Working with other organisations opens more doors for women. That's why collaboration is at the heart of our approach
As a non-profit, membership-based organisation, Women in Football believes in the power of collaboration to achieve progress, and we are constantly looking for ways to broaden and deepen our relationships in and around the football industry.
We stand ready to work with stakeholders across football and beyond who share our vision of a future for the world’s most popular sport where gender discrimination no longer exists.
The backing of our long-standing chief supporter
has made so much possible
Tom Corbett
Managing Director, Sponsorships and Media
Barclays UK
At Barclays, we know the growth and influence of the women’s professional game extends beyond the pitch. So, we are thrilled to strengthen our collaboration with Women in Football, a partnership that champions change, dismantles barriers, and fosters a more inclusive and equitable future for football. Our commitment extends not only to supporting Women in Football as a whole but also to their impactful initiatives like the Leadership Course and Be Inspired Conference.
Since the start of the Barclaycard Premiership in 2001, to becoming the title sponsor of the Women’s Super League in 2019, Barclays has been at the heart of football for over 20 years. In September of this year we announced the renewals of our football partnerships, as official banking partner of the Premier League, the title sponsor of the Barclays Women's Super League, title sponsor of the Barclays Women's Championship and lead partner of the Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnerships (BGFSP) in collaboration with the FA.
The agreement sees us doubling our previous investment in women's and girls' football and solidifies our long-term commitment to supporting the game at every level and creating opportunities for everyone to benefit from it. Our recent report Here for Every Goal looks at how the growth of professional women’s football, alongside facilitating participation in the game for young girls, can have a significant and positive impact on society now, and in the future.
Our support for Women in Football is yielding remarkable results. Membership and outreach are growing impressively each year, but the true impact is seen on the ground. More women are gaining empowerment through the Leadership Course and networking events, more internship and mentoring opportunities are being created, and an increasing number of #GetOnside pledges are promoting equality in the sport — each action contributing to meaningful change.
We congratulate Ebru Köksal, Yvonne Harrison, and the entire team on another successful year for Women in Football. We eagerly anticipate even greater achievements in the future. Our partnership with Women in Football is a crucial element of our broader efforts to support equality and inclusion across the game. It is a profound source of joy and pride for all of us at Barclays to witness the continuous growth and success of Women in Football.
Corporate Membership
Through our Corporate Membership programme, organisations can provide transformational support for their female workforce while building a deeper, broader relationship with Women in Football.
In return for an initial membership fee, our corporate members can select from an extensive costed menu of expertise to build a bespoke programme which suits their individual requirements.
Services on offer range from an assessment of organisational culture to fostering inclusive team dynamics, as well as support to the female workforce with group coaching, mentoring and places on the Women in Football Leadership Course in partnership with Barclays.
Each component is designed to support member organisations towards becoming fully gender-inclusive.
"Our staff know that their voices are being heard and their causes are being championed..."
Here's Cassie Whittell, Senior Operations Manager at Brighton & Hove Albion FC, summing up what Corporate Membership of Women in Football means to the club.
During 2023-24, an amazing four new organisations joined Women in Football's roster of corporate members!
- The EFL, the world's original football league competition
- Premier League giants Newcastle United FC
- Top events and catering specialist Sodexo Live!
- Creative marketing multinational tms
Additionally, Sky Sports renewed its Corporate Membership of Women in Football for a further three years.
See below for a full roll-call of our corporate members (as at 1 June 2024).
Check out this video for a few words from Gary Hughes, Director of Football at Sky Sports, on how Corporate Membership of Women in Football has helped the women working for his organisation to realise their potential – with one success story that really stood out.
Here's Kaammini Chanrai, Director of Equality and Inclusion at WIF corporate member Brentford FC, reflecting on the values and goals that we share, and the platform we can provide to amplify the voices of the women playing invaluable roles in the Bees' success story.
Other partnerships
Corporate Membership of Women in Football is a great way for organisations to support their female workforce while building a close relationship with us. But it's not the only option.
You could join forces with WIF to support one of our amazing events, securing exposure for your brand to a highly engaged professional audience. Your expertise could empower one of our programmes, supporting women in the football industry to fulfil their potential.
One of WIF's longest-standing partnerships is with the top law firm Mishcon de Reya. As well as offering free legal advice to our members in cases of workplace discrimination, the Mishcon team have a presence at the Women in Football Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays, where they've supported panels and run a stall, building contacts directly among the WIF membership.
The Women in Football Entrepreneurship Mentoring Programme powered by Xero is helping promising football-related startups run by women to get up and running. Xero's expertise as a provider of accounting software for small businesses combines with WIF's specialist connections across football to make sure the right support reaches the right people.
Playing careers are short, and career support for female players is often patchy. That's why Women in Football has teamed up with The Adecco Group and LHH to provide The Next Goal, is an innovative programme of support for female professional and semi-pro footballers, helping them to recognise their skill sets, build their networks, and plan their next moves once their time on the pitch is completed.
Some of Women in Football's other partnerships in 2023-24 included...
- an official partnership with the Women's Football Awards 2024, joining the judging panel and supporting the Football Trailblazer Award
- a link-up with Arsenal FC and the Grounds Management Association to highlight the vital work of female grounds staff
- joining up with #Merky FC, an initiative set up by Stormzy with adidas to offer career opportunities in football to young people of black heritage
- a great day at St George's Park as official partners (and players!) in the Copa del CL, raising funds to support Cure Leukaemia
So here at WIF, we love a collaboration! If you'd like to discuss a partnership with us, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@womeninfootball.co.uk and we'll take it from there.
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