A Newton Aycliffe print management company has launched a fundraising partnership with a North-East rugby league club becoming the first to sign up.
The Print Partnership is the charitable arm of Splash Print Management, an Aycliffe Business Park-based company specialising in tailored print management services for a variety of businesses and organisations.
The Print Partnership aims to donate a quarter of a million pounds every year to good causes in the region by utilising the strong links they have with the business community.
The concept was devised by Splash Print Management’s managing director, Sharon Hutchinson.
Sharon explained: “As a growing, local business I felt that it was really important to be able to give something back.
“The current economic climate has taken its toll on the charitable community and businesses have struggled to be as generous as they once were. The Print Partnership creates a win-win situation.
“Charities introduce us to their corporate sponsors and we pay them an ongoing income, equivalent to 20% of the print management fee.”
The first organisation to sign up for the scheme is rugby league club, Gateshead Thunder, who will support their charity, the Thunder Community Trust which works within local communities all over the North East to deliver diverse projects using sport.
Chris Hood, director of community programmes at Thunder Community Trust, said “We are delighted with the opportunity that Splash Print Management has given us and we are embracing it wholeheartedly.
“As a customer, we have been given a service that is both personal and professional so we are happy to recommend them. The fact that this will generate an income for us is brilliant.”
Jamie Wintrell, who is working with The Thunder Community Trust on behalf of Splash Print Management, added: “It is lovely to be involved in the project. Everyone knows that charities are having a tough time and we have a real opportunity to help them.”
Splash Print Management is based at Aycliffe Business Park and recently announced major growth plans having quadrupled its office space and recruited four new members of staff.
Splash specialises in helping businesses and organisations of all sizes to reduce print costs, improve their marketing operations and become more efficient by providing a free audit of their printing services.
Some have saved up to 40% on print spend thanks to Splash’s ability to source the best suppliers for specific jobs.
Sharon Hutchinson, from Newton Aycliffe, established Splash Print Management in January 2011, after discovering a gap in the market for print management services aimed at businesses of any size that wanted flexibility and to be able to work on a contract-by-contract basis.
The business has a strong network of local suppliers that offer the best rates depending on the job so that every project is assigned to the most suitable and cost-effective printer.
● Pictured is Jamie Wintrell, from Splash, and Chris Hood, director of community programmes at Thunder Community Trust.
