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AICPA & CIMA to sponsor National University Touch Championships 2025
The England Touch Association has today announced an exciting sponsorship agreement with AICPA&CIMA for this spring’s National Rounds of the 2025 BUCS University Touch Championships.
This sponsorship means that, for the first time, England Touch will be able to live stream all three of the National Rounds, something the Association’s management and participating teams and players will be particularly excited about.
For more than a century, the Chartered Institute for Management Accountants (CIMA) has helped to shape the development of Management Accountancy as a profession, and since 2017 has been a part of an international alliance with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to promote accounting and finance in every corner of the world.
AICPA&CIMA serve 597,000 members, candidates and registrants in 188 countries and territories. By providing exclusive guidance and specialised resources – including prestigious designations, certifications and credentials – AICPA&CIMA empowers individuals to create an even brighter tomorrow.
The British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) University Touch Championships (UTC) has been one of England Touch’s fastest growing tournaments, and in 2024 the events were the largest organised by the Association at domestic club level.
Teams enter the BUCS UTC from as far afield as Falmouth and Edinburgh, all heading to Nottingham’s Riverside Sports Complex on Saturday 22 February, Saturday 8 March, and Saturday 22 March, to decide the destiny of the 2025 Championships.
Nottingham Trent University go into the National Rounds looking to defend the title they won for the first time. But the traditional powerhouses of Exeter, Bath and Loughborough will be hot on their heels, as will more recent eye-catching teams, such as Surrey.
This nationwide spread of clubs, and positive direction of travel in terms of participating teams and individuals – together with Touch’s unique selling points such as equality between the genders on the field, and England Touch’s commitment to promoting diversity and sustainability – made for a natural fit between the two organisations, according to Sarah Burrows, Director, Business Development UK, AICPA&CIMA.
“We are delighted to be sponsoring this event and working with The British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and University Touch Championships (UTC). Team sport is a great way to gain transferable skills which are essential in the world of work, such as communication, leadership, organisation, planning and resilience. These skills are part of the CIMA CGMA qualification so the partnership ties in well." said Claire du Rose, Lead Manager, Student Recruitment UK, AICPA&CIMA.
England Touch’s General Manager, Sammie Phillips, says that this agreement represents a significant step forward for the Association as it looks to capitalise on the 2024 Touch World Cup with future growth.
“It is fantastic to welcome AICPA&CIMA as sponsor for the National Rounds of the University Touch Championship,” she says. “In particular, we are delighted that AICPA&CIMA value the inclusive nature of Touch, the interpersonal skills created through playing in a mixed sports team at university, and how such skills transfer well into the workplace.
“The sponsorship allows us to invest into the UTC, and having all three National Rounds live streamed will provide more exposure for Touch to one of our key target demographics.”
England Touch Chief Executive Officer, Vince Mayne - a former BUCS Chief Executive - added: “Encouraging Touch to be played in more universities is one of our key focuses, and the AICPA&CIMA sponsorship will enable us to commit resources to achieve that.
“I am also really excited that a multinational organisation as prestigious as AICPA&CIMA has chosen to invest in our sport. It is a significant statement of support, and I look forward to working with their team over the next few months, and hopefully beyond.”
To find out more about AICPA&CIMA visit www.aicpa-cima.com
If you are interested in setting up a University Touch Club then England Touch is always happy to help! Email us via university@englandtouch.org.uk to find out more!
