Renishaw, the global engineering technologies company, has extended its partnership with Hoci Cymru (Hockey Wales), the national governing body for hockey in Wales, for a further two years. Renishaw is an official partner of Hoci Cymru, as well as the official partner of the Glamorgan Valleys team within the County Pathway, a key facet of talent identification and player progression for Welsh hockey.
There are eight county teams in Wales, selected from over 600 children from all local authorities across Wales, and each year the County Championships prove to be a showcase of excellent talent across the nation. County teams compete against each other to be crowned national champions, and will do so once again in February 2025.
The county teams represent the beginning of Hoci Cymru’s talent discovery phase, with young players having the potential to subsequently be selected for its National Age Grade sides. As part of the partnership with Renishaw, U18 hockey players will have the opportunity to step into the world of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and visit the Renishaw manufacturing site in Miskin, South Wales, to discover more about the industry and explore potential career options.
Renishaw is a specialist in engineering technology. The company creates high-precision products that are used by companies around the world in the manufacture of accurate components and assemblies for a wide range of industries. These include consumer electronics, semiconductor chips, jet engines, electric vehicles, dentistry and medical applications. It is a world-leader in systems for metal 3D printing.
The company has 67 key locations in 36 countries with over 5,000 employees worldwide, around 3,000 of those in the UK, including 700 at its site close to Cardiff, Wales.
“We are delighted to have extended our existing relationship and partnership with Renishaw for a further two years,” stated Joe Gage, Hoci Cymru Director of Development and Participation. “We are thrilled to have their continued support in a key area of our talent identification, and look forward to seeing young players in the County Pathway continue to thrive and progress through to our national sides. An important part of this collaboration is also the exposure to an exciting and growing industry for our young athletes, for whom it’s vital to gain experience of working environments and broaden horizons.”
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Hoci Cymru and further advance our shared aims of motivating and inspiring young people to fulfil their personal potential”, commented Chris Pockett, Head of Communications at Renishaw. “The partnership is a fantastic opportunity to work with a like-minded organisation that will help us increase our reach into communities in South Wales, where we are continuing to make significant long-term investments in our operations.”