UK-based industrial coatings specialists Trimite Global Coatings has announced sponsorship of The Entrepreneur Ship and its crew who are aiming to be the oldest pair to row across an ocean as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
With a combined age of 124, Guy Rigby and David Murray hope to enter the Guinness Book of Records with their attempt to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic in December 2021 from The Canaries to Antigua in a 24-foot boat. They hope to make the crossing in 60 days and in doing so will be raising funds for UnLtd, a social enterprise charity that empowers entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds in and around the UK.
Guy, who will be 68 at the time of the challenge, founded the Entrepreneurial Services Group at accountants Smith & Williamson and David, who will be 56, has a background in investing and working in start-up businesses, both within the commercial and not for profit sector.
Trimite has a history of sponsoring water-based record attempts, dating back to 1983 when Aspen F3 World Series Champion Rick Frost set the water-speed record in their speedboat on Lake Windermere.
Sharon Harrison, Trimite Global Coatings Sales Director said: "As a company whose products’ reputations are based on endurance in all conditions, including extreme, it seemed appropriate to support this challenge. We know how hard Guy and David are training so are confident that they will be in the best shape possible to take this on in December. As a business very much rooted in our local communities, we are also pleased to support the drive to help social entrepreneurs and build businesses that promote social mobility and benefit people locally.”
Guy and David’s support for the social enterprise sector will be warmly welcomed by consumers and economists alike. Surveys have shown that 88% of consumers say they want businesses to be more pro-social and the need for more socially responsible business is only becoming increasingly ingrained in the national consciousness. Moreover, economists believe that social entrepreneurs will be critical for post-pandemic economic recovery and the growing sector is already worth £60bn (3% of the UK’s GDP).
