Celebrity chef Glynn helps celebrate charity milestone

Celebrity chef Glynn helps celebrate charity milestone

Generous workers dished up a treat for Michelin-starred celebrity chef Glynn Purnell when he helped a West Midlands company celebrate a magnificent milestone achievement.

Birmingham-based Pertemps People Development Group chose to make a £1500 donation to Cure Leukaemia in recognition of staff giving £150,000 back to local causes through its Payroll Giving scheme.

Cure Leukaemia chief executive Ian Allen was on hand to accept the donation on behalf of the charity which is the dedicated charitable recipient of Purnell’s Restaurant.

PPDG chief executive Steve King said it demonstrated just how generous its employees were in supporting people less fortunate.

“We established the programme at the end of 2004 and to date have helped in excess of 350 different charities and good causes,” he said. “Our company ethos is all about supporting our communities. This is a huge amount which has made a significant difference to people’s lives.”

Steve added: “It seems most appropriate that Glynn should help us celebrate this milestone. His roots are in Chelmsley Wood, which is where we launched our first office back in 1998 helping local unemployed people to find jobs. The key thing is that we both continue to contribute to the prosperity of our home city, Birmingham.”

Glynn said: “It is a fantastic achievement to reach such a magnificent milestone. I am honoured to be involved and chuffed to bits that Cure Leukaemia, a charity really close to my heart, will receive a donation as a result of this marvelous scheme.”

Receiving the donation on behalf of Cure Leukaemia Ian Allen said: “Congratulations must be due to those staff who give so generously each month. The donation not only marks a milestone, it will be used effectively to help fund a trials nurse enabling us to offer lifesaving treatment to patients. This donation will help save someone’s life.”

The company’s Payroll Giving scheme has been recognised by the Institute of Fundraising as being one of the best in the UK. Success has been achieved by making numerous small and local donations to a variety of causes each one nominated by a member of the scheme. In 2011 the organisation was designated as the fourth best company to work for in the Sunday Times Best Companies listing.