England Hockey Agrees A Pension Plan

England Hockey and NOW: Pensions have announced the biggest ever sponsorship investment in men’s hockey in England.

NOW: Pensions, one of the UK’s leading auto-enrolment pension providers, was revealed as the principal partner of Great Britain and England men’s hockey. The announcement of the four-year deal coincided with the unveiling of a new look 30-strong Great Britain and England men’s squad which will begin training in a centralised programme this week.

NOW: Pensions will be fully integrated within the sport and visible nationwide throughout the year as a partner committed to developing the future of the game. By becoming the title sponsor of the men’s domestic league, NOW: Pensions hopes to support a well-defined talent pathway for players, helping taking the men’s side to a medal position at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016 Olympics.

As well as supporting the men’s hockey league, NOW: Pensions is also fully behind England Hockey’s London 2012 legacy plans to make the sport bigger and more accessible, and is supporting the grassroots product, Rush Hockey. NOW: Pensions will be helping England Hockey take this shortened, casual version of the game to popular venues, sport centres and schools to encourage more people to pick up a stick and get involved.

Morten Nilsson, chief executive of NOW: Pensions, said: ‘We are delighted to announce our support for England Hockey from the grassroots to the elite squad.  We are here in the UK for the long term and want to see the sport grow hand in hand with our business. 

‘NOW: Pensions is a company which aims to challenge the status quo and believes that everyone deserves a better pension to secure the retirement they deserve.  Through the partnership with England Hockey, NOW: Pensions hopes to take this message to a UK wide audience to engage employers with the company’s expertise and experience.’

Sally Munday, chief executive of England Hockey, added: ‘It is fantastic to have the support of NOW: Pensions. The ambition of our two organisations feels very similar as we continue to take advantage of the opportunity London 2012 has given us to grow the numbers playing and watching our sport.  It’s a real fillip for both the elite and grassroots elements of the sport and the journey begins next weekend at the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Finals, which will include prize money, a Rush Hockey zone and coverage on Sky Sports.’