KCLSU is delighted to announce that following a comprehensive six-month tender and consultation process, Canterbury of New Zealand has been selected as the new centralised sports kit partner and Tacklebag Teamwear will act as the regional supplier for KCLSU sports clubs.
The project forms part of KCLSU’s wider strategy in providing greater value for students participating in sport, while ensuring that sports kit is affordable, sustainable and of a high quality across all clubs representing King’s College London and Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical Schools.
To ensure student voices were central to the decision-making process, KCLSU undertook a three-phase consultation involving surveys, showcase events and student panel interviews. Across the process, 143 students contributed feedback, representing 74% of all sports clubs and 93% of clubs competing within formal regional or national structures.
Student feedback identified several key priorities for a new supplier, including improved garment quality, affordability, clearer customer support processes and more reliable delivery times. During both the supplier showcase and interview stages, Canterbury emerged as the preferred choice among participating students for these reasons. They are also committed to sustainability, with further aligns with KCL and KCSLU values.
Dulcie Wainwright-Pilton, VP Activities & Development, at KCLSU, said:
“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Canterbury as our new sports kit supplier! Canterbury is a globally recognised and highly respected brand with a strong heritage in sport, and throughout the process students consistently highlighted the quality of their products and their commitment to supporting clubs effectively. This partnership represents a major step forward in delivering better value, consistency and quality for our students participating in sport at King’s.”
Mark Burgess, Head of Sport and Wellness at King’s College London, said:
“This partnership is a key component of our long-term strategy to enhance the student sport experience at King’s. Partnering with Canterbury enables us to deliver greater consistency, improved value for money and a more professional environment for all students taking part in sport. Crucially, it also supports KCLSU and King’s Sport & Wellness’ shared ambition to build a unified identity across our sports programmes, ensuring that participation at every level is underpinned by quality, accessibility and pride in representing King’s.”
Simon Rowe, SVP EMEA & North America - Canterbury, on behalf of Canterbury of New Zealand, said:
“King’s College London and Canterbury both have proud histories built on excellence, which makes this partnership a natural fit. Supporting King’s athletes with world class kit designed for the demands of modern sport is a hugely exciting opportunity for us, and we look forward to helping support the next generation of talent while strengthening both organisations on and off the field.”
Paul Lawford, Managing Director, Tacklebag Teamwear
“We’re looking forward to supporting the partnership between King’s College London Students’ Union and Canterbury by delivering a seamless teamwear experience for students, clubs and athletes across the University. Working alongside two organisations with such strong reputations in sport and performance is an exciting opportunity and we look forward to helping support the King’s College London sporting community”
The new partnership will support KCLSU in creating a more unified identity across its sports clubs while improving the overall experience for student athletes.