We’ve pledged our support to help make Gloucestershire a great place to do business

At the beginning of the year, GFirst LEP set a target to gather 1000 pledges from local business people, with the aim of showing what a great place Gloucestershire is to do business.

Business people were encouraged to volunteer their time to local projects and activities, such as becoming a business mentor in local schools, offering work experience, sitting on a GFirst LEP business group, volunteering time to a board of directors  – just a few examples of how to support their local economy.

We were one of the first local businesses to pledge our support and we did so, and continue to do so, by:

• using Gloucestershire based caterers, printing and office suppliers, property search suppliers, IT and training providers
• undertaking pro-bono work such as acting as trustees, governors or honorary secretaries to many local charities, schools and not-for-profit organisations, as well as supporting the GFirst LEP business group.
• contributing to careers evenings, talks at local secondary schools and sponsoring events
• running a programme of events to upskill and share legal expertise with the business community
• sponsoring community projects and business-related events such as the renowned Cheltenham Festivals
• dedicating time and resource to fundraise for a local charity each year. We raised over £11,000 for LINC last year and last Thursday collected in excess of £1,700 at our carol concert in aid of this year’s charity, The Nelson Trust.

To read more about the 1,000 pledges campaign please visit South West Business.