Dear Worcester City Council,

I am a student at the University of Leicester currently studying for my MBA. For my Dissertation I am carrying out research into income generation in the Public Sector. In particular I am investigating if and how local authorities have utilised sponsorship and promotional activities to generate revenue.

Please could you provide me with the following information under the Freedom of Information Act (2005).

For the following questions the definition of sponsorship is:

“An agreement between your organisation and the sponsor, where you receive either money or a benefit in kind for an event, campaign, promotion or initiative from an organisation or individual which in turn gains publicity or other benefits.”

Particular examples of sponsorship may include but are not strictly limited to:

• Selling access to billboard / notice board advertising;
• Selling advertising space in a Council Newsletter;
• Selling advertising space on your Council website;
• Selling advertising space on roundabouts; and
• Selling naming rights for assets e.g. buildings, venues, vehicles.

1. Since 1st April 2008, has your organisation ever made use of sponsorship activities to generate revenue?

2. Does your organisation have any arrangements in place whereby you receive revenue through sponsorship activities e.g. selling space for advertising, naming rights for assets etc?

3. Does your organisation have a policy, set of procedures or guidelines or strategy for using sponsorship?

4. Please provide details* of:

a. For the financial year (2012/13) all the arrangements currently in place along with the amount of revenue which has been generated through these arrangements.

b. For the previous financial years (2008/09 through to 2011/12) all arrangements along with the amount of revenue which was generated through these arrangements.

* Please note that I am not requesting complete documentation such as the contract.

Yours faithfully,

Chris Ebberley