Sponsorship

Some examples of businesses colleges have secured sponsorship from in the past:

Local York companies:

• This is where the majority of student group sponsorship typically comes from. Think about spaces that students actually use every day: local pubs, bars, cafes, or student housing companies. Many companies choose to sponsor based on active engagement and a cafe, bar, or restaurant is somewhere you can physically take your membership too for socials or events.

Companies that relate to what your college does:

• Some colleges find success with companies that can provide something specific to their group, or that want to support a linked cause. For example, a sports club being sponsored by an equipment supplier, where the supplier agrees to offer the club a discount on equipment as part of the sponsorship package. 

Aligning values: Prioritise companies that share the same values and objectives as your college. However, don't worry if a local business doesn't perfectly align, just focus on demonstrating how sponsoring you could be mutually beneficial.

A Sponsorship Pack is a document which you can give to companies to provide important information about your College and what you’d like out of the deal. Here’s a rough guideline:

• What your College is about and what you do (include detailed figures)

  • Highlight sponsorship opportunities for events

  • Outline why they should pick you over another group

• What the company would gain from sponsorship of your College (publicity, reaching to a student audience of potentially thousands etc.)

  • Highlight your key information and unique nature

• How much you are expecting from the company (workshops, space, commitment)

  • Remember this doesn’t just have to be a financial transaction

• How much will this cost the company (explain where the money will go)

  • Don’t be unrealistic; expect to barter

• Your contact details

So you’ve secured sponsorship - brilliant! The next stage is to fill in a Sponsorship Agreement Form. This outlines what the company will do for you and what you will do for them in return, and is signed by you, the company, and York SU. It’s invaluable if they’re ever difficult in keeping their side of the bargain. Once both you and the company have filled out the form, email it into g.andrews@yorksu.org who will approve the agreement from a York SU perspective. Once the agreement has been accepted by all parties, you’ll then need to ask York SU Finance to create an invoice for the company to pay you. Do not accept cash as sponsorship. 

There are a few companies that you cannot enter into a Sponsorship Agreement with due to York SU’s own sponsorship deals which are already in place. As a York SU member you benefit from these deals, so we can’t allow you to compete with them. Here’s the list:

• Taxi Companies

  • York SU and the University have established sponsorship and/or contractual agreements with Streamline, meaning that by extension colleges can’t be sponsored by other taxi companies

• Insurance Companies

  • As York SU uses Howden as its insurance partner, which also insure college committee activity, college committees are unable to be sponsored by other insurance companies

• Pizza Restaurants/Takeaways and related Delivery Companies (inc Deliveroo, Just Eat, etc.)

  • York SU are sponsored by Domino’s

• Bus Companies

  • The University has a central contract with First Bus which includes the Students’ Union. This means that other bus companies are unable to sponsor University and Students’ Union activities/groups.

• Club nights that conflict with York SU official nights

  • York SU and Colleges are sponsored by York Parties

• Gyms

  • York SU and the University have established sponsorship and/or contractual agreements with York Sport Village, meaning that by extension colleges can’t be sponsored by other gym companies