Barclays Becomes Lead Sponsor Of Women In Football
Barclays has become the lead sponsor of Women in Football (WiF), the professional network for women working in the football industry.
The brand – which is also the title sponsor of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League – has had a long-standing partnership with WiF, but has now signed a new three-year deal to expand that relationship.
The partnership – which starts immediately – will run until October 2022 and will see Barclays help the network to grow its reach, expand its leadership course and help to deliver it across the country.
The brand says it will help to upskill, empower and connect more women working in and around football, beginning with its first course in Manchester in February 2020. Further courses will be held in ‘major centres of football employment’ around the country.
Jane Purdon, CEO, Women in Football, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for everyone involved in the football industry. The rate of change in the game is phenomenal. Barclays’ support enables us to further extend our programme of expert knowledge-sharing and provision of opportunities via courses and roadshows across the UK.
“They have made an unprecedented commitment to football as a whole – men’s and women’s – and we are delighted to have this opportunity to work with them for the next three years.”
Tom Corbett, Head of Group Sponsorship, Barclays, added: “Women and Football has come a long way since it was established over ten years ago, and I am proud that we have been a partner for most of that time. However, they are now growing rapidly and playing an increasingly important role in football and it is right that we increase our involvement to reflect this.
“In the last six months we have also sponsored the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and the FA Girls’ Football School Partnerships, that aims to give girls greater access to football in schools.
“Inspired by the Women in Football #WhatIf campaign launched in 2018, to encourage businesses, celebrities and members of the public to identify one way that they could take action to contribute to an improvement for women and girls within the football industry, we are delighted that FA committed to make sure all girls had access to football by 2024 – something we were only too pleased to support.
“Together with our long-term partnership with the Premier League this all helps us deliver on our ambition to create opportunities with football.”
