EXECUTIVES from Wisbech-based construction company Kier swapped hard hats for aprons last week to raise over �10,000 for charity.

Nineteen managers and directors, including managing director for the eastern region, Graham Howe, got stuck in to ‘Calamity Kitchen’, a corporate fundraising event with a difference.

Under the watchful eye of professional chefs Neil Hardy and Roger Carter, Kier cooks prepared two starters, mains and desserts before serving them up to 160 hungry guests at Newmarket Racecourse.

The event was held to raise money for The Kier Foundation, which raises funds for and offers practical assistance to charitable bodies throughout the UK through the activities of Kier employees and its companies.

Tickets for Calamity Kitchen were sold out weeks in advance, with many clients and suppliers seizing the opportunity to be waited on hand and foot by the Kier directors.

While the guests waited for the lovingly prepared culinary delicacies to appear, they were kept entertained with games and competitions, and the generous donations flowed with a raffle and silent auction for prizes contributed by members of Kier’s supply chain.

All together a fantastic �10,700 was raised for good causes.

Calamity Kitchen was a great hit with guests, with one, Cath Conlon from Cath Conlon Project Management, commenting: “Thank you for an excellent day; the food and fundraising activities were a huge success! The Kier Construction team really excelled themselves and pulled out all the stops to make the day entertaining and enjoyable.”

Kier managing director, Graham Howe, was delighted with how his management team rose to the cooking challenge, stating: “This was one of the most successful team building and corporate events I have ever had the pleasure of taking part in. Everybody – the guests, the Kier employees and the Jockey Club staff - seemed to enjoy it enormously and the whole event passed without a hitch – we may need to come up with a new name for our ‘Calamity Kitchen’ next time!

“Most importantly, I am of course also absolutely delighted that we have been able to beat our target of raising �10,000 for The Kier Foundation. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the sponsors, without whose kind generosity the event couldn’t have taken place.”

Sponsors:

Jockey Club (provided discounted tickets etc)

Jockey Club Catering (provided chefs, front of house staff, bar & discounted food)

The following provided prizes for the raffle and silent auction:

Acrabuild

Argus Fire

Bespoke Recruitment

Bloom and Wake

Briggs and Forrester

BSS Central Region

CH Lindsey

CJ Decorating

Dodd Group

DPL Electrical

Emcor

Eyre Electrical

Gowing and Hunt

HSS Hire

Huntingdon Racecourse

Imtech Aqua

Integral

Jark Construction

Kier Fleet

Land Structure

LPL Construction

MJS Construction

Proctors

Quanta

SCL

TJL Plastering

Voland Roofing