As a bunch of highly trained professionals descend on North Yorkshire for 'Le Grand Depart' another disparate bunch of highly trained professionals, alas not in cycling, are heading to Paris to cycle back to London. The Team have a common desire to raise monies to help disadvantaged children and young adults to have  the chance to develop skills for life and work, fulfil their potential and have a brighter future. So what  is the challenge? London to Paris is the norm for the masses but we are VINCI and we are FM. We fear neither the hills nor the wind in our face so Paris to London and the glory of seeing our families and friends as we triumphantly enter Trafalgar Square having conquered 165 true grit miles. For we are the Veni, Vidi, VINCI riders, We Came, We Saw, We Conquered.

The challenge will raise money for the three VINCI sponsored charities: The Princes Trust, The Duke of Edinburgh Award and The Construction Youth Fund all of which provide support and opportunities for children and young adults to gain skills and experience for life and work.  Almost a million young people are not in education, employment or training. We need your help to tap their potential and build their confidence. The future of our industry is in the hands of the young. So please support us in any way you can and with as much as you can to help these worthy causes.

After some 40 years in the construction and Facilities Management business, it is my way of putting something back into the industry which has supported me so well over the years