Carney Consultancy is supporting young ice hockey talent, Jacob Barnes, with sponsorship to help cover costs for his participation in the upcoming U15 England Ice Hockey Team tournament in Riga, Latvia, this Easter.
Jacob, who has skated since the age of six, plays for Whitley Bay Junior Ice Hockey Club and has earned a spot on the England U15 team as a forward. He will compete in an international ice hockey competition in Riga on 17 April.
Jacob’s ultimate goal is to progress his ice hockey career and join the Whitley Bay Warriors, a team his brother Jordan and Martin Crammond—technical director at Carney Consultancy—also played for. The sponsorship will assist with the costs of his training, equipment and travel expenses, allowing him to focus fully on his performance.
Established in 2002, Carney Consultancy specialises in construction and engineering, providing health and safety consultancy and training. Team members come from a main contracting and subcontracting background and have worked, as consultants, with some of the North East’s main companies. The firm works on an ongoing basis with a variety of small to medium-sized builders, specialist sub-contractors and management companies.
Carney Consultancy supported Jacob, in 2023, when he represented Team GB at an international roller hockey event in Barcelona. As Jacob transitions to ice hockey, the company continues its commitment to supporting emerging talent in the sporting world.
Jacob trains regularly, practicing for two hours every Tuesday night, and is focused on making the transition to the Warriors as the next step in his ice hockey journey. The sponsorship will ease the financial burden of competing at a high level, enabling Jacob to continue to push himself without worrying about the costs involved.
Martin Crammond, technical director at Carney Consultancy, has a personal understanding of the challenges young athletes face in financing their sporting careers. Having represented England U17 in 2006 and played for Whitley Bay Juniors and Warriors, Martin started playing at just 18-months-old and was one of the youngest players to make the senior team at 15-years-old.
Martin, said: “Having been in Jacob’s shoes, I know how tough it can be to balance the financial costs with the demands of the sport. As an athlete, the pressure to fund training, travel and equipment can be overwhelming. This sponsorship is Carney’s way of helping Jacob remove some of those obstacles so he can focus entirely on what matters most – his performance on the ice.
“I’m confident Jacob has the potential to reach great heights in his career and, with the right support, he’ll continue to progress. Carney Consultancy is proud to support his journey as he transitions to the next level in ice hockey and I hope other businesses follow suit in supporting young talent like Jacob.”
Jacob, said: “I am incredibly thankful to Carney Consultancy for not only supporting me in this tournament but for its continued belief in my potential.
“This sponsorship will help with the costs associated with the upcoming tournament in Riga. I can now focus fully on performing to my best without having to worry about the financial pressures that often come with competing at a high level. The support the company has shown me over the past couple of years, including my transition from roller hockey to ice hockey, has been invaluable in allowing me to pursue my dreams.
“I’m excited to represent England and show what I can achieve in this sport.”
Carney Consultancy is committed to supporting young talent, both in the professional world and the sporting community, helping to ensure that emerging talent has the resources and opportunities to succeed.