ITS is proud to sponsor one of 2025’s most ambitious endurance expeditions – a world record attempt to row the Pacific Ocean, led by our Chairman, Kevin Gaskell.

On 8th June 2025, Kevin and the Ocean5 crew will set off from Monterey, California, in a bid to break the current world record for rowing the Pacific Ocean to Hanalei, Kauai. The 2,800-nautical-mile route will test the team’s limits as they target a crossing time of just 45 days, with the current record being 52.

At 66 years old, Kevin is set to become the oldest person to row the Pacific. The Ocean5 crew includes Kevin’s son, Matt Gaskell, alongside Tom Higham, Patrick Deacon, and Stephen Greenan. Together, the five-man team will face 30-foot waves, sleep deprivation, and the burning of up to 6,000 calories each per day, while living aboard the carbon-fibre vessel Lady Jane II.

This challenge isn’t just about breaking records. ITS’ sponsorship will directly support The Lewis Moody Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by brain tumours. The Foundation works closely with The Brain Tumour Charity to fund critical support services, pioneering research, and awareness campaigns. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under-40s, yet receive less than 3% of cancer research funding.

Speaking about his upcoming challenge, Kevin Gaskell commented:

“This is more than just an expedition—it’s an opportunity to raise vital funds and awareness for a cause that makes a real difference. At 66, I want to prove that we can continue to break boundaries, lead with purpose, and make an impact, no matter our age.”

As a key sponsor, ITS is proud to support the Ocean5 team in their mission to raise over £50,000 for The Lewis Moody Foundation.

We’re looking forward to following Kevin and Ocean5 as they embark on this historic journey. Keep an eye on the ITS LinkedIn page for regular updates and follow the team’s JustGiving page to track their progress and support the cause.

The football boots were laced up. The stage was set. Team ITS were ready for the football showdown of the century at the Business Fives Tournament 2023. And what an event it was. On the 14^th of September, Team ITS took to Goals Liverpool, ready to snatch up the title at this year’s charity football match in aid of mental health charity, Mind.

We’re pleased to say that we won the tournament, and our team will go on to play the other winning teams for the Championship title in October.

Team ITS have a strong history in Business Fives, playing in aid of charities close to our heart. We’re pleased to say that we’ve raised some incredible funds for mental health charity Mind, securing £350 worth of additional donations from Business Fives Ltd due to our victory.

Why We Chose to Play in Aid of Mind

At ITS, we’re committed to putting our people first, and one of the ways we do so is by ensuring that mental health is taken seriously. No one should face mental health stigma, especially in the workplace.

Mind is helping blow the whistle on mental health stigma, with dedicated services designed to create a more mental health-empowered society.

Our social value and people and culture team work hard at ITS to ensure our people have the support they need to do the best possible job – and a big part of that is protecting their mental health.

The result

Team ITS played in two teams, and racked up quite the impressive score sheet throughout the day. Congratulations to our colleague Abdullah Saeed, who scored an impressive seven goals in a single game.

Of course, we took home some incredible prizes, with our Head of Safety, Health and Quality, Michael C. Jones bringing home the prize for the best goalie of the day!

As the whistle blew, Team ITS secured the Championship title at 1-0, with Abdullah securing the title for Faster Britain.

Our People and Culture Coordinator, Marie Chinn, said, “We’re so proud of team ITS, and we’re even prouder to support Mind. It’s a great charity and really represents our values at ITS. We couldn’t have hoped for a better result, and the way our team conducted themselves today is a true testament to our ITS values. Today, we’re incredibly proud to work for ITS.”

ITS raised a total of £440 for Mind.

Thank you to all who participated in the Business Fives tournament, and congratulations to all the players for some amazing, premier-league-level football and money raised for life-changing charities.

If you’d like to support our fundraising efforts for Mind, you can visit our JustGiving page here, and help ITS support Mind to create a more mental health-empowered and accepting business landscape.

Following on from another successful year, we’re pleased to report that our partnership has significantly increased reach, primarily focused on funding and support for local schools.

In today’s post, we’ll explore the report more deeply and explain how we plan to continue our support for InnovateHer in the coming months.

Another successful year with InnovateHer

The InnovateHer report highlights the significant impact that delivering tech-based activities for girls and non-binary students has. Together, InnovateHer and ITS have inspired 102 students, hosted two students for work experience at ITS HQ and supported activities in both of our sponsored schools.

What does this mean?

Through ITS’s Inspiring Assemblies and Role Model talks at schools, ITS and InnovateHer have successfully engaged over 102 students, who then enrolled on InnovateHer’s platform and courses, designed to embolden skills development, and build digital confidence. Thanks to the support of ITS colleagues, our team welcomed two work-experience students looking to gain further insight into life in tech, providing context of the tech-working world and employability skills rolled into one!

Overall, ITS’ partnership with InnovateHer has provided school-aged girls and non-binary young people with a greater view of what life in tech can look like and helped spur their dreams of becoming cornerstones of the tech market.

The results of our partnership

Not only has ITS’ partnership with InnovateHer had a profound impact on over a hundred school children, but we’ve also seen some incredible feedback from our ITS colleagues, showing that our social value initiatives with organisations like InnovateHer have a positive knock-on effect.

Our ITS colleague said:

“Building a relationship with the public (students) was not an easy job but the teacher was extremely helpful in engaging the students and make them more curious and confident in asking questions. Overall, a good experience for myself and hopefully for the students as well.”

The overall results of our partnership have unveiled that levelling the playing field for girls and non-binary students in the tech sector is not only just a way of getting more girls into a historically inaccessible field but it’s a strategic advantage for businesses looking to broaden their talent outreach, gain unique perspectives, and engage with the bright brains of tomorrow.

Innovation goes together with diversity, so we’re proud that our partnership with InnovateHer is reaping positive results.

Lauren Forbes, Head of Fundraising and Partnerships from InnovateHer, had this to say about our partnership:

Collaboration with us here at InnovateHer to support more girls getting into tech is not just great, it is a visionary step towards building a brighter and more inclusive future. Together, we are unlocking the limitless potential of young minds, ensuring that gender equality and innovation go hand in hand. We have loved having ITS partner with us over the past 2 years to support our mission, and we look forward to working with them in the coming year.”

The future of our partnership with InnovateHer

We’re thrilled that we’re continuing our partnership with InnovateHer, and we’re looking forward to more amazing activities to inspire the next generation of students in Tech. We’re hoping to see more incredible reports like this one that highlight just how important connecting with today’s youth is for the success of tech businesses of tomorrow.

Generation Next: What We’ve Been Up To 

We have been busy in our partnership and have already been a critical component in one of the most exciting Generation Next events this year, the Generation Next Awards. It has been an honour to sponsor the Volunteering and Social Impact category, with our Social Value Manager, Marie Steele, on the judging panel. The candidates, all aged between 18-35, wrote detailed applications and were interviewed by the panel in May. 

The category had so many outstanding candidates who, in themselves, signal such a strong future for innovation and creativity, while incorporating a solid social conscience. Speaking about her experience on the judging panel, Marie Steele said that “it was tough” as “all the applications were fantastic. We had real trouble at the end deciding who should win because the standard was so high! They were all very inspiring.” 

Courtney Brindley took the prize for her work to improve the lives of people subjected to domestic violence. Her development, delivery, and promotion of her J9 Training, alongside her busy full-time role and other commitments, demonstrates the tenacity of the workforce of tomorrow and signals a positive trend in the next generation of workers, showing that they’re dedicated, driven and able to juggle varying priorities. 

Courtney’s J9 initiative has a real-world impact on people subjected to domestic abuse, with the training helping workplaces become more aware and readily prepared to support their employees who might share their experience. The J9 initiative encourages businesses to become safe spaces for their people to access information and support around domestic abuse. 

Impact 

At the forefront of our partnership with Generation Next is a commitment to empowering young people to take ownership of their future. At ITS, we pride ourselves on taking a chance and forging our destiny, which is why we are so proud to partner with Generation Next. Empowering young people has a far more significant impact than simply recognising their ambitions, instead acting as a catalyst to motivate, inspire, and drive forward their ambition to become leaders of the future. 

Through the Generation Next Awards, we send a compelling message that values the contributions of young professionals, propelling them to excel in a competitive world. What’s more, providing opportunities for them to display potential across sectors is vital, nurturing innovation and progress. 

In partnership with Generation Next, we foster innovation and individuality, countering challenges in today’s competitive landscape while pursuing societal change. Courtney’s achievement exemplifies innovation for change, which is why she was the perfect choice for the Volunteering and Social impact award.  

Generation Next also shines a spotlight on local innovation in the East Midlands, giving the area the recognition it deserves as an enterprise hub. Our sponsorships highlight local entrepreneurship, driving investment and support to the local area. We’re excited about our ongoing partnership, hosting events, and nurturing young business leaders with entrepreneurial, socially conscious values. 

This is only the beginning of our partnership with Generation Next. We are truly looking forward to sponsoring more of these amazing events and continuing to support young people in their bid to become market leaders with entrepreneurial values, strong regard for social value, and an empowered attitude that propels them into the next generation of career success. We’ll also be sponsoring the Generation Next Conference in October, so we look forward to continuing our journey towards supporting the next generation of inspiring young professionals and entrepreneurs.