RSM UK team counting down to AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge

• Tax consultants’ team of 50-plus runners at AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run

• Deadline approaching for competitors’ teams to sign up

• Chance to raise funds for workplace charity or foundation

The city’s corporate community is counting down to ‘locking horns’ with rival companies for bragging rights at the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge in less than two weeks’ time.

A whole host of Midlands companies of all shapes and sizes are signing up for the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run 10K and half marathon Business Challenge on Sunday, 7 May.

The entry window for Business Challenge teams to sign up closes on Friday, 28 April, and team co-ordinators are encouraged to submit their team details now.

The Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge invites the corporate world to compete for a fastest-time trophy at the 10K and half marathon, with the finishing times of the fastest four members of a team used to calculate the overall team time.

Previous winners of the Business Challenge include Edgbaston chartered accountants JW Hinks, the Birmingham office of KPMG, law firm Marks & Clerk LLP and engineering company Altair.

This year’s Great Birmingham Run 10k and half marathon features a new and improved route, which starts on Broad Street near Centenary Square and finishes at the Smithfield site, home to sporting celebration at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

Among the businesses in training for this year’s challenge is RSM UK, which recently relocated to the skyscraping 103 Colmore Row tower.

RSM is a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services, with nearly 4,900 partners and staff operating from 31 locations throughout the UK. The company moved to 103 Colmore Row last year to support the firm’s hybrid working approach and to facilitate growth plans.

RSM has more than 50 runners taking on the half marathon and 10k on Sunday, 7 May, many of whom will be raising funds for city charity Let’s Feed Brum.

Mark Taylor, regional managing partner in the West Midlands at RSM UK, said: “I’m very proud that Team RSM will be represented in such strong numbers in the Great Birmingham Run – and that we will be supporting such a great cause in the shape of Let’s Feed Brum.

“This year’s route showcases much of the fantastic regeneration and transformation that has gone on around the city centre in recent times and I’m sure that will add to the experience on the day for all the runners.

“As well as the more casual participants, we have some really strong runners (not including me!) in our squad and we are very much looking forward to locking horns with the other large organisations entering teams for the prizes – not that we are competitive!”

This year’s Great Birmingham Run takes place on Sunday, 7 May, and features a new and improved route which covers Broad Street and Centenary Square, the Jewellery Quarter and city-centre landmarks such as Grand Central and the Mailbox.

Sign up for the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run here.

Sign up for the Business Challenge here.