We would like to recognise the support of a number of Parliamentarians who have pledged their support to The Westminster Challenge:
Rt. Hon Tony Blair MP, The Lord Ashcroft KCMG, Rt, Hon Sir Menzies Campbell, Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Nick Clegg MP, Jenny Willott MP, Ed Vaizey MP, Tobias Ellwood MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Charles Hendry MP, Theresa Villiers MP, Don Foster MP, Vince Cable MP, Jessica Morden MP, Rob Flello MP, David Ruffley MP – more are signing up all the time and we will update this list shortly.
We would also like to acknowledge the support of a number of other people who have made our work possible before and since we launched including:
The Lord Ashcroft KCMG
Lord Ashcroft is a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ADT Limited (1977 to 1997), a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He was Belize’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations until April 2000 and Treasurer of the Conservative and Unionist Party in the UK from 1998 to 2001. He was appointed to the Board of the Conservative and Unionist Party in May 2005. He is currently Assistant Treasurer of the International Democrat Union and Chairman of Trustees for a number of charities – Crimestoppers Trust and Prospect Education (Technology) Trust Limited. In March 2000, he was appointed as a life peer in the British House of Lords and in June 2000 he was awarded a Knighthood (KCMG – Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) for public service to the community and country of Belize. In November 2001, he was invested as Chancellor of Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) in the UK.
Holly Bellingham and Simon Turner, Marketform
Marketform provides innovative, competitive and bespoke liability insurance cover for professionals across a range of industries and markets. Driven by clear thinking, technical expertise and mutual understanding, work with brokers, businesses and organisations in more than 35 countries to deliver total flexibility, security and peace of mind.
British Gas/Nwy Prydain
British Gas, part of the Centrica group, is the UK’s largest supplier of domestic energy.
We are committed to tackling climate change by reducing our carbon footprint and helping customers to use our products and services in a more environmentally friendly way. Find out more about our energy saving challenge to UK households at www.saveabillion.co.uk. We are also investing £750million over the next few years in the development of renewable energy generation assets.
As one of the largest employers in Jenny’s Cardiff Central constituency, we are proud to have the opportunity to sponsor her as she embarks on her Arctic trek with her intrepid colleagues!
Good luck Jenny from all of us at British Gas
Amdan Nwy Prydain
Nwy Prydain, rhan o grwp Centrica, yw’r cylflenwr ynni domestig mwyaf yn y DU. Rydym yn ymrwymedig i frwydro yn erbyn newid hinsawdd drwy gostwng ein ôl-troed carbon a helpu ein cwsmeriaid defnyddio ein nwyddau a gwasanaethu mewn ffordd sy’n parchu’r amgylchfyd. Ffeindiwch allan mwy am ein sialens effeithlonrwydd ynni i gatrefi’r DU drwy ymweld â www.saveabillion.co.uk. Rydym hefyd yn buddsoddi £750m dros y blynyddoedd nesa tuag at datblygiad generadaeth ynni adnewyddiol.
Fel un o gyflogwyr mwyaf etholaeth Caerdydd Canolog, rydym yn falch i dderbyn y cyfle i noddi Jenny wrth i hi a’i chydweithwyr dewr cychwyn ar eu hantur!
Pob hwyl Jenny oddiwrth pawb yn Nwy Prydain.
Praybourne
Praybourne manufacture and distribute products such as laptop cases and thermal underwear from its centrally located UK headquarters in Redditch, Worcestershire. Industrial protective clothing and high visibility clothing, are offered under the brands of Pulsar, Pulsarneon, Pulsarail and their range of mens thermal underwear and womens thermal underwear under the Xcelcius brand.
BCB
BCB International Ltd is the long established British Leader for the manufacture of safety & survival equipment, intended for markets as diverse as Private & Commercial Marine, Private & Civil Aviation, UK, EU & Overseas Departments & Ministries of Defence, Expeditionary Organisations & Charities, Relief Agencies, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), as well as the full Camping & Outdoor/Adventure Enthusiast market spectrum.
The original company, BCB Ltd, was registered in 1914 as a manufacturer of medical / pharmaceutical products, & BCB International Ltd was registered in 1979 as a manufacturing operation to service the markets outlined above.
BCB is accredited to ISO9002 International Quality Standard.
It is also an accredited supplier to the UN, NATO, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, & the Red Cross. In short, BCB has supplied safety & survival equipment for military, marine, aviation, refugee, peacekeeping, expeditionary, outward bound/recreation & rescue use all over the world.
St David’s
Lester Hampson, development director of the St David’s Partnership – the organisation responsible for the £675m St David’s 2 retail-led development in Cardiff – said: “The Partnership has enjoyed a good working relationship with Jenny over recent years and we wish her all the very best on her personal mission in the Arctic as we continue with ours in Cardiff.”
The St David’s 2 development – due for completion in 2009 – will extend the retail offer of the current St David’s Centre to 1,394,500 sq ft (129,549 sq m) – making it one of the largest shopping destinations in the UK. In addition the scheme will create 4,000 retail jobs and 1,000 construction jobs
Jim Cooper, Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines offers online a large range of wines and champagnes and delivers to your door.
Kevin Culwick, Populus
Populus research attitudes to social, business, economic and political issues and analyse their impact on their clients and their reputations, providing essential context for the development of strategies, messages and brands.
Leon Trayling, County Hall Marriott Gym
The prestigious London Marriott Hotel County Hall is centrally placed on the South Bank of the Thames, alongside the London Eye and facing the Houses of Parliament. Originally used as the seat of government, the Marriott has been restored yet has kept its beautiful architecture – from the towering bronze doors to the polished marbled floors. The hotel caters for private events and corporate events and has a wide range of amenities.
Martin Stephenson, Hunts County Bats
County bats were first made at St. Neots in Huntingdonshire by the Trimmins family in 1904. Production continued here until the factory moved to Huntingdon in 1983. The craftsmen from St. Neots are still making bats at Huntingdon which enables us to use the slogan ‘bats made for centuries’. Our bats are still made in the traditional way in order to get the best possible bat from the selected materials. It is for this reason that County Bats are sought after all over the world and are available wherever cricket is played.
The Westminster Challenge is a voluntary organisation that relies on the support of many professionals. Here we would like to say thank you to those people who have assisted our development
Alex Laurie – Mobbu Ltd – website design and administration
Nicky Morgan – Legal Counsel
Andrew Robinson – Public Relations
Tim Wilkinson – TWS Design – logo and design work
We would also like to acknowledge the support of our Westminster based colleagues who have helped during the last few months.
Ed Webber, Emily Kavanagh, Simon Jones, Dan Abernethy, Omar Salem and Maggie Binks.
Below is a list of the companies and organisations that are Supporting TWC via various means.
Messages of support
His Excellency Vygaudas Usackas, Lithuanian Ambassador to St. James’s Court has offered his full support,
“I would like to send the Westminster Challenge team my very best wishes for this expedition. The work of Westminster Challenge and the dedication of those participating on this trek is tremendous and I look forward to congratulating them upon their return. Good luck!”
A message from Peter S. Gitmark MP (Norway)
“Who would have thought British Parliamentarians would embark on a 400 km long journey in the Artic with husky dog sleds. I salute the teams and the Westminster Artic Challenge for raising the awareness of human caused climate change and at the same time work for charities.”
