Supporting Local Community Groups and Sports Teams
Established in 1969, GAP Group is the UK’s largest independent hire company providing a broad range of equipment from over 175 locations throughout the UK. GAP employs over 2000 people and has diversified from its traditional plant and tool hire roots to provide a multi-service offering with ten divisions, offering their customers a comprehensive hire solution.
History and family
GAP was established in 1969 by Gordon Anderson and the company is still family-owned and run by sons Douglas and Iain. The third generation of the family are now involved in senior roles within the business.
GAP’s vision is to be the UK’s most innovative and environmentally sustainable hire solutions provider, being focussed on reducing their environmental impact. As such, GAP invests heavily in innovative eco-products and green technologies. GAP proactively works with their suppliers to develop greener products, advises their customers on best practice and how to implement environmentally friendly processes. GAP Group has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions throughout their operations by 2040.
The values of trust, integrity and honesty underpin everything at GAP- from their business operations to their commitment to their staff and the local communities in which they operate, inspiring a number of initiatives aimed at giving back to these communities.
GAP Giving Charitable Foundation
GAP Group’s Charitable Foundation- GAP Giving- was created in 2015 and give 0.5% of GAP Group’s profits to charities each year. Since its formation GAP Giving has donated over £600,000 to more than 600 charities across the UK.
Any GAP employee can nominate a charity which they feel is deserving or who may have helped themselves, family or friends in the past.
In the 2020/2021 financial year a total of £110,000 was donated to 96 different charities throughout the UK. Some of these charities include the Trussell Trust, The Scottish Association for Mental Health, Beatson Cancer Charity and many more.
GAP Match Scheme
Additionally, GAP Giving supports GAP Match and a Charity of the Month Scheme, with the Foundation matching employee efforts to raise funds for a charity. Various charities benefitted including: Maggie’s Centre, Mental Health Foundation, Blue Skies Hospital Fund and Cancer Research UK.
Youth Team Sponsorship Scheme
GAP Group has supported several local community groups via its Youth Team Support scheme. The scheme has been running for five years, supporting a total of seven youth teams across the country. It enables young players to train and develop their potential, whilst supporting these teams that bring their communities together.
These teams include:
· Boldmere St Michaels FC - Under 14s football team
· Bronte Barbarians ARLFC - Under 14s rugby team
· Falkirk 2008s - Under 15s football team
· Isla Thistle - Under 12s football team
· Leicester Lions Speedway Team – Speedway racing
· Leon Henderson Racing - Junior kart racing
· Newmains United FC - Football team
· Rayleigh Harriers - Under 11s football team
· Rhos Aelwyd FC - Under 7s football team
· Thatto Heath Crusaders – Under 13s rugby team
· Waterhead Warriors ARLFC - Under 11s rugby team
Thatto Heath Crusaders Under 13s Rugby Team
Each team is supported up to the value of £1000 and is free to determine how the money is used to support the club. The scheme has provided sports kits, training kits, tracksuits and raincoats, training equipment such as balls or cones and even entry fees into tournaments. This support is crucial in enabling these youth teams to meet and train, support the development of their young players and act as a pillar of their communities.
As a family owned and run business, this sponsorship scheme is very important to GAP reflecting many aspects of the culture which was initially instilled into the firm by Gordon Anderson when he founded the company, and which are just as strong today, such as integrity, passion and the obvious, teamwork.
Karen Greenshields, Managing Director – Technical and Environmental Services ‘Supporting local communities has been a passion of ours over the past 53 years. As a family business, we strongly believe in supporting our employees and the communities in which they live in and do this in several ways. Our Youth Team Sponsorship scheme has been a great success over the past 5 years and is fantastic to watch their progress throughout the season, enjoying the engagement we have with each team across the country’