Ricoh’s The Business of Rugby - What Business Can Learn From Premiership Rugby

Global technology company, Ricoh has launched a new campaign The Business of Rugby, which will explore the inner workings of all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs, identifying the latest business models and strategies they are utilising as well as the innovations and new technologies they are investing in to ensure success both on and off the pitch. 

In addition, the campaign will demonstrate how the techniques used in professional rugby can be equally effective for corporate businesses and organisations, and clearly illustrate that the world of business and its leaders can learn a lot from professional sport.

Ricoh’s campaign will comprise of three videos and a series of business blogs, focusing on three specific topics, all essential to both business and sport: people, processes and technology.

Dominic Hayes, Commercial Director at Premiership Rugby, said of the first film, which focusses on the theme of ‘people’: “Inside every Premiership Rugby club, business and organisation exists a culture; each is unique and functions in its own way.  It develops and changes over time and is hugely influenced by the talent that join and leave it. Therefore, hiring the right talent and being able to retain that talent is essential to the overall culture of an organisation. However, with multiple generations now present in the workplace, differing employee demographics and a blend of skill sets, creating a unified culture founded upon shared objectives and common goals can be challenging. This campaign explores how clubs, and therefore also businesses, can inspire a culture bonded by one single vision and how this can contribute to success.”

Chas Moloney, Marketing Director for Ricoh UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to launch this campaign which will provide a unique insight into how Premiership Rugby clubs have transformed into successful businesses since the onset of professionalism.  At Ricoh, our business is founded upon three key pillar: people, processes and technology. So for us, it’s exciting and extremely encouraging to see the game of rugby, embracing new technologies and utilizing the data they provide but also identifying the need to invest in and develop their people. Professional sport, especially Premiership Rugby, can offer fundamental learning opportunities to businesses and organisations and it’s now up to business leaders to not just recognise these opportunities but be inspired by them.”

Ben Kay, Ricoh ambassador, added: “Most of the research, literature and media surrounding rugby, seems to focus primarily on the action taking place on the pitch and the current club results, so it’s great to be part of a campaign which is showcasing, really for the first time, the business side of the game, and how the top clubs are adapting to new business environments and putting more time and money into their people to ensure they have a competitive edge going forward. For me, this will only help the players to develop their skill sets and breed collective cultures focused solely on one common goal: winning.”