A MALVERN investments firm has become the new main sponsor for Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
Blackfinch Investments were Worcestershire’s official shirt sleeve sponsor across all formats for the 2016 campaign as they sought to raise the profile of the company locally and – through live television exposure – nationally.
And now the firm has agreed a new deal to become the club’s main sponsor replacing Arctic Spas for one year with the option of extending it for a further two years.
Based in Blackfinch House, Chequers Close, Malvern the company is an established UK provider of investment solutions.
Richard Cook has been a Worcestershire CCC supporter for over 25 years and, along with Blackfinch Chief Investment Officer and fellow cricket fan Richard Simmonds, is a member of the MCC.
Richard Cook said: “We were shirt sleeve sponsors last year which gave us a good feel for how it is going to work as the main sponsor and we are over the moon to be taking on that role.
“It is a one year deal with the two year option and hopefully the relationship will be a long term one.
“Blackfinch have always had close links with Worcestershire and both partners at Blackfinch (Richard Cook and Richard Simmonds) have been big Graeme Hick fans, going down there since we were kids watching the County.
“We saw some of the great Hick and Botham innings, I have been a supporter for at least 25 years and we are both members of the MCC and big all-round cricket fans.”
Mr Cook added: “What are the advantages of the partnership with Worcestershire CCC? We have a client base who are typically sympathetic with cricket support.
“We provide inheritance tax, investment services for investors – and we are investment managers as well, what we do with that money for clients is invest into property backed developments and young businesses.
“We are going to use the facilities at New Road and take our clients there a lot. Getting our name out there locally is great but, also with the TV exposure, it is going to be great for us to increase awareness of our brand nationally.
“In terms of the current Worcestershire team, last season we could see a lot of potential and it will be good to see how that flourishes over the next couple of years.”
Worcestershire CEO Tom Scott is looking forward to a fruitful relationship with Blackfinch.
He said: “I am very pleased with the introduction of Blackfinch as our Official Main Sponsor. They have been loyal supporters and have committed to the Club for 2017 so we are really looking forward to working closely with them.
“They have already shown their commitment to the Club with their previous sponsorship deal and we are delighted that partnership is being further extended.
“We are keen to work with them to make sure they get the most from their sponsorship and that we can provide to them what they are looking to achieve.”
