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Red Rock
RED ROCK COMMITTED TO GRASS
ROOTS AND ELITE PERFORMANCE
Red Rock Partnership Chief Executive
Craig Buckingham has forged one of the
most comprehensive support packages in
the history of cricket in Nottinghamshire
with his ongoing commitment to the
professional and recreational game.
The Red Rock brand appears on the Outlaws’
Friends Life t20 match shirts and those of
Nottinghamshire’s county age groups.
Red Rock have enjoyed rapid growth since
their formation in 2006 and Craig hopes
that the deals will further enhance the
profile of his company.
“I have a passion for cricket and a belief
that there shouldn’t be any barriers to
participation which is one of the key
motivators for my partnership with
Nottinghamshire,” said Craig.
“I played cricket at school and perhaps
took it for granted because it can be an
expensive sport to access and I hope that
we can alleviate some of the financial
pressure that young people face when they
begin playing the game.”
The Red Rock Bursary scheme provides
financial assistance to individuals selected
to represent the Nottinghamshire Cricket
Board (NCB) county age group squads if they
receive free school meals or if their parents
earn income-based Job Seekers Allowance,
income support or child tax credit with an
income not exceeding £15,000.
Successful applicants will receive £70
funding to cover the Board’s 14-week indoor
winter net programme, £120 to buy training
wear and match shirts, 18 pence per mile
or alternative travel reimbursement and a
50 per cent contribution to the purchase
of cricket hardware to a maximum value
of £150.
“The success of the professional game
depends on a wide participation base and
I would hope that this scheme will ensure
that talented cricketers can enter our system
without any financial worries,” said Craig.
“More cricket is being played in
Nottinghamshire schools and that is the
first step in talent identification.”
Craig’s business acumen has assisted the
NCB in streamlining their performance
in readiness for a potential reduction in
central funding, with increased reliance on
self-generated income.
“The Cricket Board needed some support in
preparation for structural changes and I met
with them and saw that we got on well and
that I felt I could contribute,” said Craig.
“My business is well-established now and
we agreed a sponsorship deal for the county
age group squads which led to discussions
about the Notts Outlaws shirt and we’re
now committed to that until the end of the
2014 season.”
Craig was a regular presenter of the man
of the match award and even booked a
corporate box at Glamorgan’s SWALEC
Stadium in the hope that Notts Outlaws
would reach the final four.
“The matches at Trent Bridge were great
to watch and it was nice to bring staff and
clients to see our brand on the shirts,”
said Craig.
“The quarter-final didn’t go to plan but
we had already booked our hospitality at
Finals Day by then so we went along and
had a really good day.”
Red Rock Partnership provide recruitment
and HR support solutions from six
branches across the UK.
www.redrockpartnership.co.uk
craig buckingham presents alex hales
with his man of the match prize