TUI UK & Ireland, the company behind Thomson and First Choice, has joined forces with Ospreys in the Community, becoming headline sponsor for the Foundation’s sports activity.
- TUI UK to partner with Ospreys in the Community as headline sponsor of the Foundation's sports activity
- TUI currently employs more than 600 people in Wales, with a new office recently opened in Swansea
- Foundation aiming to make an impact across four strategic themes: Education, Health, Inclusion and Sport.
The collaboration between the travel firm’s Swansea office and Ospreys in the Community over the next year will see Thomson back a campaign to encourage children from across the region to make positive changes to lead a more healthy and active lifestyle.
The announcement is part of the company’s continued commitment to the area. It comes just six months after TUI UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest holiday company, secured hundreds of jobs in Swansea when it officially opened a new office at Alexandra House.
The move took the firm’s total employees in Wales to more than 600 people, which comprises teams in its airline operations, in its offices in Swansea and in 50 retail stores across the country.
Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, helped officially launch the not-for-profit Foundation at the Liberty Stadium last week, joined by business, community and political figures from across the region.
The event also saw the relaunch of the Ospreys Schools Programme, introducing new sporting and digital technology designed to improve literacy, numeracy and oracy, using the six key areas of the new curriculum as modules and added a core digital competency element to the whole programme.
TUI UK & Ireland’s Director of Customer Contact, Lisa Steele, said:
“We are really proud to be a part of this programme, which offers a chance to reinforce our commitment to Wales and the local area.
“Thomson and First Choice already run a number of sports programmes and activities in our family friendly resorts, which help promote healthy lifestyles – and it’s great to be involved in a similar way through the launch of this community foundation in Wales in collaboration with the Ospreys.”
Paul Whapham, Foundation Manager, Ospreys in the Community, said:
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Thomson as a headline sponsor of Ospreys in the Community sports pillar. The support of a market leading and world renowned business, with a strong presence in the region, is a huge boost for what is a new initiative and will allow us to really start making our presence felt across the community.
“It is envisaged that Ospreys in the Community will play an important part in improving many people’s lives irrespective of age, ability or gender. Stategic partnerships such as the one with Thomson announced today will facilitate the creation and activation of innovative programmes that will be contained within the four Strategic Themes; Education, Health, Inclusion and, in this instance, Sport.
“We look forward to working with Thomson to promote sport and physical activity for all.”
The partnership between Ospreys and Thomson will see the travel company become a prominent feature at home matches, with advertising and sponsorship planned to promote the community programme and its positive impact.
About TUI UK
TUI UK and Ireland is the UK’s largest tour operator with key brands including Thomson, First Choice, and Thomson Cruises. Sub brands include Thomson’s Sensatori, Thomson’s Couples (Thomson’s Sensimar from summer 2016), Thomson’s Family Resorts (Thomson’s Family Life from summer 2016), First Choice Holiday Villages and SplashWorld Resorts.
TUI UK and Ireland’s airline, Thomson Airways is the UK’s third largest airline with 62 aircraft operating to over 88 destinations in 30 countries. Thomson Airways was the first airline in the UK to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
TUI UK and Ireland has a team of 13,300 employees and serves over 5.2 million customers each year.