GAP Hire Solutions, the largest independent hire company in the UK, set up its Charitable Foundation named GAP Giving in 2015. The Foundation donates 0.5% of annual profits to charities across the UK and beyond.
In the 2019/2020 financial year, GAP donated £107,112 to 117 different charities. Each charity was individually chosen by a GAP employee, whether they have personally received support from their chosen charity, or they just want to help support a great cause.
Within the Foundation, GAP has set up various schemes, the first being GAP Match. If an employee is taking part in a fundraising event, GAP matches whatever is raised, up to a maximum of £750. In the last financial year, £17,124 has been donated via the GAP Match scheme. GAP’s employees took part in a variety of events including walking, running, cycling, climbing, abseiling and even eating bugs during a “Bush Tucker Trial” themed challenge. In completing these events and challenges, funds were raised for several great charities including Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, Chris’ House, Ronald McDonald House and Down Syndrome Extra 21.
Other schemes within the Foundation are the GAP Donate and Charities of the Month schemes, which contributed £89,988 to last year’s final donation total. The GAP Donate scheme allows any employee to apply for a donation to be given to their chosen charity, including any local, national or international registered charity that they feel could benefit from the company’s support. The Charities of the Month scheme gives each division and department at GAP the opportunity to nominate a charity. A handful of charities are chosen each month during the financial year to receive a donation of £1,000. Numerous charities have received donations under these schemes including DEBRA, The Nook, Happy Days Children’s Charity, Dog’s Trust, Lindsey Lodge Hospice and The Tommy Crush Foundation.
Douglas Anderson, Joint MD at GAP, commented: “Giving back to the community is something that has always been very important to GAP. It’s the reason why we introduced GAP Giving and all of our employees are encouraged to participate by nominating a charity that is close to their heart.”
