Success for The Sage Group plc and The Sage Gateshead at the Arts and Business Awards

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At the prestigious Arts & Business awards, held on 24th November 2008 at the V&A Museum in London, The Sage Gateshead and The Sage Group plc won the BP Sustainability Award for an established, on-going partnership that continues to set standards in creative arts-business collaborations.

Speaking of the news today, Anthony Sargent, The Sage Gateshead's General Director was delighted, saying, "From the start The Sage Gateshead has always sought to form close, trusting relationships with the community it serves. This wonderful award represents very welcome national recognition of the distinctive, hugely important role that partnerships play in almost all our region's success stories."

The Arts & Business awards are the UK's premier awards celebrating excellence in the field of cultural partnerships and sponsorship. The winning partnerships were selected by an independent panel of esteemed judges from the cultural and commercial world and the awards highlighted success stories from the last thirty years of business engagement with the arts. The impressive shortlist for the sustainability award also comprised Tate Britain / BT plc, Royal National Theatre / Travelex, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Mitchells and Butlers and Norfolk and Norwich Festival / National Express East.

The awards ceremony was hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Rosie Millard and the guest of honour was Barbara Follett MP, Minister for Culture. The BP A&B sustainability award was received on behalf of The Sage Gateshead by Lucy Bird, Director of Marketing and Development, and Michael Robinson, Sage's Group Legal Director and Company Secretary. On receiving the award, a delighted Michael Robinson said, "Sage is delighted to receive this wonderful accolade alongside The Sage Gateshead which has become an internationally recognised and admired centre for music. Its education and partnership programme continues to inspire North East people and communities of all ages and backgrounds to discover more about music."

Adam Lopardo, Director of The Sponsors Club for Arts & Business for the North East, was thrilled the award went to organisations in the region, saying, "We were delighted to see a successful North East based business recognised nationally for its long term partnership with an arts organisation. We believe businesses that differentiate their brand, inspire their staff and support the local community are the ones that will continue to be successful even during economic downturns, and Sage plc and The Sage Gateshead are a great example."

Notes to editors:
The Sage Gateshead has been a driving force in the regeneration of NewcastleGateshead since opening in December 2004. As well as stimulating additional income for businesses in the region as a result of its 400+ live music performances each year, e.g. in terms of visitors staying overnight in the region, meals out before and after performances, transport etc., The Sage Gateshead has also made a further substantial contribution to the Northeast's economy by attracting conferences to the region. In an external Economic Impact Study done according to strict Treasury 'Green Book' guidelines it was judged that the total economic contribution The Sage Gateshead made to the region in its the first year alone was £43m (on top of the £46m contribution from the building's construction). That £43m figure is twelve times the total of its core regional and national revenue grants; that's to say for every £1 invested in The Sage Gateshead by way of national and regional revenue funding, it returns £12 into the regional economy.
The Sage Group plc is a leading global supplier of business management software, services and support, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Sage was founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1981, floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now has more than 5 million customers, approximately 14,500 employees and operations in 26 countries around the world. In 2002 The Sage Group plc provided £6 million as sponsorship of The Sage Gateshead, which consequently bears the Sage name in perpetuity. The sponsorship contributed to an endowment fund from which The Sage Gateshead receives its annual income. The partnership enables Sage to support arts in the local community, emphasises its commitment to the North East and provides exposure to a local, national and international audience. For further information please visit www.sage.com.
The Sponsors Club for Arts & Business is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and covers the North East from Berwick to Redcar, promoting and encouraging partnerships between business and the cultural sector (arts and heritage). It delivers Arts & Business programmes in the North East and is supported by ONE, Arts Council England North East, Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and business members.
A full list of awards and winners can be found online at www.aandb.org.uk/awards/

For more information please contact:
Ralph Charlton, Group Corporate PR Manager, The Sage Group plc
(t) 0191 294 3036 (e) ralph.charlton@sage.com
Helen Fussell, Head of Strategic Communications, The Sage Gateshead
(t) 0191 443 5037 (e) helen.fussell@thesagegateshead.org