30 January, 2024
Badminton England are delighted to announce Gateley as our official Legal Partner.
The pioneering and award-winning professional services group will join forces with the sport’s national governing body to deliver discounted legal services exclusively to Badminton England, its member clubs and coaching network.
A nationwide company, with a rich history rooted in Birmingham – the home city of the most prestigious badminton tournament, the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships – Gateley are experts in advising the sports sector with an unrivalled knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing sports organisations and NGBs.
Gateley focus on creating commercial and sustainable collaborations with clients over the long term and will embed their legal expertise within the Badminton England organisation, supporting all areas of the business with strategic and practical advice, mentoring opportunities and operational legal support.
Importantly, the collaboration will deliver value far beyond Badminton England and direct to the wider badminton community, placing our member clubs and coaches at the very heart of the partnership.
A legal helpline will soon be available for member clubs and coaches, with clubs given access to up to one hour’s free support and the same exclusive preferential legal rates as Badminton England.
We are excited to announce @GateleyGroup as our official Legal Partner🤝 At the💓of the partnership are discounted legal services exclusive to our member clubs and coaching network and a commitment to our strategic aim to make badminton the most inclusive sport in the country 🤗 pic.twitter.com/nl3PW1FtQi
— Badminton England (@BadmintonEnglnd) January 30, 2024
Clubs will also be able to benefit from Gateley’s Badminton England-branded App which will host legal guidance, FAQs and help signpost clubs and members to helpful easy-to-use legal resources.
The partnership was launched on Monday at a session at Portland College in Mansfield, delivered by one of Badminton England’s Inclusion Champions. Two of our Paralympic medal hopefuls for Paris 2024, Daniel Bethell and Jack Shephard, also took time out from their busy training schedules to pay a surprise visit to the session.
Inclusion is at the core of our recently-launched ten-year strategy for badminton in England and this partnership will include a direct association between Gateley and our National Inclusion Champions; Gateley are proudly committed to working with Badminton England to deliver an annual event which will rightly recognise and reward the extraordinary efforts of these volunteers.
With a focus on Badminton England’s commitment to developing badminton as the most inclusive and accessible sport in the country, Gateley will also support our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee and play an integral part in our safeguarding work, through thought leadership, sharing industry best practice and supporting individuals with EDI insight and expertise.
Gateley will collaborate with Badminton England on wider marketing and content to support the development and strategic priorities of the sport, as well as benefit from access to our major events – at which Gateley’s staff will be invited to volunteer in supporting the delivery and growth of our sport.
Commercial Director at Badminton England, Jenny Clark, said: “It was really important that a legal partnership was able to deliver value to every tier of the sport.
“The new partnership with Gateley has been developed with our new strategy and focus on inclusion right at its heart.
“I am confident that the benefits this relationship will deliver will have a positive impact across the badminton community. I’m looking forward to working closely with Gateley this year and in the future.”
Vikki Whittemore, Group Marketing Director for Gateley, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Badminton England, supporting the organisation with its journey towards its 10-year strategy, for the good of the sport, its players and its members.”
“It’s fantastic to have Gateley on board supporting our work”, said Inclusion Champion, Mick Newton, who ran yesterday’s session at Portland College. “It means a lot that we are being recognised and look forward to their support in helping us to deliver inclusively in communities across the country.”
Images: Alan Spink/Action Photography