Having employees climb three of New England’s highest mountains in 24 hours may not be how most construction industry firms hone team-building and leadership skills, but a London-based industry software provider is sponsoring just such an event next month. Organizers hope the “three peaks challenge” on Sept. 19-20 will replicate the success of a similar program in the U.K., that, since 2002, has raised a total of $3 million for global charities, not to mention the profile of its sponsor, Construction Industry Solutions Ltd. (COINS).
The U.K. business software firm is mounting the event for the first time in the U.S. after a successful seven-year run in Great Britain, where industry participants have been challenged to climb the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in the same time period. COINS CEO Derek Leaver says the U.K. event is limited to 50 six-member teams, “and we have been oversubscribed every year,” with large U.K. firms such as Kier Group, Balfour Beatty and Laing O’Rourke among those participating. The recession cut into the numbers this year, but the event still attracted 38 teams. Each team must pledge to raise $5,000 to participate, with funds channeled to charities through a COINS nonprofit foundation.