In our latest Sponsor In Focus feature, we find out more about long-term club partner KayGee Engineering.
A name associated with the club for over 20 years, the business is currently the player sponsor of Josh Reynolds, as well the sponsor of our Player of the Month award.
We sat down with company director Mark Jackson to find out more about their relationship with the club…
Tell us a little bit about the history of KayGee Engineering, and the main purposes of the business.
KayGee was formed in 1978/79 by my father, with the original aim of manufacturing spare parts for employer’s garage repair business. However, over time, through my father’s contacts and acumen, the company grew into an entity in its own right.
I joined the company in 1980, and as I “came of age”, between us we managed to double the size of the business.
After a number of years, my father bought out his partner, before a few years later, me and my brother bought the business from my father. Further down the line, my friend Craig Adams became the third shareholder, and the three of us now co-own and run the company.
Our core business is breakdown, and repair engineering. We machine manufacture and install machining including turning, milling, and fabrication equipment.
How did you first become involved with Hull FC in a commercial capacity?
I was a floating fan for many years – I would go and watch Rugby League matches almost anywhere, including the red and whites! I was often the designated driver for my father and his friends, so I got to attend the corporate events, but would always be the sober one!
In 1997, before Hull got promoted to Super League, I finally pinned my colours to the FC mast, and have been a devoted follower ever since. At first, I didn’t know if becoming involved with the club commercially was a good business move as such, but I thoroughly enjoyed the corporate side of match days.
We had a table at every game in the first season, and it was a superb way to socialise and talk to customers and form new business relationships – so I was proved wrong!
Over the years, my love for the club went from strength to strength as we’d follow the side home and away. By the time we took our first player sponsorship, we were good friends with some of the players too.
In real terms, my pride for, want of an expression, is from making enough of a success in my business to allow me to support them with player sponsorship and similar .
Being a Hull based company, does it feel rewarding to put back into the community by supporting your local club?
In all honesty, my involvement is all about helping my team be the best it can be, by spending money with the club and hopefully in turn, we survive , purchase quality players and hopefully, success follows on the back of that.
It gives me a proper buzz to see our name in lights up on the big screen, for example. To have built a business from very humble beginnings, to becoming a company with a respected name in our trade, which in turn allows us to be involved at that level ,is marvellous!
In your own words, could you tell us what commercial activity you currently do with Hull FC?
We’re currently Josh Reynold’s player sponsor, and we also sponsor the Player of the Month award. We also purchase tickets from the weekly lottery all year round!
Being Josh Reynold’s player sponsor must be exciting to be associated with one of the league’s most high profile players?
Again, it gives us a real buzz! To be able to be associated with him – it doesn’t get much better!
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