More sponsors on board
Tall ships bosses are buoyed up by the number of organisations who are now backing Hartlepool’s biggest ever event through a variety of sponsorship packages.
One of the latest signings is the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). It has committed to the Diamond Package, the second largest on offer for the event, with the Hartlepool branch securing funding from its national federation.
A spokesperson for the Hartlepool branch of the FSB said: “As we see signs that the economy is beginning to stabilise and growth slowly starting to return, The Tall Ships’ Races will not only be the biggest North East event this year, but will serve to galvanise and promote the small business community as the skilled and dedicated workers that they are.
"We are delighted to be involved as the main business sponsor and we will be working extremely hard to get every one of our 4500 members here in the North East and the many members beyond to become as excited and dedicated to the event as we are."
Several sponsors recently attended an event at Hartlepool United Football Club when they received a certificate and praise from the town's Mayor Stuart Drummond (pictured below).
Michelle Daurat, Hartlepool Council's Tall Ships Project Manager, said: “The Hartlepool Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses has always supported the Tall Ships event, but we are obviously delighted to secure funding from the national arm of the FSB.
"The FSB represent a significant number of businesses nationwide and this deal can only serve to greatly enhance the event in Hartlepool later this year, both for visitors and the small business community.
"We are pleased with the growing number of sponsors and we have a range of packages which can be tailored to suit individual needs."
The full list of sponsors so far are: Federation of Small Businesses, Real Radio, Hartlepool Water, JDR Cables, Yuill Homes, CTC Marine, The Hartlepool Partnership, Tioxide Europe Ltd, UK Steel Enterprise Ltd, Premier Inn Stockton & Hartlepool, Rachel Gretton Glass, Wild Rose Florists, The Secret Garden and Hartlepool District Flower Club.
Hartlepool is expected to welcome up to one million visitors for the event. The ships are expected to arrive in Hartlepool on Saturday 7 August after sailing from Kristiansand in Norway in the second and final race. They will stay until Tuesday 10 August when they will bid a grand farewell in an impressive Parade of Sail.
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor should contact Val Johnson on 07912 177780 or e-mail stonelemonltd@aol.com.
