Sheffield United builds new partnership with Capita Symonds

Sheffield United Football Club has today unveiled major property consultancy Capita Symonds as a global partner of the club.

As part of the deal, the Capita Symonds logo will feature on the team's home and away kits, including branding on the shorts and the back of the shirts.

Capita Symonds, which has significant business interests in Sheffield, will also become a global property partner of Sheffield United's property division.

The deal between Capita Symonds and Sheffield United will start with immediate effect and cover the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons.

Capita Symonds' association will extend across the Blades' international clubs that include Hungary's Ferencváros, China's Chengdu Blades, and Australia's Central Coast Mariners.

Capita Symonds is one of the UK's largest and most diverse multidisciplinary consultancies operating in the building design, civil engineering, environment, management, property and transport sectors.

The company has worked on a number of projects within the sporting arena including the construction of the new Wimbledon Centre Court roof, the redevelopment of Epsom Downs racecourse and the completion of Wembley Stadium.

It is also part of the Capita Group, which employs 36,000 people worldwide. Over 3,000 of these staff are based in Sheffield, making Capita one of the biggest employers in the 'Steel City'.

Capita Symonds has been working in Sheffield since the 1980s and now employs 125 staff. The company is providing multidisciplinary services on a number of flagship projects in the city including Velocity Village in Tenter Street - one of the biggest mixed-use developments in Yorkshire - Capita Hartshead's new state of the art headquarters off the Parkway, and St Mary's Gate, a mixed use development on the fringe of the Heart of the City.

In May 2008, Capita Symonds acquired the Sheffield engineering consultancy Pearce Buckle (Design Engineers) and also acquired another company with Sheffield roots - structural engineering consultancy NRM Bobrowski.

Kevin McCabe, Chairman of Sheffield United commented: "We are very pleased to work with a company with such a prowess in the sporting and property arena. The respect between both parties will contribute towards a highly valued partnership."

Jonathan Goring, Managing Director, Capita Symonds said: "We are delighted to launch this new partnership with Sheffield United FC. This is a unique relationship that promises mutual benefits for all parties, and allows us to broaden our international horizons whilst providing the Sheffield United property division with the full breadth of our professional expertise.

"We are also delighted to be supporting the football side of the business and wish the team the best of luck for the new season."

Mike Farnan, Executive Director at Sheffield United added:

"This Capita Symonds partnership is a further demonstration of how Sheffield United's unique international club model in world football is helping to attract multi-national brands to the club. This latest relationship will also increase our own business offering in the international field."