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Civica - market leader in specialist systems and business process services for the public sector - sponsors Sheffield's renowned literary festival Off the Shelf Festival of Words, 8th to 29th October 2011

Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services that help organisations to achieve a more cost-efficient way of working, marks the 20th anniversary of Sheffield’s annual literary festival, Off the Shelf 2011, by becoming the event’s main sponsor.

Glenn Morgan, operations director, Civica’s education division, commented: “We are delighted to partner with the Off the Shelf Festival 2011. We became aware of the event through our work providing bespoke ICT-based learning environments for secondary schools in Sheffield. It’s fitting that we support schools’ writing and learning ambitions on a nation-wide basis as the festival is gaining national prominence as a forum for ideas and learning. We were aware of Off the Shelf because of its excellent reputation and because some of the Sheffield schools we provide services for engage with the free author events the festival offers to schools.”

Cllr Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Growth, Culture and Sport said, “It is testament to the cultural value and stature of Off the Shelf that an international company such as Civica has agreed to partner the festival. The festival has become a fixture on the literary calendar adding to the city’s national profile. Civica’s sponsorship will play a great part in helping deliver another fantastic festival and we look forward to working with them.”

The festival, organised by Sheffield City Council, will be taking place from 8th to 29th October in various venues across the city with a wide range of readings, poetry, workshops, exhibitions, community projects, events for children and young people, walks, talks and more. The festival has a number of special events in September with two special events with top business speakers Luke Johnson and David Erdal organised in partnership with MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival.

As well as being Platinum Sponsor of the whole festival, Civica is also the sponsor of the event with Sir Michael Parkinson at The Crucible Theatre. A local lad, born near Barnsley, Michael Parkinson started as a journalist on the Manchester Guardian and Daily Express and presented TV-am and Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in his long and distinguished career. Paul Allen will be in conversation with Michael giving the audience an insight to the manwho has met everyone.

Civica is also proud to support a series of free events for school children that will be taking place in community libraries across the city. Events will include meet the author Shoo Rayne, Curtis Jobling talking about his popular fantasy series about werewolves and poet James Carter performing his beautifully crafted poems for children.

Off the Shelf will be announcing the full line up shortly and will once again offer an excellent, jam packed programme of events which brings some of the best know names from literature and the media to Sheffield.