Chamber President learns of Coventry Rugby’s ambitious growth plans during visit to Butts Park Arena

A leading business figure was treated to a glimpse of life behind the scenes of Coventry Rugby Club during a recent visit to its home ground – the Butts Park Arena.

Steve Harcourt, President of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, met with Jon Sharp, Cov Rugby’s Executive Chairman, to learn more about its work both on the pitch and out in the community.

During his visit Steve heard about the club’s journey in building a premier destination as it strives towards promotion from the second-tier Champ Rugby to the Premiership.

He also learned more of its important work in the community, driven by a dedicated department which has helped build successful community events such as Project 500.

Aimed at disadvantaged children from working families in Coventry, Project 500 originally set out to lay on a range of sports camps for 500 schoolchildren during the summer holidays and feed them nutritious meals.

Now in its seventh year the project has gone from strength to strength, working with 6,000 children, giving them access to football, netball, cricket, tennis and rugby and other sports and activities, and feeding them nutritious meals, with more food to take home to their families.

During the visit Steve was taken on a tour of the club, seeing first-hand its wideranging hospitality facilities including its VIP club which offers panoramic views of the pitch from exclusive seats or from inside its hospitality lounges, plus its 300-seater marquee which is used for a range of functions, from pre-match lunches, to awards events, to weddings.

He was also shown the club’s two hospitality suites and six venue spaces.

A key player among Coventry’s business community the club prides itself in its high-quality networking opportunities as well as opportunities for entertaining clients or staff.

The club has just launched its exclusive Business Club, combining sport with business and using its impressive facilities to give entrepreneurs in Coventry and Warwickshire unique experiences. These include behind-thescenes glimpses both on and off the pitch, such as First Team training sessions and Friday night matchday experiences.

Steve said: “There is a big difference between the club today and the club I last visited many years ago to watch a match. Coventry Rugby is a true community club that has grown and has ambitions to continue growing with the support of many corporate partners with whom it has built excellent working relationships.

“The club’s facilities are impressive and Jon Sharp and his team rightly give back to their local community by helping some of the most underprivileged children in Coventry.

“The club has really entered into the spirit of the community at all levels and if it continues to fulfil its ambitions it will be an excellent community and business hub for many years to come.”

Executive Chairman Jon Sharp said: “It was great to welcome Steve to the club and to talk about our successes over many years both on and off the pitch. We have worked hard to build collaborative partnerships with local businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire over the years and it is thanks to that support we are able to offer a first-class facility for the community of Coventry, whether businesses looking to network or children wanting to try their hand at different sports.”