Friends of the team

The Clarets have made a new signing with Burnley-based Veka Group as part of the Friends of Burnley FC in the Community programme.

Burnley FC in the Community is a stand-alone charity that works in Burnley and nearby communities on various projects. In less than a year since its launch in October 2016, Friends of Burnley FC in the COmmunityhas already raised £20,000 through donations and fundraising activities to support its charitable work.

Veka Group is one of Burnley’s biggest employers, and takes an active role in the local community having also recently signed up as main sponsors for Rosegrove FC, a 300-strong club of young footballers aged 3-13 years old.  

Veka Group won Employer of the Year at the recent Burnley Business Awards and Large Business Award at the 2017 Red Rose Awards, and is well-known in the area for its employee development and support; an asset which should be invaluable to Friends of Burnley FC in the Community when it comes to helping with the charity’s campaigning, fundraising and outreach programmes.

Gabriela Hammond, head of human resources at Veka Group said: “As a significant employer in the Burnley area, the number of people that work here or are associated with Veka through spouses or relatives is huge, so we take a lot of pride in getting involved with the community. Veka has a reputation within the local area for really valuing its employees; it knows they’re its biggest asset. What better way to show that than to give back to the community our employees and their families live in?”

Ryan Bradley, Burnley FC in the Community’s business development executive at Turf Moor, said: “We as a charity are aiming to connect local businesses with community groups and causes so that companies can have a real and positive impact on the community. There are few better-known companies in the area than Veka so to have them on board is a great signing for us and we can’t wait to draw on their business expertise.”