Team members from the award-winning Craft Union Pub Company have recently taken part in ‘Craft Union on Tour’, a 100km bike ride in West Yorkshire to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association.
A team of Craft Union Regional Managers, Operations Directors and senior team members, recently put on their lycra and helmets to hit the roads of Wakefield and surrounding areas, cycling 100km in aid of a charity bike ride. The group of keen cyclists, road for just over ten hours, passing by a number of Craft Union pubs in the North of England, where they were cheered on by the pub teams and customers.
Each of the team was able to raise money through the support and donations of their venue’s local communities, fellow colleagues, friends and family. The Craft Union family has raised a grand total of over £6,500.
This fundraising initiative is part of Stonegate Group’s ongoing corporate fundraising partnership with the MND Assocation and MND Scotland.
MND Association and MND Scotland aim to improve access to care and provide information and support for those living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Both charities fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings a cure closer, whilst raising awareness of the disease. It is estimated that around 5,000 adults in the UK are currently living with MND and on average six people are diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease each day.
Frazer Grimbleby, Operations Director for Craft Union, said: “It was great to participate in this challenging fundraising activity for such a brilliant cause. We wanted to do something that would push us outside of our comfort zone as well as be something we would enjoy, and we are all very avid cyclists. The work carried out by MND Association is amazing and we love being able to support them for future research and support for individuals suffering from the disease. Myself and the team would like to thank all of you who supported us and donated.”
Ian Gardner, Head of Development at the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Craft Union Team for their fundraising from this fantastic challenge. Contributions like these help us to support people living with MND, their families and carers. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for MND. Continued fundraising activities through our partnership with Stonegate Group help us to continue our crucial MND research into treatments and a cure for this devasting disease.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Stonegate Group
Stonegate Group is the largest pub company in the UK. Its portfolio is comprised of over 4,500 sites, split across managed, operator led and leased and tenanted businesses.
The managed pubs division, which employs over 16,000 people, is split into Branded and Traditional pubs, bars and venues. Branded is comprised of: Slug & Lettuce, Popworld, Be At One and the Venues division. Traditional (unbranded) pubs are made up of: Proper Pubs, Pub & Dining and Social Pub & Kitchen.
The leased and tenanted estate, Stonegate Pub Partners, is made up of over 3,000 diverse sites whilst operator led Craft Union is currently made up of over 500 community pubs.
2022
- Great British Pub Awards – Stonegate Group Pub Partners’ Pub of the Year, Best Pub to Watch Sport, Community Hero
- BII’s National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs): HR Manager of the Year (Jemelle Bish), Best Apprenticeship Training Programme (ATOP)
- Publican Awards – Best Community Operator (Craft Union Pub Company)
2021
- Licensed Trade Charity Awards raising awareness through fundraising
- Great British Pub Awards – Stonegate Group Pub Partners’ Pub of the Year, Best Pub to Watch Sport
- MCA Retailers’ Retailer Awards – The Hero Award (Suzanne Baker)
2020
- Great British Pub Awards – Feeding the Community, Community Mindfulness & Ei Publican Partnerships Pub of the Year
- REBA Employee Wellbeing Awards – Best New Wellbeing Strategy (5000+ staff)
- Publican Awards – Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
- Publican Awards – Best Community Operator (Craft Union Pub Company)
2013-2019
- BII’s National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs): HR Manager of the Year, Lee Woolley (2019); Best Managed Company for Training; Lifetime Achievement Award for Chairman, Ian Payne (2016)
- CGA Insight Hero and Icon Awards (two awards): Icon Award Ian Payne MBE, Business Leader, Simon Longbottom (2019)
- UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards (two awards) – Icon Award (Ian Payne MBE), Best Marketing and Promotions Award (2019); Best Service & Team (2018)
- Great British Pub Awards – Best LGBTQ+ Pub (2019); Best LGBTQ+ and Best Sports Pub (2018); Best Pub Garden, Best Entertainment and Best Sports Pub (2017); Best Sports Pub (2016);
- BII Scotland Awards Best Operator for Training (2019)
- Retailers’ Retailer of the Year (two awards): Lifetime Achievement Award, Ian Payne MBE; Investor of the Year TDR Capital (2019); Investor of the Year: TDR Capital (2017)
- Menu Innovation & Development Awards (MIDAS) (two awards): Best Menu, Premium High Street Pub: Slug & Lettuce; Best Menu, Town & City Pub: Walkabout (2019); Premium High Street Pub: Town Pub & Kitchen (2017); Best New Concept: Missoula, Montana Bar & Grill (2014); City and Bar Dining: Slug and Lettuce (2013)
- Publican Awards (five awards): Best Community Pub Operator, Best Pub Employer (501+ employees), Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), Best Drinks Offer, Business Leader of the Year Chief Executive, Simon Longbottom (2019); Best Late Night Operator (2018); Best Managed Pub Company; Best Late Night Operator, plus highly commended Best Employer 501+ employees (2017); Business Leader of the Year, Chairman Ian Payne (2014); Best Pub Employer 51+ sites (2013)
- British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) Chairman’s Award (2018)
- Licensed Trade Charity: Outstanding Corporate Contribution Award (2018)
- APPBG PUBAID Corporate Charity Fundraiser Award (2018)
- Scottish Training Federation: Best Large Employer (2016)
- HR Excellence Awards: Best Learning and Development Strategy (2016)
- HR Distinction Awards: Innovation for Digital & Social Media (2016); People Development (2015); Innovative Use of Technology (2014)
Contact: Elize Tanner, elizetanner@leisurepr.co.uk
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