PHAR has been appointed by Manchester Business School, part of the University of Manchester, to develop and deliver a partnerships programme. Our first piece of work will be to evaluate the potential partnership opportunity, a piece of work that will be carried out by PHAR Insight. Once completed, we will then engage with the market, both in the UK and internationally, to secure relevant partnerships with appropriate brands across multiple sectors. Russell Miller, Director of Sponsorship and Business Relations at Manchester Business School had this to say about PHAR’s appointment and the project they’re undertaking: “We’re delighted to be working with PHAR Partnerships. MBS offers a unique proposition to its partners. We see huge potential in creating longer-term partnerships with international brands who want to reach our national and international audiences, while getting close to our world-class research.”
Pure Gym appoints PHAR to develop and deliver a national commercial partnerships programme
PHAR has been appointed by Pure Gym – the UK’s largest and fastest-growing gym group – to develop and deliver the opportunity for national commercial partners across the group.Pure Gym, opened in 2009, is now the UK’s largest gym group expecting to surpass 500,000 members and 100 clubs in the next 12 months. In 2014 it enjoyed over 20 million visits to its sites and now, with continued growth planned over the next two years, Pure Gym is looking to work with brands with the aim of delivering long-term ancillary revenue streams and enhancement of their customers’ experiences at the gyms.
Commercial Director at Pure Gym, Jamie Hutchinson, commented: “We are delighted to be working with PHAR and to be developing an exciting commercial partnership programme.”He added “We choose to work with PHAR because of the company’s high-profile track record of securing partnerships for the world’s leading brands. PHAR’s expertise is second to none and we look forward to securing a number of exciting partnerships”
Ian Tussie, Head of Partnerships at PHAR, added: “Pure Gym is one of the few rights holders that can offer a national reach to partners and a huge audience of people to communicate with on a regular basis. There are so many opportunities for partners to create genuine added value for Pure Gym’s members and to engage with them, not just whilst they’re working-out, but in their everyday lives and we’re extremely excited to work with Pure Gym and to start talking to the market about the opportunities.”
Manny Pacquiao signs deal with PHAR client AirAsia
Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao has agreed a one-year marketing deal with our client AirAsia, which will see him use two AirAsia Airbus A320s to fly his entourage to Macau for his upcoming bout on 23rd November against American Chris Algieri. "We try to celebrate heroes, guys or girls who come from nowhere and make people’s dreams come true," said AirAsia founder and PHAR Chairman Tony Fernandes, speaking to local media in the Philippines. "So when this opportunity came, it was too good an opportunity to miss."
HOME Manchester appoints PHAR to secure sponsors for new multi art centre
PHAR, the specialist sponsorship agency, have been exclusively appointed by HOME, Manchester, to help secure partners and sponsors for the new arts centre opening in March 2015. HOME will be the third largest arts centre in the UK, the biggest outside London and will offer something new and innovative to audiences in the North West and beyond. It will be the focal point of the new First Street development in the city centre and has been formed by a merger between Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company.Housing a gallery, theatre, 5 cinemas, café, bars and a restaurant, HOME will be central to Manchester’s arts and culture offering and has the backing of key stakeholders in the city.
Marla Cunningham, Development Director at HOME, said “We’re delighted to be working with Phar Partnerships. Our new multi art centre, HOME, will be a significant addition to the cultural offer for the region and a big part of the regeneration of Manchester City Centre. We think this will be very attractive for savvy brands who want to support arts and culture while getting a multitude of benefits by association.”
The project will be run by PHAR’s Manchester office and Ian Tussie, Head of Partnerships at PHAR, is very positive about the new project. “HOME is a really exciting new project and something that will appeal greatly to potential sponsors and partners. There’s nothing else quite like it in Manchester and the precedent set by the South Bank Centre, which has a plethora of sponsors, makes us very positive that there will be brands interested in investing in the project, engaging with an audience of around 750,000 each year and working with HOME on its fantastic CSR activities.”
PHAR client Artemis Racing launches its challenge for the 35th America’s Cup
Today, PHAR's client Artemis Racing officially launched its challenge to win the 35th America’s Cup at an inspirational event in Sweden’s capital. Guests were treated to a rare chance of seeing the America’s Cup trophy first hand at the Moderna Museet, on Skeppsholmen Island at the heart of Stockholm’s proud maritime history.Torbjörn Törnqvist, Team Principal of Artemis Racing said: “Sailing is my passion, and I’m very proud to once again represent Sweden in the America’s Cup. Given our experience from the 34th America’s Cup, what the team went through and achieved, we have an incredibly strong culture, a belonging to the team. Building on our core group from the last campaign, we have been able to secure talent across all areas, and I strongly believe that Artemis Racing is a team capable of winning the 35th America’s Cup”.
Artemis Racing will again challenge alongside Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet (KSSS), the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, for what will be their second campaign together in the pursuit of winning the oldest competition in sport.
“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of international sailing. KSSS is proud to be a challenger once again through Torbjörn Törnqvist’s Artemis Racing team. We are also very excited by the prospect of involving Swedish sailors in various ways in the project. We want to extend our gratitude to Torbjörn Törnqvist for making this possible” commented Staffan Salén, KSSS Commodore.
New team members were announced, including Swedish Olympic champions, Fredrik Lööf and Max Salminen, as well as America’s Cup veteran Rod Davis.
Lööf is one of the most successful Swedish sailors of all times and a long-time friend and competitor of Team Manager Iain Percy. With a wealth of experience, he has participated in an incredible six Olympic campaigns, winning a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Star class, and at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the Finn class. Lööf’s career highlights also include three Finn World Championships, two Star World titles and a third place finish in the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race.
On joining the team Fredrik said “I’ve been fascinated by the way sailing has been evolving over the last few years, with these new foiling boats and incredible TV production. I was really inspired by Artemis’ last campaign and having a Swedish boat on the start line again, and being part of it this time, is very exciting. Winning the America’s Cup and bringing it to Sweden for the first time would be something very special”.
One of the most promising talents in Swedish sailing, Max Salminen, still just 24, struck gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Fredrik Lööf in the Star class.
Artemis Racing also welcomed Sailing Coach Rod Davis. In his extraordinary America’s Cup career –now his 9th campaign – Davis brings an unparalleled wealth of experience to the team, having covered a variety of roles from bowman to mainsail trimmer, skipper, and more recently coach of Emirates Team New Zealand. Rod won a gold medal in the Soling class at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, and Olympic silver in the Finn class in Barcelona 1992. His track record also includes winning the Admiral’s Cup and the Sardinia Cup several times, as well as seven World Champion titles.
The Team has already amassed an incredible 61 America’s Cup Campaigns between its members, including 14 victories. Team members (including two designers) have competed in 21 Olympic Games, winning 11 medals, including seven Gold medals.
“Where some teams may have one Olympic gold medallist, we have six of them, however the focus is very much on the team, and there is no individual bigger than the group. We are not only in this competition to win the 35th America’s Cup, but to dominate the America’s Cup arena for the next decade.” Said Team Manager and Tactician Iain Percy. “I’m also passionate that Artemis Racing is more than simply winning, it’s about producing a legacy and winning in a certain way”.