ESA Sponsorship Sales Certificate

The ESA Sponsorship Sales Certificate is a practical, part-time online course designed to enhance sponsorship sales skills and commercial relationship-building. Delivered over four structured sessions, the course equips professionals with essential tools for sponsorship sales, from prospecting and negotiation to contract management. With three intakes per year (January, May, and September), this certification serves as an industry benchmark in sponsorship and partnership development.

Part-time online course with three annual intakes

Learn skills and essential tools for sponsorship sales and delivery

Next course starts 1 May 2025

The ESA Sponsorship Sales Certificate is available to professionals who want to enhance and accredit their sales techniques and develop skills to help build thriving commercial relationships with sponsors.

A practical, part-time online course, the modular framework delivered over four sessions takes attendees on a structured journey that enables them to develop the key skills required to practise effective sponsorship sales.

Held since 2017, the ESASSC offers three digital intakes annually starting in January, May and September. The course can be delivered in person for group requests. The next ESA SSC course starts Thursday 1 May 2025.

Culminating in a formal written and oral assessment, this accreditation serves as an industry benchmark of proficiency in sponsorship and partnership development and delivery.

Previous attendees have come from a broad range of organisations across the sports, arts, entertainment, charity and local government sectors.

The ESA Sponsorship Sales Certificate covers the following topics and techniques:

• Understanding sponsorship and its role in the marketing mix (trends and best practice concepts)
• Developing your sponsorship proposition and presenting a compelling narrative to prospective partners
• Audience intelligence, prospecting and micro-communities
• Proposal structure and development
• Pricing strategically and using a value-led technique
• Negotiation and closing techniques
• Effective presenting
• Contract management.

Click Learn more to find out more about the course and how to apply on the European Sponsorship Association website.