Vertu Motors

Vertu Motors, which operates BMW and MINI dealerships throughout the North East, is backing the Boro after becoming an Official Car Retailer for Middlesbrough Football Club.

The North East sites – in Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland and Durham – were acquired at the end of 2020, as part of a £28million acquisition of 12 BMW and MINI sales outlets in five different locations from Inchcape plc.

The deal, which covers the current 2021/2022 season, incorporates matchday activation, digital opportunities, and player appearances throughout the partnership, while there will also be a focus for the brand on ensuring PR and marketing activations across the season.

The North East headquartered company is committed to supporting sport at all levels, and has recently renewed its backing for the Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) Fans’ Player of the Month awards.

Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors, said: “We are delighted to expand our football sponsorship portfolio with the addition of Middlesbrough.

“Middlesbrough have huge support and demonstrate a real commitment to their community, which is fundamental to how we want to promote our partnerships, with a number of our car dealerships located in proximity of our new club partner.

“We look forward to working closely with them to bring the Vertu Motors brand to their audiences and support their various football initiatives across the region.”

Lee Fryett, Head of Commercial at Middlesbrough FC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Vertu Motors to Middlesbrough Football Club as a club partner.

“We are excited to work with the Vertu Motors group and are proud to be partnering with one of the largest automotive retail groups in the UK.”

The addition of Middlesbrough FC expands Vertu Motors’ partnerships in sport, which include deals with Sunderland AFC, the Newcastle Eagles basketball team and naming rights for the Eagles’ Vertu Motors Arena in Gateshead, close to the Group’s headquarters.

North of the border, another of the wider Group’s brands, Macklin Motors, has partnerships with Hibernian FC, Heart of Midlothian FC and is a Community Partner of Celtic FC.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF VERTU MOTORS

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to Editors

Vertu Motors plc is the fifth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 154 sales outlets across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu Motors and Macklin Motors brand names.

Vertu Motors plc was established in November 2006 with the strategy to consolidate the UK motor retail sector. It is intended that the Group will continue to acquire motor retail operations to grow a scaled dealership group. The Group’s acquisition strategy is supplemented by a focused organic growth strategy to drive operational efficiencies through its national dealership network. The Group currently operates 150 franchised sales outlets and 4 non-franchised sales operations from locations across the UK.

Vertu’s Mission Statement is to “deliver an outstanding customer motoring experience through honesty and trust”.

Vertu Motors Group websites – www.investors.vertumotors.com / www.vertucareers.com

Vertu brand websites – www.vertumotors.com / www.bristolstreet.co.uk /www.macklinmotors.co.uk / https://www.vertumotorcycles.com / https://www.vansdirect.co.uk/ / https://www.thetaxicentre.com/ / https://www.powerbulbs.com/