The European Sponsorship Association has announced the launch of the 2025 ESA Diploma, the industry’s most respected qualification.
Designed to future proof careers in sponsorship, the part-time online course has helped more than 700 graduates progress to senior positions in the industry in the 12 years since its introduction.
Many of these have come from and are working in the Irish sponsorship sector.
ESA Ireland was launched back in May and will be forging even closer links across the sector.
Prices are frozen for the 14th edition of the Diploma, which is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for employers who want the best-prepared talent delivering their sponsorship programmes.
The course provides students with access to a wide array of expert speakers, opportunities to develop new peer networks, and unparalleled industry insights from course sponsors and access to ESA resources.
All companies looking to certify sponsorship professionals with the ESA Diploma can take advantage of a saving by enrolling before the early bird deadline of Friday 29 November. ESA Members can also benefit from further discounts.
The Class of ’25 will benefit from updated learning materials as they tackle a series of stimulating exercises, including a set brief based on a real-life sponsorship scenario. Digital seminars will be presented by industry leaders, while students get to know each other via online study groups and in-person social gatherings in London.
All successful students can now join the ESA Diploma Alumni Society, which ESA is aiming to grow into sponsorship’s largest and most influential networking group.
Introduced in 2022 to celebrate the Diploma’s 10th anniversary, the ESA Diploma Scholarship is helping to cultivate diversity within the sponsorship industry by offering applicants a free place on the course. Applications for the 2025 ESA Diploma Scholarship are now open.
Key dates
ESA Diploma enrolment (early bird): Friday 29 November 2024
Scholarship application deadline: Friday 29 November 2024
ESA Diploma enrolment (final): Thursday 16 January 2025
Course begins: Friday 17 January 2025
“We are thrilled that the Diploma continues to reinforce its long-established and hard-earned reputation as the leading and most effective training programme anywhere in the world, encompassing sponsorship and all aspects of sports, arts and entertainment marketing,” said ESA Diploma Course Director, Peter Raymond
“Feedback from last year’s students was the best we have ever received and we will again listen to the comments of this year’s class to ensure that we continue to provide an unequalled service to those wishing to pursue a successful career in our dynamic industry sector.”
“I can irrefutably promise that the 2025 ESA Diploma will be one of the best we have delivered and look forward to welcoming anyone that wishes to join us to significantly propel the trajectory of their careers.”
“The ESA Diploma is a vital qualification for all sponsorship professionals who aim to deliver at the highest possible level for ambitious brands, rights holders and agencies across Europe,” added ESA Chair Sophie Morris.
“I’m pleased that ESA has been able to freeze course fees for 2025, noting the challenging economic conditions.”
“This qualification is not only a flagship of ESA’s professional development offering, it sits at the vanguard of the industry itself, and I encourage all companies and individuals to look closely at the opportunity to enrol for 2025.”
“With our mission to be the essential and inclusive community for all professionals working in sponsorship, I’m pleased to see the ESA Diploma Scholarship scheme thriving and I encourage applications from all backgrounds as we work to give opportunities to those who may not otherwise have access.”
Sport for Business will host its annual Sponsorship Showcase event in Dublin on Thursday morning, October 10th. This is one of many events planned for the remainder of 2024.
Register your interest to attend a Sport for Business event here.
All of Ireland major sponsors including AIB, Bank of Ireland, Lidl, Vodafone, PwC, Sports Direct, Sky, Allianz, AIG, PTSB, KPMG and many more are among the 300 organisations, which include all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, that are members of the Sport for Business community.
Find out more about joining us today.
Check out our upcoming events to discover ways of connecting in person with our membership.
