Whilst we have always enjoyed a strong relationship with this like-minded organisation, we are hopeful that this new partnership will further maximise the alignment and synergy between us, benefitting those involved with our brands and our local community.

Through this new partnership, Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club will be offering students at West Suffolk College opportunities across various sections of the rugby club as part of a work placement or volunteering activity. This will help the students contribute to the module requirements of their qualifications and give them an opportunity to operate within a semi-professional sporting environment developing their skills ready for the future. We are also looking at ways to engage the students with our diverse portfolio of partners who we are confident will provide further opportunities too (please contact us if you would like to be involved).

Meanwhile, this partnership will mean that we are able to utilise support and expertise from some of the brightest young minds in their respective fields, to further enhance various segments of Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club & our offering. With opportunities already being discussed that will involve marketing, sport and public services, we are excited to collaborate on various projects that we are sure will confirm that enhancement for our members, sponsors and all involved with our rugby club. We are confident that this opportunity will continue to grow & develop for many years to come, with the opportunities we are able to afford growing with it.

We are also excited to be utilising the expertise of West Suffolk College as we start looking more into our own sustainability footprint. As a brand that is at the start of their journey, we look up to the likes of West Suffolk College who have taken significant strides in this area and we look forward to leaning on them for guidance & support. This was recently highlighted as West Suffolk College updated their pitch side advertising board to a sustainable alternative – the first we have completed! Their new board uses a FOMALUX Eco Material which involves an 80% reclaimed postproduction waste content and is 100% recyclable. It is our combined hope that more partners will follow suit moving forward and we can trailblaze with this.

As a celebration of this and the start of this partnership, West Suffolk College are hosting a competition for their art and design students to create a visual for the sponsorship board. Again using young creative minds will allow for new ideas to flow, we can’t wait to see the entries.

As 2 organisations that care deeply about their West Suffolk roots and their community standing, we are proud to be combining to further this together.

Phil Stittle, Executive Director for Business Development - Strategic Growth and
Partnerships said: "Both organisations are deeply embedded in the community and offer a stable platform for development. By working more closely we become stronger together and allow our reach to be greater. Through this sustainability project we hope to inspire other employers and individuals to think about what they are doing to future-proof the environment we live in, small changes can have a huge impact. We will look to share the success of this project with other rugby clubs and sports institutions locally, regionally and across the UK."

Craig Germeney, Chairman of Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club said: "We are very excited for the enhancement of our partnership with West Suffolk College. I am sure that this relationship will be hugely beneficial & I look forward to seeing this come to fruition for many years to come."

This is a hugely exciting new chapter & one we are sure will benefit a great many people within the Bury St Edmunds community.

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