(1888PressRelease)
November 28, 2007 - Seven members of staff at Firstco, the technical consultancy, project management and systems integration specialists - Rupert Exham, Darren Grey, Steve Haynes, Peter Laing, Stephen Nuttall, Richard Tirrell and Colin Reynolds – have completed the Three Peaks Challenge and, in the process, raised some £1,200 for the Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care (COSMIC) charity.
Not only did this team from Firstco climb the highest peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis - 1344m), England (Scafell - 978m) and Wales (Snowdon - 1085m) – in that order – within 24 hours but, in the process, they also drove themselves and their kit some 500 miles.
“Firstco takes the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) seriously – and taking on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for the important work that COSMIC does was part of our CSR strategy for 2007,” explained team member Rupert Exham, “In the end, although it was a different challenge from the ones we’re used to in corporate life, our determination and the high value placed on teamwork in Firstco saw us through.”
Firstco specialises in providing controls and communication solutions for large scale infrastructure projects, including sub-surface railways and airports. It is currently involved in such projects as Heathrow Terminal 5, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Crossrail, providing its clients with a total solution - from concept to commissioning and maintenance, based on collaboration and integration with clients and partners.
COSMIC was founded in 1994 to raise money for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, which treats around 400 desperately sick children every year.
It also funds internationally significant research into the causes, effects and treatment of life-threatening childhood diseases. To date, COSMIC has bought over £1,000,000 of life saving equipment and it has spent over £500,000 on ground breaking research into paediatric health.
As well as raising money to buy life-saving equipment, COSMIC aims to contribute to the cost of a programme of genetic research being carried out by St Mary's Hospital and Imperial College, London, into the causes and treatment of killer childhood diseases in both developed and less developed countries.
According to COSMIC, whose patrons are Sir Richard Branson, Sir Terry Wogan and the actress, Juliet Stevenson: “None of this work would be possible without the hard work of COSMIC’s supporters who help us to raise much needed funds.”
Notes for Editors:
Photographs of the Firstco team during their successful attempt on the Three Peaks Challenge are available, on request, from Bob Little Press & PR on 01727 860405 or bob.little ( @ ) boblittlepr dot com
About the Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks Challenge is a mountain endurance challenge in Great Britain in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales. While the challenge has no official rules or time restrictions, many participants try to complete it within 24 hours, using motorised transport to travel between the mountains. There is evidence that the Challenge has been completed in as little as 15 hours, including ten hours driving time.
The mountains climbed, in order of elevation, are Ben Nevis in Western Scotland (1344 m), Snowdon in North Wales (1085 m), and Scafell Pike in North-Western England (978 m). In all, the challenge involves some 42 km (26 miles) of ascent and descent, with total travel approaching 765 km (around 475 miles). The challenge is usually undertaken starting with Ben Nevis, the highest, and, for many, the most distant.
There is no formal governing body of the National Three Peaks Challenge.
The Firstco staff’s Three Peaks Challenge schedule:
Duration Time
Start 00:00 1:15 PM
Climb Ben Nevis 02:32 3:47 PM
Time at summit 00:14 4:01 PM
Descend Ben Nevis 01:57 5:58 PM
Drive to Scafell Pike 06:18 12:16 AM
Climb Scafell Pike 02:04 2:20 AM
Time at Summit 00:12 2:32 AM
Descend Scafell Pike 01:58 4:30 AM
Drive to Snowdon 04:11 8:41 AM
Climb Snowdon 01:52 10:33 AM
Descend Snowdon 01:46 12:19 PM
Total 23:04
About Firstco
Established in 1998, Firstco is now a major force in the areas of technical consultancy, project management and systems integration. Working in a range of industries – notably transport, especially rail installations and airports; power and construction – Firstco specialises in controls and communication solutions for assignments of all sizes from buildings through to large scale infrastructure projects, including sub-surface railways and airports.
Firstco’s in-house team includes specialists in: systems engineering, software engineering, control room integration, consulting, project management and commissioning management.
Through its core services of consultancy, system delivery and project management, Firstco provides its clients with a total solution - from concept to commissioning and maintenance, based on collaboration and integration with clients and partners.
Its mission is to advise, deliver and support high quality control and communications solutions that improve transport and workplace environments, create value for clients and make a positive difference to their end users.
Firstco’s approach is based on four core values:
• Service Excellence - achieving client confidence by truly understanding the business drivers and the project requirements, delivering the agreed solution to plan, managing issues and communicating clearly and regularly - while being easy to do business with and enjoyable to work with.
• Integrity - applying professional and technical expertise to ensure the right solution for the right reasons, as well as being open, honest and fair in all of its dealings.
• Teamwork - deploying the right blend of talent and experience to get the job done, and integrating effectively with client and third party personnel and activities.
• Development - continually seeking to enhance its own capabilities and processes, enabling it to remain innovative and challenging - and sharing this with its clients.
Firstco’s clients include: BAA Heathrow Airport; Esso Petroleum; Heathrow Express Operating Company; London Underground; Standard Life Assurance; Morgan Stanley; Arup Associates; Balfour Kilpatrick; Siemens; EdF; Mott MacDonald; Scott Wilson, Crown House (Carillion), and Transmanche Link.
Further information from:
David Bligh / Rupert Exham, Firstco, 0207 034 0833; www.firstco.uk.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
