IPM Group have been involved in supplying security services and CCTV monitoring to football clubs for many years and look after the safety and security of numerous Premier League footballers and their families.

Rotherham United Commercial Director Steve Coakley, added: "This agreement is not only a substantial one for the football club, but also an intricate one that has been discussed at length over the past few weeks and months as both parties have learned of the mutual benefits that working together will have going forwards.

“While many other businesses have understandably had their progress stalled by the effects of the pandemic, IPM Group have continued to grow, launched new products, all whilst finding new and innovative ways of providing their services through their practices and technologies over the course of the last 12 months.

“Importantly for us, they have an ethos that aligns so well with our own values, this will have an all-round positive impact not only for our respective organisations but also for many local residents as they will be looking to recruit staff from within the region. This was not only reassuring but a big plus for the football club.

“We have all had to adapt and work in different ways to those we did before the pandemic and IPM’s ability to be forward-thinking and versatile in those circumstances is a prime example of the type of organisation that we’re only too pleased to work closely in partnership with.”

RUFC website
IPM Group website

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