RENAMED PERTEMPS BEES SET THEIR SIGHTS ON THE PREMIERSHIP

Birmingham & Solihull have formally changed the name of their first team to Pertemps Bees as part of a lucrative sponsorship deal with one of the country's top recruitment firms.

The National League One side has received approval from the RFU to change their name as part of a six-figure deal over three years agreed with the Midlands-based recruiters. Pertemps Bees have also changed their home strip to match the Pertemps corporate logo - three intersecting faces of red, white and blue.

Pertemps is the largest independent recruitment group in the UK, and prides itself on its family-orientated culture and commitment to helping the local community. Its chairman Tim Watts ­ himself a former Solihull player for 30 consecutive seasons ­ was delighted with the arrangement:

"It's a terrific deal for everyone involved. We've always been very active in developing sport in the local community, and this latest arrangement is an extension of that.

From a business perspective, having this level of connection with a professional sports club is a great, not to mention innovative, marketing tool. And as a former player it's a pleasure to be able to play a part in building up the profile of rugby in the Midlands."

The club will use the financial and logistical support offered by Pertemps to relocate from their current home at Sharmans Cross Road to a redeveloped stadium at Portway.

Pertemps Bees chairman Steve Blundell said the investment would also allow the club to make a concerted attempt to gain promotion to the premier division ­ if successful, they would be the first Birmingham team to play premiership rugby since Moseley were relegated in 1991.

"It's an exciting time for the club", he said. "With Pertemps support, our aim is to establish Pertemps Bees as the leading rugby club in the West Midlands."

Phil Maynard, Pertemps Bees director of rugby, added:

"We have broken new ground in adopting a sponsor's name and in a commercial world you have to be flexible to survive. It's a long term deal which should help us to consolidate our position and take some significant steps forward.

Above all, the aim is to bring premiership rugby back to Birmingham. At the moment, we don't have facilities that meet Premiership entry criteria, but we have plans to move from Sharmans Cross Road and to develop our second ground at Portway ­ the arrangement with Pertemps will help us do this."

Pertemps Bees will play their first competitive match against Exeter Chiefs at Sharmans Cross Road when the new league season begins on September 6. The squad are travelling to South Wales this weekend for a pre-season training camp which will include games against Llandovery on Friday and Swansea at Morriston RFC on Sunday.

The squad for the training camp will include high-profile summer signings including former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers, ex-Rotherham and Sale prop Jim Thorp, former Newcastle and Worcester number eight Jim Jenner and former Moseley pair winger Geoff Gregory and prop Matt Long.