Champions of women’s sports at the University of Edinburgh (UoE) have been recognised for their exceptional efforts, particularly the creation of more female friendly kit in conjunction with a major supplier.
At the Sports Business Awards in London UoE took bronze in the category of Best Supporter of Women’s Sport.
In an elite field they challenged contributions made by the Women’s Rugby World Cup, campaigns celebrating England’s footballing Lionesses, and the Netball Super League.
In a UK first, the University co-designed a bespoke kit for its women’s rugby club, breaking away from the long-standing practice of expecting female players to wear kit created for men.
Working in partnership with British sports brand PlayerLayer, the designs were co-created with athletes to produce an empowering, high-performance kit specifically tailored for women.
The University women’s cricket team has also moved away from traditional whites in favour of a coloured kit that players say is more comfortable and less transparent. The partnership with PlayerLayer further led to the creation of the inspiring “Girls Belong” video campaign, reinforcing the message that women have a rightful and celebrated place in sport.
Judges also took into account the impressive number of females taking part in sport at Edinburgh, which is up by 65 per cent since 2015, with women now representing more than half of all student athletes.
Women athletes at Edinburgh have enjoyed incredible success in recent years, with Megan Keith becoming British 10,000m Champion, staff member Jasmine Paris MBE making history as the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons, and alumna Hollie Davidson becoming the first woman to referee a Men’s Six Nations rugby team.
Despite extraordinary sporting successes in recent years, across society, it is believed women still encounter barriers to inclusion and a lower profile compared with men’s games. Seventy per cent of girls report dropping sport because of concerns around kit or body image, and 71 per cent report avoiding exercising during their period.
Catherine Martin, Vice-Principal Corporate Services at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are honoured to be recognised for this award among such a distinguished international shortlist, spanning global sports bodies and world-class events. This achievement is a testament to the strength of our community and the exceptional women we work and participate alongside every day. Our commitment to advancing women’s sport globally, whether in performance, coaching, officiating and policy, remains steadfast.”
Mark Munro, Director of Sport at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This is a brilliant victory for the whole team. We’re committed to ensuring women and girls, and everyone who wants to take part in sport, have the opportunities, support, and environment they deserve. Inclusivity and ambition are at the heart of everything we do.”
