Raising the roof for rhinos

UPVC Maintenance Supplies recently hosted an open day to raise funds for two charities: Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Organiser, finance manager Emma Earnshaw, said: “We were Yorkshire founded and remain proudly local to this day – being able to support the local community through local charities is an important part of our company culture.”

Thanks to a combination of cake, competitions and the attractive offer to throw wet sponges at the counter staff, the company raised £1,000 for the two charities.

“We were able to get some great raffle prizes donated by local businesses – theme park tickets, spa vouchers, even a bottle of gin,” Emma said. “The good work these charities do meant companies were happy to support our efforts, and it meant our customers were excited by the prospect of winning some really amazing prizes.”

The open day also helped the company celebrate its silver anniversary in style.

“I started off in maintenance and repair, but it soon became apparent that there was increasing demand for the supply of hardware for fitters, so I rented a lock-up to supply others,” owner and managing director David Earnshaw said. “This sector continued to thrive and by 2005 the business opened its first formal trade counter in Pudsey, moving to its current location in Birstall in 2010.

“By 2011 the success of the supply business meant that we decided to concentrate our efforts here and we stopped offering a repair service – we are able to advise our customers of our network of colleagues in the industry who can repair and fit should they need help.”

The business now trades from two sites: Birstall and Rotherham.