News

SMT GB staff dig deep for Army charity

Twelve staff from SMT GB will embark on a team-building day with a difference when they embark on the toughest endurance challenge in Scotland.

Headquartered in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and with offices spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales, the twelve staff are currently training for ABF The Soldiers' Charity's Cateran Yomp, which challenges teams of soldiers, veterans and civilians to walk 22, 36 or 54 miles across the rugged terrain of the Perthshire countryside in less than 24 hours.

Participants will head off on the Cateran Trail in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains at 6am on Saturday 3rd June 2023, returning to Blairgowrie in the early hours of Sunday 4th June. Last year's event raised just over £500,000 for soldiers, veterans and their families, with 630 participants travelling as far as the U.S, Canada, Australia, Cyprus, Poland and the Netherlands. The team represents a cross-section of the company's diverse community, ranging in age from late 20s to early 60s, with job roles consisting of engineering, marketing, sales and support office staff. They are spread across almost all of SMT GB's nine Customer Support Centres and, despite training in their own areas, routinely get together online to discuss progress and targets.

Leading the team is Duxford-based Health and Safety Manager Anthony McCann (55), who served with the Royal Artillery for almost 30 years, and whose three sons are still currently serving. Anthony joined the army as a soldier at the age of 16. Over the course of his 28-year career, Anthony served in Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan and rose to the rank of Captain. Commenting on the challenge, Anthony said, "I have been eager to take part in The Cateran Yomp for some time, really just to challenge myself while raising money for ABF The Soldiers' Charity. When I was serving, we held many fundraising events for the charity. As well as my own sons, a few of the team members also have military backgrounds so, knowing the valuable work ABF do, we are all determined to do our bit to support them. The Yomp will also be a fantastic networking opportunity and away-day, as some of us have yet to meet face-to-face. For me, at the age of 55, it's not going to be easy, but it wouldn't be a challenge if it were!"

When asked what the team's participation in the Cateran Yomp means for the company, SMT GB CEO Nick Allen added, "We are thrilled to have such a large team supporting ABF The Soldiers' Charity. At SMT GB, a sizable number of our staff members are former service personnel, and we feel that it is important for us to do our part and give something back. By taking part in the Cateran Yomp, the team is embodying SMT GB's company values of caring, daring and sharing, while also working to support an incredibly worthy charity."

Since 1944, ABF The Soldiers' Charity has provided a lifetime of practical and financial assistance to soldiers, veterans and their families across the UK. During the financial year 21/22, the charity supported 65,000 people in 48 countries worldwide. Since its launch, the Cateran Yomp has raised over £4M for the charity, with donations funding everything from wheelchair ramps for the homes of soldiers, veterans and their families, to respite care and personal recovery plans for injured soldiers returning from the front line. This year's event is sponsored by Famous Grouse, Dover Fueling Solutions and Arnold Clark. For more information, visit https://soldierscharity.org/yomp

Got a news story? Email news@earthmoversmagazine.co.uk