Construction giants Balfour Beatty have put their weight behind a global sporting festival for businesses as it prepares to send more than 400 employees to compete at the event in Coventry.
The international construction and infrastructure group has been named a headline sponsor of the World Corporate Games, which will take place between 20th – 23rd August and be centred around the University of Warwick.
The World Corporate Games is one of the largest corporate sporting festivals in the world, bringing together businesses of all sizes and sectors for four days of competition, networking and social activities.
And Balfour Beatty’s sponsorship marks a significant expansion of its involvement in the event after first entering a team of 51 employees when the Games were hosted by the university in 2023.
Since then, it has entered bigger teams each year, and is expected to field a team of over 400 after the company opened entry to all of its divisions as part of its commitment to bringing colleagues together.
Lee Hewitt, Group Business Services Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “The World Corporate Games reflects many of the things that matter most at Balfour Beatty – teamwork, wellbeing and bringing people together. As headline sponsor and one of the Games’ largest participating teams, we’ve seen first-hand how the event helps colleagues build connections across the business, strengthen relationships and create a real sense of belonging.”
The 2026 event was elevated from the UK Corporate Games to World Corporate Games status, meaning businesses from around the globe will travel to Coventry and Warwickshire to compete, with international representatives already signed up from France, Spain, Mexico, Turkey and Romania.
Participants can compete in up to 20 sports, including football, tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball, padel, golf, and dragon boat racing, with events taking place at venues across Coventry and Warwickshire using the University of Warwick as a hub.
The Games have been hosted in major cities including London, Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, Seville and Johannesburg since being founded in San Francisco in 1988, and will return to the UK for the first time since Liverpool hosted the event in 2014.
Doug White, CEO of Corporate Games Worldwide, said: “We are delighted to welcome Balfour Beatty as a headline sponsor of the 2026 World Corporate Games.
“The growth of its participation over the past three years demonstrates exactly what the Games is designed to achieve. It brings people together from across businesses, create new connections, encourage teamwork and provide a unique opportunity for colleagues to share experiences outside of work.
“To see a company of Balfour Beatty’s scale commit more than 400 participants and support the event as headline sponsor is a tremendous endorsement of the value the World Corporate Games delivers to businesses and their people.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Balfour Beatty colleagues alongside businesses from across the UK and around the world for a truly memorable event.”
The University of Warwick will serve as the main hub for the Games, supported by partner venues across the region, with international participants expected to generate significant economic benefits through hotel stays, hospitality, transport and leisure spending.
For more information and details on how to enter a team, visit https://worldcorporategames.com/
