Derby-based Acres Engineering has embarked on a major initiative to raise money for the Royal British Legion (RBL).
The family firm, which is based in Melbourne and counts some of the world’s biggest names in rail, automotive and aerospace as its customers, is creating a 3-petal poppy for Remembrance Day, with all profits going to the RBL.
The idea was conceived whilst hosting a range of STEM activities at their recent open day to mark National Manufacturing Week.
As part of the event, Acres invited students from local schools to manufacture and take home their own poppy in order to understand the significance of Remembrance.
Acres themselves have a long and proud association with the armed forces as a Gold member of the Armed Forces Covenant.
This is an agreement that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
“We plan to manufacture at least 2,000 poppies,” explains Acres Engineering’s MD Luke Parker, “but we hope to actually make many more if the demand is there from our clients, suppliers, friends of the firm and other like-minded supporters, which we believe it is.
“Growing up in the local area I attended Ashby School and I was stunned when I learned that 144 ex-students are remembered each year from my old school alone. As such, we are ring fencing 144 of the initial run and donating them to Ashby School for their Remembrance garden.”
The project has been endorsed by veteran Brigadier Edward Wilkinson of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment who added: “This Poppy will be a lasting memory wherever it is placed due to its construction. Its longevity will be a reflection of our Remembrance. It is fantastic what Luke Parker and Acres Engineering are doing to raise money for the Royal British Legion.”
The Acres Remembrance Poppy is available in single, large or bulk orders via their online shop.
