Select Car Leasing extend long-term partnership with Reading Football Club
Reading Football Club are delighted to confirm that Select Car Leasing will continue as a Principal Partner of the club ahead of the 2026 / 27 season, extending one of the longest-running commercial partnerships in the EFL.
As part of the renewed agreement, the Select Car Leasing logo will feature on the back of the First Team match shirts, First Team players’ and staff training wear, matchday warm-up shirts, the front of Academy match shirts, the front of the Reading FC Women’ s match shirts and the front of junior replica shirts sold through the club.
The company will also retain the naming rights to the Select Car Leasing Stadium and continue as one of the club’ s Principal Partners.
Since joining forces a decade ago, Select Car Leasing has become synonymous with Reading Football Club’ s modern history. In 2021, the company agreed a then club-record front-of-shirt sponsorship to coincide with the club’ s 150th anniversary celebrations, further strengthening an already flourishing partnership.
Away from the pitch, Select Car Leasing has played an important role in supporting both the football club and the wider community.
Through its Tickets for Kids initiative, the company has donated thousands of match tickets to local grassroots football clubs, helping inspire the next generation of
Reading Football Club
supporters. It has also backed numerous community projects through Reading FC Community Trust and proudly supported celebrations marking the club’ s 150-year history.
Throughout one of the most challenging periods in Reading Football Club’ s recent history, Select Car Leasing remained a steadfast supporter of the club, demonstrating a level of loyalty and commitment that has helped strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.
Reading Football Club Chairman Rob Couhig said:“ Select Car Leasing have been far more than a sponsor to Reading Football Club over the past decade – they’ ve been genuine partners in every sense of the word.
“ Since 2016 they’ ve shared in some wonderful moments with us, but perhaps more importantly they’ ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the club through some incredibly challenging times. That level of loyalty, commitment and belief is something we will never take for granted.
“ As a proud Reading business, they’ ve consistently demonstrated that this partnership is about much more than branding. Whether it’ s supporting our Community Trust, helping thousands of local children experience matches through Tickets for Kids, celebrating our history during our 150th anniversary, or simply backing this football club when it mattered most, they’ ve always looked to make a positive difference.
“ We’ re delighted that Select Car Leasing will continue as one of our Principal Partners. This renewed agreement reflects the strength of our relationship, our shared ambition for the future and our collective pride in representing Reading. We look forward to continuing that journey together for many years to come.”
The renewed agreement ensures Select Car Leasing will continue to enjoy a prominent presence across the club’ s First Team, Women’ s Team, Academy and retail offering, while maintaining its long-standing association with the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
As the club looks ahead to an exciting new chapter, Reading Football Club is proud to continue its partnership with a business that has remained committed to the club, its supporters and the local community for more than a decade.
One million primary school students to benefit from digital literacy boost
CityFibre, the UK’ s largest independent full fibre platform, has launched Future Ready Learners, a major new national initiative designed to boost digital literacy for one million primary school students by 2030. Delivered in partnership with global education organisation 8billionideas, the programme will equip young learners with the digital confidence, knowledge and future-ready skills they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
At the heart of Future Ready Learners is The Tech Toolkit, a practical, classroom-ready learning programme designed to introduce primary-aged students to key technology and digital knowhow through engaging activities based on real-world applications. The programme also helps young learners understand how to navigate the online world safely, responsibly and with confidence.
While the UK continues to advance digitally, access to both connectivity and the skills required to use it effectively remains uneven. Millions of adults lack essential digital skills for everyday life and work, and many young people are concerned they lack the foundation-level knowledge they will need for the future.¹
Future Ready Learners will be delivered through a four-year national rollout until 2030 to be adopted by a wide range of primary schools throughout the UK state sector. The programme will distribute 20,000 Tech Toolkits over four years, with each expected to reach around 50 students apiece.
Designed for use both in classrooms and at home, The Tech Toolkit will build confidence, curiosity and foundational digital skills among primary-aged learners, while helping them develop safe and responsible online behaviours and supporting teachers and parents in navigating an increasingly digital future.
Simon Holden, Chief Executive Officer, CityFibre said“ With over one million connections across our full fibre network, CityFibre is trusted by millions of people to power their digital lives. Through Future Ready Learners, we’ re enabling teachers to help the next generation leave primary school with the skills and confidence they need to explore a rapidly changing digital world, and all the opportunities it creates.”
¹ The UK Government’ s Digital Inclusion Action Plan states that 7.3 million people( 18 %) in the UK lack the minimum essential digital skills for work, and 3.8 million people( 7 %) lack the essential digital skills needed for life.
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