Sponsorship Policy

This is SQA’s sponsorship policy. It gives guidance on what we can and cannot support in terms of the project itself and the organisations involved. Please read this before making an application for sponsorship. Remember that we consider every sponsorship request on its merit.

Sponsorship is ….“the payment of a fee or payment in kind by a company in return for the rights to a public association with an activity, item, person or property for mutual commercial benefit”. Sponsorship is a business agreement, not a gift.

Sponsorship is not …… a donation with nothing in return or a discount for normal goods or services.

• consider all sponsorship requests in an open and even-handed way and measure the request against our sponsorship matrix assessment criteria.

• enter into a sponsorship contract with organisations we sponsor.

• only consider sponsorship agreements with organisations whose products, policies and values align with the strategic objectives and values of SQA.

• consider the other organisations involved if there is to be more than one sponsor and in particular how other sponsors ‘fit’ with SQA.

• consider sponsorship, where possible, ‘in kind’ in the form of a speaker at an event and publicity through our marketing activities (the very fact that SQA has put its name and brand against an event or project adds value and can be compared favourably to a financial contribution).

• ensure the confidentiality of client records through any sponsorship agreement (under no circumstances will SQA provide access to client records or databases).

• require evidence of how sponsorship income is used.

• consider unsolicited sponsorship proposals.

• sponsor individuals, teams or clubs, fundraising events or charities. (SQA contributes to charity via staff initiatives) – however we will consider sponsorship requests from not for profit organisations whose objectives fit with SQA strategic objectives.

• sponsor other government organisations but instead consider joint partnership and marketing initiatives.

• allow sponsorship agreements to influence the policies or procedures of SQA.

• use sponsorship agreements to gain favourable terms from any organisation.

• enter into sponsorship agreements with any organisation which is in legal or financial conflict with SQA or which connects SQA with any political party or pressure group.

• enter into sponsorship that may be construed as offering or promoting services of a sexual nature.

• provide sponsorship for religious organisations.

• enter into sponsorship which may be construed as showing or encouraging any type of prejudice (racial, sexual or religious).

• enter into a sponsorship that is considered not to comply with the guidelines established by the Advertising Standards Authority.

• imply any exclusive arrangement between SQA and the sponsor.

• consider any sponsorship in association with tobacco or alcohol.

• display the SQA brand on any publicity – this includes brochures, advertising, website, exhibition materials, signage, information packs etc (in some instance the SQA International brand may apply).

• mention SQA in all press releases and media activity.

• make available materials or reports produced as part of the project to SQA staff.

• showcase our products and services. We would expect exhibition space at any event we sponsor.

• allow us to provide a speaker plus free tickets for some of our staff to attend.