Swanley-based construction and fire safety specialist Trail Group has won a major award for its contribution to the community, celebrating the company’s delivery of an expanded range of services to improve the quality and safety of social housing and its exceptional record of supporting local communities and charities across Kent and the South East.
The award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Community’ at the Thames Valley Business and Community Awards recognises the contributions and achievements of organisations to make their community a better place and create lasting impact.
According to the award judges, “Trail Group is committed to making a meaningful impact at every level. By dedicating time, expertise, experience and funds, they support a diverse array of charitable causes within the community. Their dedication to philanthropy reflects their strong ethos of giving back and fostering positive change.”
Trail Group is also a finalist in the ‘Community Contribution’ category at the Great British Business and Community Awards, with the winners to be announced in June.
Trail Group’s CEO Warren Wright has pledged to expand the company’s community engagement and fundraising efforts in 2025, building on the success of its work in the past year and its award recognition.
Warren said: “Winning this award is a tremendous honour and is a reflection of the dedication of our entire team in improving our communities every single day.
“Giving back is central to Trail Group’s ethos, and we are committed to increasing our efforts year-on-year.
“We will continue to support initiatives like the Heather House Community Hub in Sittingbourne, expand our charitable fundraising activities, and look for new opportunities to make a meaningful difference to the communities in which we live and work.”
He added: “We are also expanding our services to support our local authority and housing association clients in raising the standards of social housing.
“We are setting up a new Minor Works Division to deliver responsive repair and maintenance to improve homes for tenants – from addressing damp and mould to bathroom and kitchen upgrades, general repairs and electrical testing and compliance.”
In 2024, Trail Group took on its most ambitious community project to date, carrying out the extensive refurbishment of the Heather House Community Hub in Sittingbourne.
The company donated the time, expertise and materials to undertake a £60,000+ programme to transform a disused building into a much-needed community café, foodbank and hub to support local people facing financial hardship.
The centre welcomed more than 500 visitors in its first three months of operation and soon became a lifeline in the community.
To recognise Trail Group’s contribution, the function room at Heather House was named ‘The Trail Suite.’
Trail Group’s community initiatives for 2025 will include:
- Ongoing support for the Heather House Community Hub in Swale, with potential maintenance work and donations
- A new partnership with a children’s charity in the South East
- Continued support for World Child Cancer – Warren Wright will remain as an ambassador for the charity, helping to raise funds for children battling cancer in developing countries
- Hosting and sponsoring a number of fundraising events throughout the year
- Supporting employees in their own fundraising efforts, such as Trail’s Site Manager Aurimas Sakalauskas who is running the Brighton Marathon in support of the Chandran Foundation for underprivileged children
