Suzuki GB has entered its eighth consecutive season as title sponsor of EFL League One club MK Dons, cementing a valued relationship that’s gone from strength to strength in recent years.
The partnership sees Suzuki’s logo emblazoned across the Dons first-team shirts and replica kits, as well as providing extensive branding opportunities around Stadium MK on match days. Other benefits for the brand include national TV exposure through EFL highlights shows and online activity across social and digital channels.
But for Suzuki, a logo on a football shirt is just part of the story. The longstanding relationship with MK Dons is about creating genuine community engagement in and around Milton Keynes – something that is of huge importance to the manufacturer. Because just as MK Dons are firmly rooted in the local community, so too are Suzuki. The global car, motorcycle, ATV and marine brand established its UK head office in Milton Keynes in 2006. So, when looking for a sponsorship partner, supporting the local area was just as important for Suzuki as supporting the local football club.
Recently, Suzuki has been working closely with the MK Dons Sports & Educational Trust (SET) on a number of community-based initiatives aimed at improving the lives and experiences of local people – particularly the young and those with disabilities.
Last Christmas, Suzuki and the SET came together to deliver 100 Christmas hampers to 100 families across the Milton Keynes area. Containing all the ingredients for Christmas dinner, as well as family games and goodies, volunteers from across Suzuki and the Stadium MK group (including the MK Dons first-team squad) packed and delivered the boxes in time for Christmas.
It’s just one example of Suzuki’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the community – something that is deeply ingrained in their culture. Suzuki may be a global brand, but their roots in the local area run deep.
Commenting on Suzuki’s relationship with MK Dons, Nobuo Suyama, Managing Director of Suzuki GB PLC, said:
“Our long-established sponsorship of MK Dons has proved a successful and mutually beneficial partnership. It’s a solid foundation on which to further our relationship with the club and maintain the support of the renowned and invaluable work of MK Dons in the surrounding community.”
Pete Winkelman, MK Dons Chairman, added:
“Suzuki are a credit to this city and we’re extremely proud to have this association with them. It’s a privilege for us to work alongside a company who are at the top of their game, who care so much about our football club and our city.”
And just as Suzuki continues to grow at a local level, globally the brand goes from strength to strength too. A legendary name in the motorcycle world, their product line-up grows ever stronger. 2021 has seen the launch of no less than four new models – the latest generation of the iconic Hayabusa, the newly launched GSX-S1000GT sports tourer, the new GSX-S1000 super-naked and the A2 License compatible GSX-S950.
But not to be outdone, on four wheels Suzuki became the first mainstream manufacturer in the UK to offer consumers a 100% hybrid car line-up. Recent additions to the range include the stylish Across SUV Plug-In Hybrid model and spacious self-charging Hybrid Swace – complementing already popular Hybrid models such as the Ignis, Swift and Vitara.
And going forward, this great partnership will just get stronger — with Suzuki GB expanding their good work in the community and of course, continuing to cheer on the Dons.
Find out more about MK Dons at www.stadiummk.com
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Find out more about Suzuki at www.suzuki.co.uk
