Amateur golfer on course for success thanks to engineering firm sponsorship

A mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy has awarded a three-year sponsorship to an aspiring Scottish amateur golfer.

XBuro UK will sponsor Megan Docherty in what it hopes will be the first of many partnerships with talented sportspeople. The company was started by Thomas Brady and Michael Gribben in 2018 and reported a lockdown ‘boom’ in 2020 with contracts worth £100 million. 

Two years later, growth has tripled and the business has expanded from Glasgow to offices in Edinburgh and London. The team has grown to 15. 

XBuro is now looking to support amateur sporting talent by reaching out to local clubs and sportspeople to offer sponsorship opportunities. 

19-year-old amateur golfer Megan, from Bishopbriggs, impressed with her drive, determination and resilience to practice throughout the pandemic.  Megan, who is studying at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the USA, has returned for a summer of golf and will receive funding towards lessons, equipment and travel for the next three years. 

She said, “I started playing at seven and began competing at 13. When the pandemic happened, we got an old net and put it on the washing line so I could hit into it. It was a bit frustrating as we live next to a golf course but since then, I’ve received a scholarship to study and play in America and now to be supported by XBuro means I will be able to travel, compete and focus on playing.

“To receive this backing, let’s me get on with playing as much golf as I can in the hope that one day, I can turn pro.”

Megan is a member of Scotland’s national squad and has previously won the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Vase 2020 and was the West of Scotland Girls Champion 2019. This summer Megan will be competing throughout the UK before returning to America where she juggles her studies with a programme of early morning gym sessions followed by afternoon practice.

XBuro UK director, Michael Gribben, said, “Our continued growth has given us the opportunity to support local sport clubs but we wanted to go further to help young athletes like Megan to fulfil their ambitions and to help them on their journey. Business and the power of sport is something we want to invest in, and this is just the start of our plans.

“We are particularly delighted to tee up with Megan as we believe in equality of opportunity for all in the world of engineering and in the world of sport.”

XBuro is currently delivering substantial projects for North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Highland, NHS Lothian, NHS Golden Jubilee, and East Renfrewshire Council, and working alongside the Ambassador Group on master planning Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh. During the pandemic, XBuro delivered the Covid-19 test facility at Gartnavel Hospital by NHS Glasgow.