Throughout 2019, GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent rental company, celebrated its 50th anniversary. As part of these celebrations, the hire company’s excavator supplier, Kubota, gifted a custom painted gold excavator which was subsequently named Goldie.
After making numerous appearances at anniversary celebrations and various events, including Plantworx 2019, Goldie was hired out to GAP customers across the country. Both GAP and Kubota decided to use the hire revenue generated by the golden excavator to raise money for a charity that provides a variety of important support to the construction industry.
The Lighthouse Club – the Construction Industry Charity is an organisation that is very close to GAP’s heart after establishing a long-standing relationship together. It is the only charity that provides physical, mental and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families in the UK and Ireland. They provide a confidential 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline and supportive app which offers information, advice and guidance on a huge variety of wellbeing issues. GAP promotes this charity and the helpline throughout its organisation to ensure all its employees are aware of the help that is there for them, if needed.
Chris Parr, Chief Operating Officer at GAP, commented: “After receiving Goldie, we decided that 50% of the charitable hire revenue generated from the machine throughout the financial year [2019/2020] would be donated to The Lighthouse Club and we were absolutely delighted when Kubota very generously agreed to match the figure as well!
“Consequently, an overall sum of £3,040 has been donated by GAP and Kubota to the Lighthouse Club which will go towards funding the excellent and very important services that the charity makes available.”
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to both GAP and Kubota for their continued support this year. Without our usual events, our income has been decimated, so hearing about the ‘Goldie’ initiative was fantastic.
“The support we receive means that we can continue with our mission to ensure that no construction worker or their family is alone in a crisis.”
Giving back has always been incredibly important to GAP. The Group has a long and proud tradition of donating 0.5% of our annual profits to a wide variety of local, national and international charities through our GAP Giving foundation.
Chris, concluded: “GAP and Kubota extend our thanks to all customers who hired Goldie over the 2019/2020 financial year, generating revenue to support such a fantastic and worthy charity.”
