By Jamie White – Head of Communications

Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the UK’s largest and longest running corporate challenge.

The Jaguar Land Rover Challenge is an outdoor team challenge weekend for teams of employees who set up camp, then participate in a full day of walking and team activities the next day. The highest scoring team wins the ‘Golden Boot’ trophy.

This year’s event was based in the Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen, which hosts the International Music Eisteddfod. The teams comprising 600 employees camped at the site overnight then started the Challenge early the next morning.

Participants had 11 hours to cover various walking routes totalling 53km and activities including abseiling, mountain biking in Llandegla Forest, a canoe challenge in the Llangollen canal, a Land Rover Experience driving challenge and various problem-solving challenges.

Ken Gregor, Chief Financial Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The Jaguar Land Rover Challenge is a fantastic event with an incredible spirit of energy, enthusiasm and camaraderie.

“The Challenge builds teamwork and friendships: it’s great to see colleagues taking on new challenges, pushing above and beyond their normal limits and supporting each other when the going gets tough. Our business is the ultimate team sport and our biggest asset is our people.  If we can harness this spirit of teamwork and energy, which has been truly impressive today, we can overcome any challenge Jaguar Land Rover faces.”

The Mighty, a team of engineers who have all completed the company’s two year graduate programme, won the 30th anniversary Challenge for a second consecutive year after running 37 miles and participating in a large number of activities during the competition.

Polar explorer Ben Saunders, who is a Land Rover brand ambassador, gave an inspirational talk to employees before the award ceremony after touring the key sites and meeting teams taking part in the event.