Northamptonshire County Cricket Club has announced that Apertus Automotive, part of Apertus Group, has donated a car to the Steelbacks Foundation. As a partner of the club, Apertus Group’s relationship with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club has led to its support of the Steelbacks Foundation and the work it does, continuing its mission to ‘utilise the power of cricket to enable communities and individuals to unlock their potential’.
Inclusion Officer, Beth Dickens, will be the primary user of the vehicle in her role within the Foundation, which helps to push cricket to be the most inclusive sport in the county. Established in October 2024, and operating in close partnership with the cricket club, the Steelbacks Foundation strives to ‘create opportunities, nurture talent and enhance lives’ and Apertus Group’s donation is crucial to Beth’s delivery and reach around the county.
Chief Operating Officer at the club, Daniel Vernon, is thrilled with the partnership between the club and Apertus Group. He said: “Our relationship with Apertus Group is fantastic and continues to grow. Their donation to the Steelbacks Foundation recognises the brilliant work the foundation does as well as the combined efforts with Apertus Group in increasing inclusivity and opportunities across the county.”
Beth’s role focuses on areas of society not proportionately represented in the game. The coming year presents further opportunities for girls to connect with cricket, and her ability to increase her reach around the county thanks to the vehicle is something Beth believes is paramount to the Steelbacks Foundation achieving its aims.
“The Inclusion Officer Role is to make cricket the most inclusive sport and to do this we need to support clubs and the community and get more participants into the game whether that’s as a player or a volunteer,” said Beth. “This electric vehicle will help me to travel around Northamptonshire, become more efficient and help the environment.”
Managing Director at Apertus Group, Grant McKenna, believes that driving greater inclusion across both cricket and the automotive industry is essential. His passion for equality and opportunity underpins Apertus Group’s continued support of the Steelbacks Foundation.
“The development of the women’s game is vital,” he said. “Ensuring women and girls get the best opportunity in what is a male dominated sport and environment is crucial and I could not back this drive more. Having two young daughters myself, I passionately believe anything we can do to ensure they live in a world where opportunities are merited and earned by talent and hard work, rather than gender, is vital.
“In the automotive side of our business, I witness most days the challenges that women face in a ‘male dominated area’. The work that Northamptonshire CCC and the Foundation are doing to combat this align perfectly with our ethos and values as a business and I am thrilled to play a part in the continuation of this.”
After 12 successful months, the Foundation consistently encourages inclusivity through a variety of cricket camps designed for all abilities, genders and backgrounds. Remaining committed to sustaining a game for everyone, Apertus Group’s donation of this car is in line with the Foundation, increasing the ability to carry out inclusion across Northamptonshire.
Apertus Group’s kind donation goes hand in hand with its continued support as a partner and official energy provider of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
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