Business Challenge Gains Chamber Of Commerce Support

THE Business Challenge is back for the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run in 2017 – and this time it is bigger and better than ever.

Companies of all sizes in Manchester’s booming business sector will once more battle it out in Europe’s biggest 10K run, with the event extended to include a half marathon on Sunday, May 28.

The Business Challenge has become an annual fixture in the calendar of Manchester businesses, taking place as part of the 10K which sees more than 30,000 people run, jog or walk their way through city centre streets.

This year, The Business Challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k will be supported by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Providing support to more than 5,000 businesses in the area, Greater Manchester Chamber is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Last year, more than 250 companies and organisations entered more than 3,300 runners to compete for the prize of Manchester’s Greatest Businesses and raise hundreds of thousands for local and national charities.

With two distances to choose from in 2017 it is expected that even more companies are expected to enter male, female or mixed teams of 4-8 runners to compete for the trophy awarded to the fastest small, medium and large businesses across the categories.

Included will be a special prize category for Greater Manchester Chamber members – the Chamber Challenge, awarded to the fastest member business from each category in the 10k.

The Great Run Company chief executive Mark Hollinshead said: “Many Manchester companies have taken up the Business Challenge as a great tool for team building.

“With more businesses entering more runners than ever before in the 2016 Great Manchester Run, we’re looking forward to seeing this grow even bigger with the addition of the half marathon to the existing 10K.

“Running is a social pastime and there are definite gains to be made for companies entering teams into the Business Challenge.

“It’s a case of healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business.”

Arup took the 2016 prize in the large business category, the construction firm’s team achieving a time of 2.39.10. Manchester Grammar School scooped the medium business title with 2.35.23 while Shimadzu Research Manchester were fastest small business, clocking 2.51.08.

Commenting on the Business Challenge, Chris Fletcher, director of marketing at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’re calling on as many businesses as possible across Greater Manchester to get their trainers on and get running to raise money for worthy causes across our region.

“This is a great team-building exercise and we’re delighted that our own team of Chamber runners will be taking part this year, encouraging as many members as possible to take part in the Chamber Challenge.

“Whether you run, jog or walk the Greater Manchester Run is a fantastic event for the city region, bringing thousands of visitors into the city centre. We’re proud to be a part of it and wish everyone competing the best of luck.”

There are different prize categories and all businesses that enter 12 or more people into the event will receive a free engraved plaque to present to their fastest runner.

Entries to the Great Manchester Run 10k and half marathon are now open, with limited availability in the half marathon.

For more information, visit greatrun.org/Manchester