Sponsorships
The primary role of Nedbank Group Sponsorships is to provide a platform to profile the Nedbank brand via identified and approved sponsorship opportunities. Some of the prominent sponsorships in which Nedbank participates are as follows:
Golf
The profile of golf in South Africa has changed dramatically in recent years and the sport offers opportunities for sponsorship at every level, from competition to development, social responsibility and corporate affairs. By sponsoring golfing events Nedbank reaches a large section of both our client base and our target market. Through this sponsorship we also reach the emerging market and contribute to the development of golf among women and the previously disadvantaged.The Sports Trust Golf Challenge (a joint initiative between Nedbank and Sun International) is played the day after the Nedbank Golf Challenge and pits corporate participants against the same course and pin conditions faced by the professionals. To date over R8 million has been raised for sport development through this initiative.
The Nedbank Affinity Cup was introduced in 2007 and forms part of the Sunshine Tour. The tournament is played on the Lost City Golf Course three days prior to the start of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Nedbank has pledged to donate an annual amount equal to the Affinity Cup winner's prize money to a selected golf-related development project to further entrench our commitment to golf development in South Africa. The Soweto Golf Club was the beneficiary of the 2007 Nedbank Affinity Cup.
The current golf portfolio of Nedbank Group Sponsorships includes:
- Nedbank Golf Challenge.
- Nedbank Group Ladies Novice - Pro-Am/Amateur Series.
- Nedbank Group Disabled Open.
- Nedbank Affinity Cup (Sunshine Tour event).
- Sunshine Tour (official banker).
- Sports Trust Golf Challenge (joining Sun International to make up the two founding trustees).
Sport for the disabled
Nedbank has had a long and mutually rewarding association with sport for the disabled - the highlight being the annual Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled, which perfectly complements our ongoing sponsorship of the South African Paralympic Team that is due to compete in Beijing in 2008. Former paralympic swimming star Scott Field, a Nedbank employee, is tipped to manage the SA Paralympic Team for this event.Under the banner of 'Against All Odds, Anything's Possible', Nedbank joined forces with eight other sponsors in supporting the team going to Beijing. The 2008 Beijing Games mark Nedbank's 14th year of making things happen as a sponsor of the SA Paralympic Team.
Nedbank's current 'sport for the disabled' portfolio includes:
- Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled.
- Nedbank Technical Excellence and Administration Programme.
- Nedbank/Curamus Flyfishing Series for the disabled.
- South African Paralympic Team (Nedbank is a cosponsor).
Road running
The year 2007 was the second year of a five-year sponsorship deal with Athletics South Africa (ASA) through which the hugely popular Nedbank City Marathon and Matha Series (short course) were introduced.
Road running is one of South Africa's most popular and accessible sports. As such, the sponsorship of this sport gives Nedbank a vehicle to effectively engage the SA mass market. The Nedbank City Marathon and Matha Series have a special focus on encouraging participation among young athletes and, where possible, the promotion and inclusion of athletes with disabilities in mainstream running events will also be a key focus area.
The current road running portfolio of Nedbank Group Sponsorships includes:- Nedbank City Marathon and Matha Series (countrywide).
- Comrades Marathon (Nedbank is one of the sponsors).
Brand ambassadors
While Nedbank does not entertain the sponsorship of individuals (as outlined in our sponsorship policy), we do reserve the right to appoint 'Brand Ambassadors' who can be called upon to promote the association and goodwill between the Nedbank brand and the sport or sponsorship property with which that Brand Ambassador is involved.In June 2007 we introduced our first Brand Ambassador programme that saw the appointment of Ashleigh Simon (golf), Oscar Pistorius (sport for the disabled) and Hendrik Ramaala (road running) as Nedbank Brand Ambassadors. All three are exceptional sporting talents, having excelled on the local and international stage. The Brand Ambassadors appeared at Nedbank roadshows and prizegivings, as well as other events, and will also be used in advertising campaigns.
Soccer
November 2007 saw the announcement of our five-year sponsorship of the Nedbank Cup (PSL official knockout cup), marking the culmination of a long search by Nedbank for an appropriate and significant opportunity to support the soccer fraternity.
The competition will feature 32 teams - 16 from the Premier League, eight from the National First Division and eight from the South African Football Association. This is the only cup competition that addresses football development through the inclusion of professional and amateur teams.
The preliminary knockout games will kick off in January 2008 and the competition will run for five months, giving Nedbank a prime opportunity to develop its association with soccer.
The Businesswomen's Association
Nedbank has been the proud sponsor of the Businesswomen's Association (BWA) since its inception five years ago. The sponsorship supports our Deep Green aspirations of leading transformation, being highly involved in the community and environment and being the most respected brand - not to mention the bank of choice for women in all markets. Nedbank's support of the BWA allows the bank to grow quality market share of the banking and financing of businesses owned or managed by women, based on our ability to add value and dedicated client focus.
Cape Winemakers Guild
Nedbank Business Banking is a market leader in the wine industry, providing a full range of banking services for all sectors - from growers to exporters. The Nedbank sponsorship of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) provides fantastic hospitality opportunities for the business units in the form of wine auctions and dinners in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Financial assistance is also provided for the workers and their families/dependants on the wine estates through the Nedbank Group CWG Development Fund in conjunction with the Nedbank Foundation.The Nedbank And Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition
Now in its 35th year, and run in close cooperation with the Department of Finance, this competition aims to promote economic excellence in South Africa by:- promoting the principles of sustainable economic development;
- developing future leaders of economics (with a focus on young African university students);
- making young South Africans excited about Economics as a subject and career path; and
- providing students with opportunities to establish contact with key players in the financial world.
In principle, Nedbank does not consider or participate in sponsorships involving:
- religious groups, political parties and related activities;
- blood sports or gambling (boxing, horseracing, etc);
- environmentally unfriendly activities;
- activities or events engaging direct competitor activity or other high-profile sponsors;
- groups, teams, clubs and individuals (including staff);
- provincial or regional bodies or activities;
- once-off unsustainable activities or events;
- events or activities that are exclusionary on the basis of race, religion, gender or disability; and
- overseas events or activities.
| This page was updated on 18 August, 2008 |  Return to top |
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