Clipper Connect celebrates 1,000th member
08 February 2017
Less than two years since it was formed, Clipper Connect, the business networking group for former Clipper Race crew and partners, is celebrating its 1,000th member joining.
Clipper Connect is aimed at entrepreneurs drawn from more than 4,000 alumni spanning 20 years of the race and was launched in April 2015 to help Clipper Race Alumni make valuable connections with each other and our partners. Clipper Connect also allows members to receive helpful insights from guest speakers at regular events and through the LinkedIn Group.
The most recent Clipper Connect event was held during the London Boat Show in January. The event attracted 45 race partners and Alumni crew including Official Race Charity, Unicef.
Charlotte Westbrook, Unicef’s Public Fundraising Team Special Projects Manager said: “As the official charity partner of the Clipper Race, we embrace all opportunities to network with Clipper Race staff, alumni and partners. It helps to develop our knowledge of the event, build stronger relationships and raise awareness of what we are trying to achieve through the partnership.
“It was useful for us to meet more of those people involved with the group and we invited a couple of Unicef contacts to the event so they could gain a better sense of the partnership and opportunities for them to become involved too.”
Charlotte adds: “Through Clipper Connect we hope to further raise awareness of the work of Unicef in protecting children around the world and how crucial our fundraising partnership is with the Clipper Race in helping Unicef to reach its ambition.”
Joining Unicef was brand-new Clipper Race partner, Sta-Lok, which will debut as the first Official Standing Rigging Partner for the 2017-18 edition race.
Reflecting on the event, Anto Stopps, Sta-Loks Marine Sales Manager said: “We want increased brand exposure and as we are looking to prove our products suitability in the harshest environments, both partner and alumnifeedback is invaluable!
“The Clipper Connect event at the London Boat Show was a great opportunity to network with other marine industry leaders and discuss their experiences and ideas from partnering with the prestigious Clipper Race event. It gave great insight into previous race experiences and we gained helpful advice regarding opportunities we hadn’t considered.”
Clipper Connect members enjoy interaction with other like-minded professionals, build business networks, attend networking events, share learnings from previous Clipper Races on leadership and team building. Members also have access to discussion forums hosted on an invite only LinkedIn Group (Clipper Connect - Clipper Round the World Yacht Race) which has so far held six business networking events in both the UK and Australia.
Caroline Marrows, a circumnavigating crew member from the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Race who previously worked for Lloyds Banking Group, was recruited into the role of Senior Propositions Manager – Alumni, to lead the Clipper Connect initiative.
“It has been fantastic to watch Clipper Connect grow over the past two years and to welcome our 1,000th member has been a real highlight.” Caroline commented. “You can just feel the energy in the room during Clipper Connect events and it is a great way to engage with former crew and our partners, who may be able to support each other and even do business together.”
If you or your business have taken part in the Clipper Race and would like to find out more about Clipper Connect, contact Caroline Marrows at [email protected] or apply to join the Clipper Connect Linkedin group, Clipper Connect - Clipper Round the World Yacht Race here.
To find out more about Clipper Connect, click here.
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