Partner Article

MD challenges business leaders to sleep rough

The managing director of a leading regional technology firm is challenging other business leaders from the north east to join him for a night sleeping rough.

Nigel Begg, boss of technology company Aspire TS, is one of more than 30 business leaders who have already signed up for the ‘CEO Sleepout’ event on Thursday, October 17.

The idea behind the night is to highlight the issue of homelessness in the region and raise funds to help support some of the most needy and vulnerable people in the north east. The business leaders will sleep out for the night beside Newcastle United’s pitch at St James’s Park.

“A similar event held in Middlesbrough in March saw 32 business people raise more than £30,000 and we’re aiming to raise even more from our night sleeping rough in October. It will happen no matter what the weather is like,” said Nigel.

The Teesside event was organised by the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and based on an original project held in Australia. Companies involved in the Teesside event were keen to duplicate it on Tyneside.

“I think it’s a great idea, and that business people should be reaching out to their local communities and giving something back. Some of the region’s most prominent businessmen and women have already signed up for the Tyneside event, but I’m urging more to get their names down.

“There are more than 30 signed up, but we’d like 50.

“The homeless problem is often an invisible issue for those of us who live in comfort, so I think it’s right that business leaders are raising awareness and funds at the same time. I think we can start to make a real difference,” he added.

Aspire TS is one of the region’s leading technology companies, specialising in hosted services, data centre solutions, communications and traditional IT support.

Anyone interested in signing up for the CEO Sleepout event can find more at www.ceosleepoutuk.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucy Foggin .