Forty-two businesses are sponsoring the Gromit sculptures in the new art trail set to hit the streets of Bristol and the surrounding area next summer. A wide range of local and regional businesses are taking part, including retailers, restaurants and hotels, together with professional services firms and major national and international corporates.
About sixty Gromit sculptures, individually designed by top international and local artists and designers, will become a major tourist attraction for the city in 2013 and help raise funds for Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity.
Sponsors are being attracted by the unique opportunity to associate their company with Aardman’s triple-Oscar ® winning characters, Wallace & Gromit and the Grand Appeal, which they can use to build brand awareness, help animate Bristol next summer and support a cause at the heart of the community. The exclusive opportunities available for sponsors are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis and full details are at www.sponsoragromit.org.uk.
Rob Pendleton, marketing director at LDC, which is sponsoring a Gromit says: “Supporting Gromit Unleashed was an easy decision to make. LDC have supported the Grand Appeal for a number of years as their work for Bristol Children’s Hospital epitomises the philosophy of LDC to support individuals and organisations at the heart of the local community. Gromit Unleashed is inspired. From an LDC perspective it will provide not only an invaluable profile and fundraising opportunity for the Grand Appeal but it is a great advert for a great city. Commercially that must be good for everyone.”
The Mall Cribbs Causeway is sponsoring a Gromit and will also be used as a location for one of the sculptures. Maria Crayton, marketing manager explains: “The decision to support Gromit Unleashed was one of the fastest I have ever made. It will undoubtedly attract media attention locally, nationally and internationally and attract people in to the city. But the best reason to get involved is to support Bristol Children’s Hospital and all the poorly children who need it.”
Jeremy Richards, lead director, South West region for international property consultants Jones Lang Lasalle says: “Wallace & Gromit are an international brand, and as an international company with 45,000 employees worldwide we felt it was something that the company as a whole would recognise, so it is a great fit with our business.”
Peter Morris, managing partner for law firm Burges Salmon adds: “We have been supporting Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal throughout 2012 as our Charity of the Year, with lawyers and staff taking part in a huge range of fundraising activities for this vital appeal. Supporting Gromit Unleashed is a great way for us to continue our work with the Grand Appeal team in the year ahead and be part of an exciting project which will be talked about not just here in Bristol, but around the world.”
Gromit Unleashed will raise funds towards Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal’s campaign to raise funds to support the expansion of Bristol Children’s Hospital, one of the leading multi-disciplinary children’s hospitals in the UK. The Grand Appeal has pledged to raise an initial £3.5 million for state-of-the-art equipment, family facilities and child-friendly artwork to enhance the £30 million investment by the NHS.
Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal says: “We have been overwhelmed by the interest from businesses in our Gromit Unleashed project, most of whom recognise this as an opportunity to raise their brand awareness and benefit from the huge footfall that the project will create.”
“Gromit has become a national treasure who is loved by children and adults alike and that’s why so many local and regional companies want to get involved with this exciting event and support our work to help fund the expansion of the Bristol Children’s Hospital.”
To sponsor one of the few remaining Gromits, companies should contact Sarah Vipond, fundraising manager at Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal on 0117 9273888 or email [email protected]
To keep up to date with the latest news visit www.gromit-unleashed.org.uk
Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal has already raised over £21 million for Bristol Children’s Hospital, one of only a few specialist children’s hospitals in the UK providing life-saving surgery, care and treatment to children on a local, national and international scale.
The Grand Appeal is working with Wild in Art, a leading arts and education company which produces mass participation events in cities, to deliver Gromit Unleashed.
The business quotes in full are as follows:
Maria Crayton – The Mall Cribbs Causeway
The Mall Cribbs Causeway is a shopping centre based outside of Bristol
“The decision to support ‘Gromit Unleashed’ was one of the fastest I have ever made. There was no doubt in my mind it was the right thing to do – it was an instinctive YES.
“The proposition is creative and compelling. Gromit unleashed in Bristol will undoubtedly attract media attention locally, nationally and internationally and attract people in to the city. The Mall’s Gromit will live here for 10 weeks, helping to support footfall objectives by providing an additional, genuinely exciting reason to visit!
“But the best reason to get involved – to support Bristol Children’s Hospital and all the poorly children who need it.”
Jeremy Richards – Jones Lang Lasalle
Jones Lang Lasalle is an international property consultants with offices in central Bristol
“Wallace & Gromit are an international brand, and as an international company with 45,000 employees worldwide we felt it was something that the company as a whole would recognise, so it is a great fit with our business.
“We were also excited to support something that is so quintessentially Bristolian. Aardman are a fantastic local company and the Grand Appeal does such brilliant work in the city that it was something that we felt we had to be a part of.
“Gromit Unleashed offers an excellent opportunity to engage our staff in fundraising as part of our CSR policy, and we are considering making the Grand Appeal our charity of the year so that we can maximise our support.”
Jerry Milner – Camb Knives
Camb Knives is a machine knives manufacturer in Yate
“We’re a small family company that manufactures machine knives for businesses, and the key reason that we have signed up to Gromit Unleashed is because we support the charity and believe in the project.
“We have raised a significant amount of money for the Grand Appeal over the years. They do amazing work across the South West and we are over the moon to be able to continue our support with this great new project.
“I think Gromit Unleashed is an excellent idea, as these characters have helped to put Bristol on the map and I can’t wait to see Gromit’s popping up all over the city.”
Rob Pendleton – Marketing Director, LDC
LDC is the UKs leading regional mid-market private equity specialists, based in Temple Quay
“LDC’s philosophy is one of working with individuals, businesses and regional communities. Whilst our business focus is one of investing and supporting ambitious management teams and high quality businesses, our community focus is one of supporting individuals or organisations that are at the heart of the local community. The Grand Appeal and the work they undertake for Bristol Children’s Hospital and the South West in general epitomises this, and is the reason we’ve supported them for a number of years. Supporting Gromit Unleashed was therefore an easy decision to make.
“Using the character of Gromit is inspired. It has an international following and is a perfect platform from which The Grand Appeal, the city of Bristol, project sponsors and supporters can use a distinct marketing platform. From an LDC perspective it will provide not only an invaluable profile and fundraising opportunity for the Grand Appeal but it is a great advert for a great city. Commercially that must be good for everyone.”
Peter Morris – Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
A leading UK law firm with global reach based in Bristol
“We have been supporting Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal throughout 2012 as our Charity of the Year, with lawyers and staff taking part in a huge range of fundraising activities for this vital appeal. Supporting Gromit Unleashed is a great way for us to continue our work with the Grand Appeal team in the year ahead and be part of an exciting project which will be talked about not just here in Bristol, but around the world.”
The full list of the 42 businesses that have signed up to Gromit Unleashed is as follows:
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LDC
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The Post
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Element 78
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Rolls Royce
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Camb knives
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The Mall
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Western Power Distribution
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Burges Salmon
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Subway
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Jones Lang LaSalle
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Yankee Candle
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Harvey Nichols
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Icon Films
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Wessex Water
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Bluefin Professions
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Veale Wasbrough Vizards
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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TLT Solicitors
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Nuffield Health
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Natracare
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Clifton Village Traders’ Association
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Business West
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Clarke Willmott
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Nailsea Electrical
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Ignition DG
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Cabot Circus
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Magmatic
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Itec Group
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Hotel Du Vin
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Lye Cross Farm
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Avon Gorge Hotel
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Spy Glass
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Smith & Williamson
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Harvey’s Furniture
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Hayes Parsons
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Dancourt Plant Hire
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DESTINATION BRISTOL
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UWE
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Osborne Clarke
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Bristol City Council
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Crest Nicholson Regeneration
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Ramada City / Double Tree Hilton
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