Enterprise challenge raises £5k for Gingerbread Centre

Business-savvy teams at companies in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have raised more than £5,000 for charity as part of the Swansway Gingerbread Enterprise Challenge.

Sponsored by the Swansway Group, the challenge raised a total of £5,081 for The Gingerbread Centre – a charity supporting vulnerable families in Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas.

Each of the 12 teams that signed up for the challenge were given a £50 start-up fund and asked to turn their initial investment into as much money as possible.

Una Health Ltd in Tunstall were the most successful team in the small business category, raising £1,058, while small business runner-up was Stone-based Woolcool, with a donation of £375.

In the large business category, Synectics Solutions entered a team alongside four teams from Blue Bay Travel, based at Trentham Lakes, and three teams from Swansway Group.

The winner was a team from Blue Bay Travel, who made £1,857, while a team from Swansway Group took the runner-up spot after raising £1,210.

Heath House Kitchen in Uttoxeter was presented with an award for innovation and Top Banana Group in Trentham, received an award for creativity.

Fundraiser at The Gingerbread Centre, Chris Belyavin, said: “We have been amazed by the innovative ideas and amazing range of activities that the teams got up to in order to raise money.

“We’ve seen car washes, tuck shops, a five-a-side football tournament, online shops, delicious desserts, a sale of designer clothes and much, much more.

“Our sincere thanks go to everyone who took part and to Swansway Group for their generous sponsorship.”