Thirty-six employees from across UK Power Networks swapped their hard hats for cycling helmets to take part in the Palace-to-Palace challenge, cycling 50 miles from London to Surrey to raise money for The King's Trust.
The riders set off at 8am on a misty autumn morning and collectively raised £9,149 to help tackle youth unemployment across the UK.
The King's Trust supports young people by providing opportunities, training and confidence-building programmes intended to help them start careers and build brighter futures. This year marks the charity's 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of work helping young people develop skills, confidence and opportunities.
The cause holds particular significance for Cesar Ruiz, an energy data scientist at UK Power Networks who took part in the ride. It was the second fundraising event he has completed in support of The King's Trust. While studying in 2021, Ruiz received a scholarship that helped fund his education and pursue his career goals.
Ruiz described the ride as an unforgettable experience, noting that it was both a chance to support a worthwhile charity and to spend time with colleagues while giving something back to society.
He added that receiving a scholarship during his studies made it meaningful to now help provide similar opportunities for other young people, and that being given such support can make a real difference.