Team Kier take on the mighty Westminster tug-of-war challenge for Macmillan

Staff travelled to London for the annual Lords V Commons contest which takes place in Westminster Abbey College Gardens, where businesses from across the country enter teams.

All proceeds raised go to Macmillan Cancer Support and the Kier team raised £900, which was matched by the company’s independently-registered charity The Kier Foundation, raising the total to £1,800.

Lending his support to the company, Alistair Burt, MP for North-East Bedfordshire, said: “I am delighted that Kier supported this year’s charity tug of war contest between the Lords and Commons. Kier is a company with a world-wide reach that has its roots in the Bedfordshire countryside, and it is good to see them playing a part in this great national event.”

Last June, teams from Kier’s headquarters at Tempsford Hall tested their strength in a friendly competition during a company barbecue to celebrate the start of a two-year fundraising partnership between Kier and Macmillan, and to date more than £150,000 has been raised - enough to pay for a new palliative care family suite at a community hospital.

Kier corporate responsibility director, Alan Smith, said: “Firstly, I’d like to say a really big thank you to the Kier team for their sterling effort at the Macmillan Cancer Support Lords V Commons tug of war. Sadly we didn’t come home victorious but I know they are all raring to go back with a vengeance next year!

“I’d also like to show my appreciation to all our employees who have gone above and beyond to help raise such an incredible amount for Macmillan in our first year. We had hoped to make a significant contribution to the charity when we announced our partnership last summer, but I think £150,000 in 12 months has exceeded all of our expectations.”

Macmillan interim director of fundraising, Simon Phillips, added: “We were delighted a team from Kier could join us for the prestigious Lords Vs Commons tug of war event. Our partnership has gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months. Their fundraising achievements in that time have been truly incredible.

“There are currently 2.5 million people living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis in the UK, and that number is rising. It’s our ambition at Macmillan to reach everyone affected by cancer who needs our support, but we know we can’t do that alone. The Kier team certainly are pulling together to help us achieve our ambition and for that we are extremely grateful.”