Presentation at British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) conference - July 2018 Delivered by Sue Anstiss MBE, CEO of Promote PR and Trustee at the Women's Sport Trust

1. BUCS CONFERENCE
UWE – 10-13 JULY 2018
“Why the Profile of Women's Sport Matters”
Sue Anstiss MBE | Promote PR

2. My 30 year journey from
Loughborough university…

3. Getting people moving with powerful
PR, content and social media

4. Our current clients…

5. Why
women’s
sport
matters

7. Traits developed through sport
that provide an advantage for
women in business
Confidence
Single-mindedness
Passion
Leadership
Resilience

9. If you can’t see it…
you can’t be it

10. Women’s sport makes up 7% of all
sports media coverage in the UK
Just over 10% of televised sports
coverage is dedicated to women’s sport
2% of national newspaper sports
coverage is dedicated to women’s sport
5% of radio sports coverage is
dedicated to women’s sport
4% of online sports coverage is
dedicated to women’s sport

11. What might have been
for women’s sport…

12. Dick, Kerr’s Ladies
Drawing crowds of 50,000+

13. In 1921 the FA banned women’s football
on all its members’ grounds
“Complaints having been made as to football
being played by women.
Council felt impelled to express the strong opinion
that the game of football is quite unsuitable for
females and should not be encouraged.”
Ban in place for 50 years
Finally rescinded in 1971

14. Sport reflects and
amplifies society

15. Sexism is alive and well at The World Cup

16. The good news about
women’s sport in the
past 5 years…

17. Reaching half a million spectators in 2018…
•Fans attending elite women’s
sport in UK to pass half
million for first time
• 49% up on 2017
• Hitting 682,470 in 2018
•38% average growth
year-on-year since 2013*
* Two Circles research

18. Growth driven by…
• Massive increase in media coverage
with international events
on mainstream TV
• New professional events and leagues
across football, hockey, netball and rugby
- Tyrrells Premier 15s, Kia Super League,
Vitality Superleague
• Big international events –
World Cups, Quad Series, Six Nations etc

19. Hugely successful teams

20. TV viewing highlights
• 9.7M – GB Hockey women win gold in Rio on BBC
• 149.5M – global reach: UEFA Women’s Euros
• 4M – England vs Netherlands Euros semi-final
• 33.9M – global reach: Women’s Rugby World Cup
• 1.94M – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 final ITV
• 87.4M – global reach of Women’s Cricket World Cup
• 1.1M – Women’s Cricket World Cup Final on Sky
• 1.1M – England netball CWG win highlights on BBC

21. More sponsorship of women’s sport

22. Different methods of
engaging with fans and
new metrics emerging
for women’s sport

23. England Rugby
Facebook
Most engaging posts in March
were about the women’s game
• 7.2k likes
• 1,221 shares
• 317 Comments

25. However…

27. Raising the
visibility and
increasing
the impact of
women’s
sport

28. New campaigns

29. How is the sector doing?
Universities and colleges have a
key role to play in the promotion
of female sport.
From ensuring equal opportunities
exist for recreational participation
through equally profiling those at
the highest levels of competition
and leadership.

30. Sport England
to launch
new phase soon
This Girl Can
has been well utilised
by many universities
and colleges

31. Many universities
and colleges doing a
great job in promoting
women’s sport

35. Any questions?
Sue Anstiss MBE
Promote PR
www.promotepr.com
sue.anstiss@promotepr.com
01628 630363 / 07973 236393
@sueanstiss