A ‘Big Blue Day’ organised by Auto Windscreens’ apprentices has raised £550 for the Marine Conservation Society, the UK's leading marine charity.

The event, which took place on Friday at the company’s Chesterfield headquarters, was held as part of the business’ ALEX (Apprentice Learning EXperience) programme and to help promote recycling. Activities, including hook-a-duck and bingo, were held throughout the day, alongside a cake sale.  

The apprentices also began the countdown to their upcoming Skegness ‘Clearly Going Cleaning’ beach tidy event on 6 August. More than 30 Auto Windscreens’ employees are expected to attend, using their yearly ‘Motiv8’ volunteer day to pick up unsightly rubbish washed ashore.

Helena Seward, Auto Windscreens’ ALEX Apprentice and Project Manager of both events, said: “We all feel passionately about what the Marine Conservation Society does and are so pleased with how much we have raised for the cause. It was a brilliant day.”

She added: “Around 12 million tonnes of plastic enters oceans each year, causing pollution and harming life, both animal and human. We want to ‘do our bit’ and help reduce this amount, not just through fundraising and recycling but also by helping remove waste that’s already made its way onto our beaches.”    

Auto Windscreens is an eco-conscious company and operates numerous environmental initiatives. Its canteen only uses bamboo cutlery and recyclable plates, and a crisp packet recycling scheme was introduced this year. It is also a certified carbon neutral organisation.

James Macbeth, Auto Windscreens’ Managing Director, added: “The ALEX apprentices have done a fantastic job coordinating the Big Blue Day fundraiser and the scheduled beach clean. As a business that cares about the environment, it’s great to see so many of our staff getting involved in these events.”