Marlborough Jazz Festival loses its headline sponsor

 

LATER NEWS: Brewin Dolphin to continue as lead sponsors for the 2016 Marlborough LitFest.

Wealth management company Brewin Dolphin, the headline sponsor of Marlborough Jazz festival for the past 11 years, has announced it will not be renewing its sponsorship in 2016.

It is understood the decision was taken by the London HQ of the Business Park-based firm, and that local offices’ discretionary spend of marketing – like sponsorship of the Jazz Festival – has been capped.

Myles Palmer divisional director of the Marlborough branch of Brewin Dolphin told Marlborough News Online: “Our head office in London has undertaken a full review of Brewin Dolphin’s future marketing strategy, with a new team now on board, and they have concluded that any major sponsorship deals in the future will be at national level, thereby providing a greater presence at each event.

“Initially the group will be targeting gardening and motoring with literature festivals to be added in the near future.

“Whilst the Jazz Festival has been a key event that the Marlborough Office has supported in the past, it does not fit in with the new groups marketing strategy, and as a result of this review we will sadly no longer sponsor the Jazz Festival.

“We have been very proud to have enjoyed eleven years of being lead sponsor of this ever growing Festival which goes from strength to strength, and we hope it will continue to do so, showcasing Marlborough as a delightful place to visit.

“We wish the team behind the Festival all the best for the future.”

This week, Jazz festival organisers were putting a brave face on the decision. Festival founder Nick Fogg said: “Brewin Dolphin has decided to deal with sponsorship on a national basis rather than through its local offices, so our relationship with the firm is now on a different basis.

“Our excellent relations with the Marlborough branch of Brewin Dolphin will continue and we are hopeful that they will continue to be involved in the Jazz Festival in a different way.

“We are hugely grateful to Brewin Dolphin for their generous sponsorship of the festival over eleven years, which has enabled the event to grow into an event of international significance.”

The exact value of the sponsorship has not been disclosed, but public records show that in 2014 – the last year for which figures are available – Marlborough Arts Association received a total of £21,840 in sponsorship.

With seven months until the next festival, organisers will be keen to hear from local companies interested in sponsoring parts of the festival. The festival can be contacted at boxoffice@marlboroughjazz.com