A Cumbrian engineering firm is marking its 25th anniversary with a £25,000 charity appeal.
Forth Engineering, based in Maryport, celebrates 25 years in business in 2025, and company founders Mark and Nicola Telford and the Forth team want to mark the occasion by giving back to the community.
They are appealing to businesses, industry partners, the supply chain and organisations to help raise at least £25,000 for Cumbria charity Home to Work which supports unemployed people gain the confidence and skills they need to secure sustainable employment.
Mark, who won in-Cumbria Businessperson of the Year in November, said: “Like many charities Home to Work is facing a significant funding gap. Without this vital charity many people in our community simply won’t be able to get a job to sustain themselves and their families. They will slip through society’s cracks.
“We want to use Forth’s 25th anniversary year to ask those who can afford to help, to join us in supporting this charity and all the people it benefits across West Cumbria.”
Over the course of 2025 Forth will be organising a series of fundraising activities culminating in a celebratory event in November 2025.
Mark said: “If we as a community can come together and hit our target of £25,000 that would be brilliant. If we can surpass it, I would be truly overwhelmed.
“Together let’s create a truly meaningful and impactful legacy for West Cumbria and its people.”
Members of the Forth team, including projects director Graham Cartwright who recently celebrated 20 years with the company, will also be undertaking their own personal fundraising initiatives to help achieve the target.
Mark, managing director of Forth which operates globally from bases in Flimby, Cleator Moor and Barrow in Cumbria, said: “Forth is known for its world-first innovations and I have been fortunate to work with wonderful people: all the Forth team; our partners in industry; our suppliers, and so many people across our community who have always supported us.
“Not everyone in our community has been as lucky as we all have. Some through life’s circumstances haven’t had the benefit of finding sustainable employment and all the positive benefits that brings them, their families and the wider community.
“At Forth we have always made it our mission to ‘give back’. I want us to mark this significant milestone of Forth’s 25th year in business by creating a legacy of a lasting positive social impact across West Cumbria.”
Karen Jones, managing director of Home to Work, said: “We are deeply touched by this wonderful gesture from Mark and all the team at Forth. It will make a huge difference to our charity and the people we support.
“We have some wonderful funders who enable us to reach and support individuals who need our help to develop the skills and confidence necessary to become work ready.
“We do that in a variety of ways at our training centres where we develop hands-on skills aimed at improving people’s confidence and getting our learners back to work.
“Of course, we need money to provide this support, and we increasingly find ourselves battling mounting costs against a backdrop of increasing demand for our services.”
Forth has won several awards for its work in the community. From supporting local schools to sports clubs, charities to good causes, the business has backed a range of organisations and initiatives by donating time, expertise, equipment and funding.
