The Swift Group sponsors Charity of the Year category at this year’s Newbury Weekly News Best in Business Awards

The Swift Group’s involvement with good causes across the district stretches back to 2002, when Adrian Smith came to the Newbury-based company.

CEO Mr Smith credits the Newbury Weekly News’ former commercial manager the late John Hampson with showing him how important community involvement is for a company.

And since the first relationship was created with the Rapid Response cars, Swift has gone on to forge links with some organisations at the “hard-edge” of crisis.

“We have got to put something aside and make the life of the world around us a better place,” said Mr Smith.

“We choose the topics that people would rather not admit are happening in their town – but they are the things that need promoting.”

These include homelessness, suicide, particularly in males, and mental health.

He describes his company – and in turn his staff – as “facilitators”. As a logistics firm they are perfectly placed to help get things done.

And that is what they do when it comes to the Christmas toy appeal, the Easter egg appeal and most recently the Ukraine relief appeal.

“We are really pleased to see our customers, suppliers and partners come on board with our way of thinking too,” Mr Smith added.

“We are one of the more financially well off regions in the country and so people don’t want to believe there’s any issues here; because everyone’s perception of the area is that there’s not a problem.

“It makes the challenges of people in crisis here much more difficult to overcome because people don’t want to believe it happens.

“But we see the value in investing in the community.”

And it is the company’s desire to help those less well off in the local community that is the reason why it is sponsoring the Charity of the Year award at this year’s Newbury Weekly News Best in Business Awards, which are being held at Newbury Racecourse at the end of this month.

“I am really looking forward to seeing who the nominees are and working with them,” added Mr Smith.

He said the awards were an important step to recognise the people who do such selfless things to help our community every day.

“It will be a tough process for us but I am looking forward to it,” he said. “It is very humbling.

“We want to come out of every day knowing we have made a difference; whether that’s in the business or helping charities. That’s what gets us up every day.”