Our community was a crucial element for families across the U.K. in 2020: Despite social distancing, we all found ways to help our neighbours and those who needed an extra helping hand.

At Holman, the Masterserve Foundation, built with our partners in the Masterserve Garage Network, found a way to thrive. The Masterserve Network works with garage partners across the United Kingdom, taking one percent from invoices and donating the funds to local charities close to their hearts.

Holman’s Manager of National Suppliers, Sharon Edwards, has worked alongside our Masterserve Foundation committee to organise donations and charitable gifts since the foundation’s start in 2015. Here, she talks more about the Masterserve Foundation, its impact in 2020, and Holman’s commitment to The Holman Way.

How does the Masterserve Foundation reach our community?

SHARON EDWARDS: This is a new type of engagement outside of business as usual. We get to develop these relationships with our garages that you don’t usually get. Our garages can build cross-relationships, be on the committee, and, most importantly, support those charities close to their hearts. Our focus is local charities, those that need our support but cannot reach national exposure. Still, we will also select a single national charity to support our customer base that falls into the health and social care criteria. Last year that annual charity was the Salvation Army, and we’re always looking for customers to serve in this capacity.

What was the conversation like with the Masterserve Foundation committee at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

S.E.: We were all concerned but also focused. We were not sure how the pandemic would impact the Masterserve Network of garages and the Masterserve Foundation subsequently. But the garages stayed busy throughout, and consequently, we were able to build on the foundation’s growth.

How did the Masterserve Foundation pivot to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic?

S.E.: We focused the first quarter’s donations on those charities being leaned on more than usual due to the pandemic; this included a mental health charity, a food bank, and a women’s help organisation. Our committee was eager to do our collective part, and with an increased need for these organisations as quarantine began, we had a duty to support them any way we could.

Were there any significant changes to the way the Masterserve Foundation operated because of quarantine regulations?

S.E.: The most significant change, and one of the hardest, was not visiting the charities in person. We have greatly missed this interaction as it gives us a chance to meet the people behind the charity and the great work they are doing every day.

Communication was also a top priority for the group. With the foundation members across the U.K., it was essential to communicate regularly. Thankfully, we could utilise technology to stay in touch and create a new business as usual.

How has communication changed now that Holman is almost entirely working from home?

If anything, we have increased the amount of communication. The pandemic has taught us to not take each other for granted and spare the time to check in, debate or even have a virtual tea break together. Checking in with colleagues or garages is fantastic, but it’s humbling to talk to the foundation and have insight into those decisions that could positively affect those charities.

What does Holman’s community program look like on a global level?

S.E.: Holman is a global company committed to supporting the community. We are encouraged to live The Holman Way by doing good for the community. And that looks different in all of our global companies. Giving back can include volunteer days, mentorship programs, and fundraising drives.

We all contribute to the Holman Way as a global unit, and it’s an integral part of who we are. At Holman, we’re looking forward to offering time instead of money to some of these charities and supporting things like charitable raffles or fundraisers when the country gets back to normal.

What should customers and garages know for 2021?

S.E.: We’re in the process of selecting our national charity and seeking feedback from our customers. We also want to raise the bar on helping those in need. To that end, we have opened up applications for our newer Mastserserve garage to get involved with our engineers scheduling remote call-ins to provide application packs to all interested garages in the first quarter.

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