Savvy businesses needed for £50 charity challenge

A £50 challenge launched by a Stoke-on-Trent charity has just eight spaces left for businesses looking to prove they have the Midas touch.

The Gingerbread Centre in Longton is offering £50 seed money for teams to ‘grow’ into a sizeable donation as part of the Swansway Gingerbread Enterprise Challenge.

Sponsored by Swansway Group, the first round of the challenge is already well underway with 12 teams aiming to create a significant return on the £50 investments.

Chris Belyavin is a Fundraiser at the Gingerbread Centre, which is seeking a further eight teams to compete in the second round of the challenge. He said: “The premise is really simple.

“We give each team £50 seed funding and they have up to six weeks to turn it into as much money as they can.

“As long as it’s safe, legal and ethical, there are no limits as to how the teams grow their cash.

“We have been very fortunate to have the support of Swansway Group. Not only are they sponsoring the challenge, they have three teams taking part.”

With a limit of six people per team, businesses across Staffordshire and Cheshire have been taking up the challenge, with the first round coming to a close on October 15 and the second challenge ending on November 12.

Eight spaces remain for teams who think they can use their business nous to support vulnerable families this winter and prizes will be awarded for the most money raised, best large company, best small company, wackiest idea and most innovative scheme.

Stoke Audi and Stafford Land Rover are both part of challenge sponsors, Swansway Group, and have put a team forward along with colleagues at the company’s Head Office in Crewe.

Swansway Group Director, David Smyth, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Swansway Gingerbread Enterprise Challenge, as entrepreneurial spirit, great team work, and giving customers a wonderful experience is at the heart of all we do.

“We are also very grateful for all the support we have received from the people of Stoke and Stafford for our various businesses over the years.

“Supporting The Gingerbread Centre in their valuable work, is another way we can give back to one of the areas where we do business, as a gift from our family to local families in need.”

Also taking part are Una Health, Synectics Solutions, Wool Cool, Top Banana Group and Heath House Kitchen, as well as Blue Bay Travel which has entered four teams into the challenge.

To take part email: fundraising@gingerbreadcentre.co.uk