Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers announced as new title partner for the 2025 Worcester City Runs

Organisers and partners have gathered to launch the 2025 Worcester City Runs. Event founder Steve Cram met with Duncan Sutcliffe of new title partner Sutcliffe & Co at the Guildhall, along with representatives of Worcester City Council, Worcestershire County Council, Worcester Physiotherapy Clinic, official charity Acorns Children’s Hospice, and running retailer Active Foot. They were joined by five Worcestershire residents who have been nominated to be part of the first Worcester City Runs Real Ambassadors programme, and will be given dedicated support as they train to take part in the annual festival of running, which will be held from 13-14 September.

Launched in 2014, the Worcester City Runs are organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council. Starting this year, local insurance broker Sutcliffe & Co has signed a three year deal as new title partner of the event, which includes the Worcester City 10K and Half Marathon, Young Athletes Runs, Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track and XO Races urban orienteering. Thousands of runners and spectators pack the streets of Worcester every year for the event, which is one of the most popular dates on the city’s sporting calendar.

New for 2025 is the Worcester City Runs (WCR) Real Ambassadors programme, which has been devised to encourage more people to get active through running. Each of the five primary Worcester City Runs partners has nominated an ambassador with a distinct running story or motivation. This year’s WCR Real Ambassadors will be: Sue Smith, nominated by Sutcliffe & Co; Laura Pitt, nominated by Worcestershire County Council; Mitchell Hawthorn, nominated by Worcester City Council; Sevvy Hasan, nominated by Acorn’s Children’s Hospice; and Tammy Gooding, nominated by Events of the North.

Each ambassador has been given a place on the Worcester City 10K, and will receive a bespoke package of support in the build up to the event on Sunday 14 September, devised and led by Ryan Sneddon, the owner of Worcester Physiotherapy Clinic. The ambassadors will also be supplied with shoes by local running retailer Active Foot. Event partners hope that the stories that the ambassadors share will inspire more local people to get active through running and take part in the Worcester City Runs.

Worcester City Runs founder Steve Cram comments: “The Worcester City Runs were embraced by the city and county from day one, and have always been brilliantly supported. It’s fantastic news that a local company is our new title partner, and we’re really excited about working with the team at Sutcliffe & Co, and with Worcester City Council, and Worcestershire County Council, to do even more community work over the next three years.

“Grass roots interest in running continues to surge and it’s an activity that can be really inclusive. The Worcester City Runs Real Ambassadors programme will harness that potential and we’re looking forward to supporting five very different runners as they prepare for September. Each of them has a distinct story, which I am sure will inspire other people to consider taking up running. With help from Worcester Physiotherapy Clinic and Active Foot, we aim to make sure that each ambassador feels ready and confident by the time that they stand on the starting line.”

Duncan Sutcliffe, managing director at Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers, adds: “We are thrilled to be the new headline sponsor of the Worcester City Run and partner the Events of the North for the next three years. As one of the largest annual events in the city, it not only brings in thousands of visitors to the local area, it is also instrumental in raising thousands of pounds for charities in our community.

“At Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers we are passionate about promoting health and wellbeing, with keen runners in the team at our Worcester office. We are proud that our team manager Sue Smith, has become a Worcester City Run Real Ambassador and will be putting on her trainers to share her journey as a novice runner, through to completing the event in September”.

The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Mel Allcott, comments: “The Worcester City Runs are a much-loved part of our city’s calendar, an event that is cherished by residents and businesses. I’m delighted to see more local firms giving their support and I think the new ambassadors programme is an excellent initiative that will inspire more people to get active, as well as supporting the city council’s objective of ensuring that Worcester is a healthy and active city. I will be watching the progress of Mitchell Hawthorn, the city council’s ambassador, with great interest.”

Lisa McNally, director of public health at Worcestershire County Council, took part in the 2024 event and intends to return this year. She comments: “I love the Worcester City Run weekend. As a runner, I enjoy the great route and event organisation.  As a public health professional, I like the way it gets people active, boosting both physical and mental health. And as a Worcester resident, I just love how it brings my city alive for what is always a special day.”

Places on all of the events at the 2025 Worcester City Runs can be booked at www.worcestercityrun.com.

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Mann Broadbent is part of the Sutcliffe & Co. group. 

Photo credit: Purple Swan Photography