An exciting new initiative has been introduced by Football Federation Victoria which attempts to formally acknowledge the valuable contribution businesses makes towards football in the state via the establishment of a business network.
Officially launched in late November of last year, the Community in Business brings together Victoria’s key football stakeholders including businesses, football clubs, media and government.
Socceroos Manager Ange Postecoglou, former Socceroo Josip Skoko, Perth Glory CEO Peter Filopoulos Fox Sports Pundit Andy Harper and Fairfax journalist Michael Lynch headlined the inaugural launch, with four luncheons scheduled over the course of the 2016 football calendar.
FFV Commercial and Media General Manager Anthony Grima spoke exclusively to TCF about the initiative and where it originated from.
“At the end of 2014 a research project was conducted regarding sponsorship of football in Victoria which found that just fewer than 2,000 businesses invested commercially in the game,” he said.
“These businesses including the football clubs they sponsor are the heartbeat of football in Victoria and a platform was needed to firstly recognise their contribution to the game and secondly provide them with mutually beneficial opportunities to engage with one another.”
Community in Business consists of a membership based program and provides multiple connectivity channels for members to engage with other like-minded people who can share and celebrate their passion for the world game including via a series of business networking luncheons throughout the year.
The luncheons will also include high profile football personalities, guest speakers, great entertainment.
Grima differentiates Community in Business as something where the community wins rather one specific club or the FFV.
“This is not just another corporate hospitality program. This is a program that provides many benefits to the community including football clubs and their sponsors,” he said.
“For me personally, Community is Business will remind everyone where they started and why they fell in love with this great game.”
Critical to Community in Business are the ten key objectives set out which are seen to be integral to the growth and ongoing success of football in the state. They include:
• To develop and maintain sustainable business relationships.
• To develop introductions and maintain local, state and federal government relationships.
• To promote the benefits of investing in community football.
• To unite Victorian football clubs as ‘friends in football’ and to tackle big issues collectively rather than alone or in competition with one another.
• To celebrate the success of football and acknowledge Victoria’s proud history and those who have contributed to its successful past, present and future.
• To discuss topics of importance, including how businesses and clubs can decrease the costs of football.
• To consult with businesses involved in football for the benefit of producing FFV’s 2016-19 Strategic Plan.
• To leverage football’s business relationships to promote and grow football in Victoria.
• To provide members with cost-effective ways to leverage the success of football and the branding of Community in Business.
• To make a genuine and sustainable difference to the lives of disadvantaged individuals involved in football.
The first of those luncheons is on Friday, March 4 at the International of Brighton in Bay Street, Brighton with details of the event and further luncheons being published on the official Community in Business online site: http://www.communityinbusiness.com.au/