Gattaca honours Friends of PICU with CSR Award

Gattaca is proud to have won Best CSR Initiative at the 2017 UK Recruitment International awards. The award recognises our long-term commitment to Southampton-based Friends of PICU – a charity local to our Hampshire headquarters. The charity supports the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital, providing lifesaving equipment and services to critically ill children on the South Coast & Channel Islands.

Jennie Mead, Group Human Resources Director at Gattaca, picked up the award:

“Friends of PICU is a charity local to our headquarters in Whiteley, Hampshire and is close to the hearts of our staff. We’re proud to have supported the charity for over 10 years, which delivers such crucial equipment and support at the times when ill children and their families need it the most.”

On hearing the news, Mark Hilder, Secretary of Friends of PICU said:

“This is fantastic news and a well-deserved accolade for Gattaca. The company has been supporting Friends of PICU since the inception of the charity and has helped us to reach our tenth anniversary this year. The money raised has provided essential equipment to the PICU and helped provide hope to families dealing with the trauma of their child being admitted to intensive care.

“Our partnership is really something to shout about. It isn’t always easy to fundraise so we are enormously grateful to the staff and directors for the important part they play in helping to save the lives of children, but also supporting the families who are going through a terrible and distressing time.”

Gattaca’s relationship with the charity began in 2006. An employee in our Whiteley office received care from the PICU at Southampton for their child who was severely ill and colleagues rallied around to raise much needed funds for the charity. From then, the relationship between Gattaca, Matchtech (our specialist engineering brand) and Friends of PICU was formed and continues today, more than 10 years later. Over this time, we have helped the charity raise £142,000.

Matchtech is the principal sponsor for two of Friends of PICU’s largest annual events, the PICU golf day in the summer and the Charity Ball in the winter. This year, the fundraising total from the golf day was £7,756. On top of this, staff raise money for the charity by taking part in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in London, as well as selling raffle tickets and donating money on dress-down days.

Keith Lewis, Chief Operating Officer at Gattaca, has played a key role in the business’ relationship with Friends of PICU. Commenting on the award, he said:

“What’s great about winning this award is the chance it gives us to promote Friends of PICU and the fantastic work they do. After Great Ormond Street and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the PICU at Southampton General is the third biggest unit on admissions, receiving over 1,000 each year.

“I’d like to thank the people – family, friends, clients – who have supported our fundraising efforts over the past 10 years. This award is for you too.”

The Recruitment International awards, held last night at the Guildhall in London, recognise the achievements of recruitment companies in the UK.

To find out more about Friends of PICU and the different ways you can help them please visit their website.