Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1146457
M2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JULY 2019 MOTORING IN a time when awareness about climate change and en- vironmental issues are at an all-time high, local fuel com- pany Enemed has its work cut out for itself. Malta's leading fuel supplier, Enemed was formed in 2014. Since opening, Enemed's team has strived to provide cleaner, safer, and superior quality fuels for the domestic, leisure, commercial, industry and the aviation sectors. Having launched the new ePower range for petrol and diesel, Enemed is hard at work to develop higher quali- ty fuels that are more efficient fuels and help to cut down on pollution. Beyond ensuring a more en- vironmentally friendly prod- uct, Enemed is taking steps to give back to the local commu- nity, particularly in the area of sports. When asked where the in- terest in sports stems from, Enemed Executive Chairman Kevin Chircop shared his per- sonal frustration about un- tapped potential in the local sports scene. "Malta tends to fall behind when it comes to sports – and it's not like we don't have tal- ented and committed people to push us forward." Due to a shortage of funding for local sports associations, many of the leaders within are volunteers, and are incredibly committed to their cause, however they often lack pro- fessional knowledge and ex- perience, unable to escape the funding problems they're faced with. This is where Enemed comes in. "We feel that it's our re- sponsibility to reach out to local sports associations be- cause we are aware of the support they require. You can never become sustainable if you do not have professional input to push you forward. Unfortunately, passion is not enough," Chircop said. Instead of focusing solely on providing monetary support, Enemed works closely with its sports partners to identify the weakest links in their sys- tem where they would benefit most from Enemed's backing. Prior to closing an agree- ment, expenses and costs are planned ahead and key per- formance indicators are put in place to measure the return on the invested funds. With this approach, as- sociations are not only held accountable, but they're also able to sensibly allocate funds where they are needed most - be it for strategic consultan- cy, human resources or event planning. Instead of setting an impos- sible standard on getting a return for their support, En- emed has implemented a sys- tem that allows the sponsored parties to develop a strategic and holistic approach to the point where the association will one day become self-sus- tainable. Malta's first powerboat rac- ing event, VOOMQUEST is a clear example of Enemed's sponsorship strategy. Enemed's collaboration with five-time world champion, Aaron Ciantar, has led to the organisation of a quarterly event that has not only attract- ed racers from all over Europe, but also the recognition of the Union Internationale Moto- Fuelling motorsports