Opportunity: Urban Festival Commercial Lead or Agency
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
UKEL is partnering with Manchester City Council to deliver an exciting, new urban festival in August 2027 fusing sports, music and culture and we're seeking a commercial agency or lead to manage the sponsorship programme.
Background
The Manchester Urban Sports and Arts Festival is a bold new citywide celebration of urban sport, street culture, music and art, created to showcase Manchester’s identity as a global hub of creativity and innovation. Rooted in the city’s rich sporting heritage and internationally recognised events pedigree, the festival responds to the rapid growth of urban sport and culture and the powerful fusion of these elements within Manchester’s urban spaces.
Developed by Manchester City Council alongside various city partners, the festival is designed as a community driven takeover of the city centre that brings together world-class sport, cutting edge culture, and authentic Mancunian energy to attract new audiences, strengthen social resilience, and establish a flagship event on the UK summer festival circuit.
Opportunity: Sponsorship Agency or Commercial Lead
UKEL is working with Manchester City Council to establish a Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event and key to this is appointing freelance individuals or agencies to lead the delivery of the events sponsorship and commercial programme.
We are seeking individuals or an agency with a passion for sport and/or culture and/or music, with a strong track-record in sponsorship sales. We are open to a sole appointment or partnership to ensure we meet the commercial income targeted for this inaugural event.
Our over-riding objective is to secure commercial
partners that are authentic to the communities, that can co-create meaningful activations and that can amplify the reach of the festival.
Appointment process and how to apply
Phase One
Expression of Interest: interested parties are invited to send an Expression of Interest to hello@ukel.co.uk by 19th March to receive more detailed information on the event, the application process and how applications will be scored.
Full Application Pack: The full application pack will be shared for those who have submitted an EOI as and when an EOI is received but by 20th March at the latest.
Phase Two
Submission of Questions: the deadline for any questions to be submitted to hello@ukel.co.uk is 24th March
Response to Questions: answers to be shared by 26th March with all interested parties who have submitted an EOI.
Deadline for Applications: 6pm on 2nd April. Applicants will be asked to answer key questions and share a credentials/CV.
Virtual Selection Panel: Interviews will be held between 13th to 16th April.
Appointment: Appointment, contracting and kick-off meeting week commencing 20th April
