Formula Student Sponsorship Help
Discussion
I'm a student at Coventry University studying motorsport engineering and part of a team of enthusiastic students who are trying to design and build a formula student race car (www.formulastudent.com for more info) to compete against other universities as well as help ourselves increase our knowledge and apply what we are learning.
It is a project which is supported by the university and they normally support use with a reasonable budget to build the car. Unfortunately this year our budget has been significantly reduced and without some further sponsorship or support we are going to have to consider the future of the project, which would be a great shame as the whole team is enthusiastic, and willing to put in the many hours work required.
Does anyone know of any companies who might be able to offer us any sponsorship or support in return for having some advertising on our car (will be seen at tracks such as silverstone) and being able to work with the next generation of motorsport engineers?
Many Thanks
James Hammond
It is a project which is supported by the university and they normally support use with a reasonable budget to build the car. Unfortunately this year our budget has been significantly reduced and without some further sponsorship or support we are going to have to consider the future of the project, which would be a great shame as the whole team is enthusiastic, and willing to put in the many hours work required.
Does anyone know of any companies who might be able to offer us any sponsorship or support in return for having some advertising on our car (will be seen at tracks such as silverstone) and being able to work with the next generation of motorsport engineers?
Many Thanks
James Hammond
Oh dear, I fear in this economic climate you might be in some difficulty.
Is there any TV time? Unfortunately names on the side of the car at a track isn't of huge value these days unless you are going to be at a heavily promoted meeting that is likely to get bums on seats.
Good luck!
Is there any TV time? Unfortunately names on the side of the car at a track isn't of huge value these days unless you are going to be at a heavily promoted meeting that is likely to get bums on seats.
Good luck!
Sponsorship is not all about TV...and this case that's a good thing.
Think about attracting local companies/brand and importantly think form their point of view...what would they want/need from you.
Not all sponsorships are about media value and exposure...some are about association. Maybe there is a local company that would want to get behind the project from a grass roots point opf view.
Are there ant local engineering or component manufacturers nearby?
Also consider getting a local/regional newspaper to support you. Offer them access to the project. If you have a media deal in place you could then sell that coverage and exposure to a prospective sponsor.
Think about attracting local companies/brand and importantly think form their point of view...what would they want/need from you.
Not all sponsorships are about media value and exposure...some are about association. Maybe there is a local company that would want to get behind the project from a grass roots point opf view.
Are there ant local engineering or component manufacturers nearby?
Also consider getting a local/regional newspaper to support you. Offer them access to the project. If you have a media deal in place you could then sell that coverage and exposure to a prospective sponsor.
If I were you I'd focus on local companies and go down the route of lots of local publicity in papers etc and using it to show how nice the company is helping a load of local students etc if you get my drift. Your never going to be able to give them any reasonable ROI on something like that so I'd focus on what their sponsorship of you does for their image so to speak.
Basically it looks good on local companies to be seen to be helping education, the community etc.
Basically it looks good on local companies to be seen to be helping education, the community etc.
Yup, that is who we are going to target as well as some big fish companies. We are finalising a letter at the moment and printing them up on headed paper, making a list of local companies, then visiting them later in the week.
I hope we can do something as im a first year student, and have got stuck in with this project as soon as possible, as i want to see it through my 3 or 4 years here at uni.
Thanks
James
I hope we can do something as im a first year student, and have got stuck in with this project as soon as possible, as i want to see it through my 3 or 4 years here at uni.
Thanks
James
Thats a fair old amount considering how low profile it is so to speak. How are most of the other unis financed? Also if your trying to raise that kind of cash from sponsorship how long do you have and you really need somebody working full time on it. Its very difficult to raise that sort of cash for that sort of project but it can be done its just extremely difficult and time consuming!
We are constantly working on the car in our own time, at the moment it is the design stages, although we have made a scale mock up of the chassis, as we are building that asap. I'm not sure 100% on how the other uni's are financed, i heard that there was a meeting today to sort out what the uni will be providing us with finance wise, so fingers crossed on what that outcome was.
James,
Doorstep the motorsport engineering companies. The chassis builders/designers/consultants likeReynard, Ralt, Simtek, Lola. Show them your expertise, they may sponsor you in return for your soul when you graduate.
Try the F1 teams, why not, you have nothing to loose.
Petrochemical Companies are also still a good tap for Student backing.
And finally
The Armed Forces. Your skills could be just at home with them as within motorsport, and for that they may be willing to back you.
If you don't ask, you never get.
Doorstep the motorsport engineering companies. The chassis builders/designers/consultants like
Try the F1 teams, why not, you have nothing to loose.
Petrochemical Companies are also still a good tap for Student backing.
And finally
The Armed Forces. Your skills could be just at home with them as within motorsport, and for that they may be willing to back you.
If you don't ask, you never get.
thunderbelmont said:
James,
Doorstep the motorsport engineering companies. The chassis builders/designers/consultants likeReynard, Ralt, Simtek, Lola. Show them your expertise, they may sponsor you in return for your soul when you graduate.
Try the F1 teams, why not, you have nothing to loose.
Petrochemical Companies are also still a good tap for Student backing.
And finally
The Armed Forces. Your skills could be just at home with them as within motorsport, and for that they may be willing to back you.
If you don't ask, you never get.
Fantastic advice thank you. Between the team we are all compiling a list of possible companies to approach, then on thursday we are all meeting and putting the lists together, sorting out the letters, and then getting out there and visiting the companies hopefully.Doorstep the motorsport engineering companies. The chassis builders/designers/consultants like
Try the F1 teams, why not, you have nothing to loose.
Petrochemical Companies are also still a good tap for Student backing.
And finally
The Armed Forces. Your skills could be just at home with them as within motorsport, and for that they may be willing to back you.
If you don't ask, you never get.
Your advice is greatly appreciated, thank you
James
Having been on the receiving end of several sponsorship letters, might I suggest that instead of simply saying "please give us money" you put yourselves in the shoes of the recipient(s)?
Explain concisely what they stand to gain in return. It's also worth breaking it down into various options so that maybe you might get £5000 from one company, £3000 from two companies and get four companies to sponsor you a £1000 each? It is very unlikely that anyone will offer you the full amount.
Explain concisely what they stand to gain in return. It's also worth breaking it down into various options so that maybe you might get £5000 from one company, £3000 from two companies and get four companies to sponsor you a £1000 each? It is very unlikely that anyone will offer you the full amount.
You could try the "racing for Holland" method. Lots of small spaces on the car, each of which doesn't cost a sponsor a lot of cash. Tons of legwork on your part to find enough sponsors, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Not a new idea, but it might be more achievable in the current climate than finding a few large sums of money.
Not a new idea, but it might be more achievable in the current climate than finding a few large sums of money.
Aim for the top, don't be worried to approach your local big Superstores / banks etc.
Also, shoot off an email or better yet phone your local MP - if the answer is no off anyone they may just have a contact for you.
Just aim high and filter down, I once was developing a web site and took a gamble, I phoned Future Publishing for an editorial, the next week I was sat in thier offices being taken to lunch!
In short, go for it!
Just out of interest do you have a price on a small logo on your car? I am no Bill Gates but I know a few people that may take you up.
Also, shoot off an email or better yet phone your local MP - if the answer is no off anyone they may just have a contact for you.
Just aim high and filter down, I once was developing a web site and took a gamble, I phoned Future Publishing for an editorial, the next week I was sat in thier offices being taken to lunch!
In short, go for it!
Just out of interest do you have a price on a small logo on your car? I am no Bill Gates but I know a few people that may take you up.
Two thoughts to raise money:
Organise a karting competition amongst other people on the course, might raise £500 - £1000 if you get enough people?
Are you outsourcing any of the components? You could negotiate a discount in return for sponsorship space on the car? It would lower the build cost anyway.
Organise a karting competition amongst other people on the course, might raise £500 - £1000 if you get enough people?
Are you outsourcing any of the components? You could negotiate a discount in return for sponsorship space on the car? It would lower the build cost anyway.
There is some great advice in this thread.
In one of the years I was in it we managed to get RAF sponsorship and I'm fairly sure someone else had Army logos on their car, so the forces definitely have a budget for things like this.
As has been said before, think what they will get from it. The year we had the RAF sponsoring us we had also got a local TV news crew shadow us for a few hours one day and we got about 30 seconds at the end of the news. Good exposure, but nowhere near enough to justify the amount of money that they had given us. When they confirmed they were going to sponsor us that idea hadn't even come about, so it's not about TV coverage. It's about recruitment. The vast majority of the sponsors were companies that required engineers and numerically strong people in general. These include banks, accountancy firms, motorsport companies, aircraft companies etc. If you can think of a company that needs that sort of people then send them a letter and then follow it up with a phone call. The worst they can say is no.
Another thing to remember is that if you're competing in any of the overseas competitions be sure to tell the sponsors that they will be getting exposure in other countries. Some will be keen to recruit international graduates.
Good luck!
In one of the years I was in it we managed to get RAF sponsorship and I'm fairly sure someone else had Army logos on their car, so the forces definitely have a budget for things like this.
As has been said before, think what they will get from it. The year we had the RAF sponsoring us we had also got a local TV news crew shadow us for a few hours one day and we got about 30 seconds at the end of the news. Good exposure, but nowhere near enough to justify the amount of money that they had given us. When they confirmed they were going to sponsor us that idea hadn't even come about, so it's not about TV coverage. It's about recruitment. The vast majority of the sponsors were companies that required engineers and numerically strong people in general. These include banks, accountancy firms, motorsport companies, aircraft companies etc. If you can think of a company that needs that sort of people then send them a letter and then follow it up with a phone call. The worst they can say is no.
Another thing to remember is that if you're competing in any of the overseas competitions be sure to tell the sponsors that they will be getting exposure in other countries. Some will be keen to recruit international graduates.
Good luck!
Good luck with your quest.
Coventry is not a bad place to try and get some local sponsorship, you've still got the likes of AP racing, Taxicraft, Lear seating and RS componants there.
Is the engine suppiled or are you building that as well? - if its supplied contact the main dealer in the area for the manufacturer.
Contact all of the comapnies that took students from your course on placements last/this year.
And dont forget product placement for sponsors as well, if they wont give you cash ask them for something else... Awning/ trailer / Van Hire.. anything and everything. And dont be shy, as has already been said... if you dont ask you dont get! ditto the comment about turning up on peoples doorsteps.. talk a walk around Seven Stars ind est, edwick road, Walsgrave triangle etc..
Ask the accomodation office who they use for their gas contracts, I know Warwick Uni use Mercia gas up on holyhead road so they have got an existing connection with the Uni, whoever does Cov uni's may want to build on it or just shout about it.
Going on the idea of the millions of small sponsors... how about asking the students to sponsor you? ask them all for £1 for the privilage of writing a message on your car??
Sometimes the stupidist ideas work... just dont give up!
Coventry is not a bad place to try and get some local sponsorship, you've still got the likes of AP racing, Taxicraft, Lear seating and RS componants there.
Is the engine suppiled or are you building that as well? - if its supplied contact the main dealer in the area for the manufacturer.
Contact all of the comapnies that took students from your course on placements last/this year.
And dont forget product placement for sponsors as well, if they wont give you cash ask them for something else... Awning/ trailer / Van Hire.. anything and everything. And dont be shy, as has already been said... if you dont ask you dont get! ditto the comment about turning up on peoples doorsteps.. talk a walk around Seven Stars ind est, edwick road, Walsgrave triangle etc..
Ask the accomodation office who they use for their gas contracts, I know Warwick Uni use Mercia gas up on holyhead road so they have got an existing connection with the Uni, whoever does Cov uni's may want to build on it or just shout about it.
Going on the idea of the millions of small sponsors... how about asking the students to sponsor you? ask them all for £1 for the privilage of writing a message on your car??
Sometimes the stupidist ideas work... just dont give up!
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