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The British Coatings Federation has raised thousands through its annual charity bike ride, which is held in support of The Myton Hospices
The British Coatings Federation (BCF) recently held its fifth annual charity bike ride in support of The Myton Hospices.
The ride, which took place on July 4th, started at the UK trade association’s office in Coventry and covered the breadth of the local Warwickshire countryside.
The BCF's activities have so far raised around £24,000 for Myton in memory of BCF colleague, Callum Plummer, who passed away in January 2025 at just 22 years old. Plummer received care from Myton before his untimely passing from a terminal illness.
The Myton Hospices are dedicated to enhancing life when cure is no longer an option, providing support to people living with a wide range of terminal illnesses as well as to their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life.
This year’s event had over 50 riders who took part in one of three distances – 35km, 52km, or 100km. BCF participants cycled a total of 22,448km, a distance equivalent to travelling from London to Jakarta and back.
The ride was sponsored by organisations including Tronox Pigments, INX International UK, Dacrylate Paints, Indestructible Paints, and hubergroup.
Tom Bowtell, chief executive officer of BCF, says: “This year’s charity cycle carries special meaning for us all.
“The Myton Hospices provided extraordinary care to our much-missed colleague, Callum, during his final days. The kindness and compassion shown to him and his family left a lasting impact, and our riders’ participation helps us honour his memory in the most meaningful way.”
Speaking about reaching the fundraising target, Bowtell adds: “I’m delighted that we hit our target of £20,000 for Myton – an amazing achievement that simply wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and generosity of our riders and their supporters.
“I want to give particular thanks to one of our riders, Chris Corkan of Make UK, who has raised a staggering £2,500 of the total funds. The event serves as a reminder that Callum’s memory continues to ride with us - always part of the BCF team.”
Those wishing to donate have been encouraged to visit the BCF’s JustGiving fundraising page, which remains open as of the time of writing.
Recently the BCF has also launched a five-year plan for careers outreach, working alongside BCF member companies to raise the visibility and perception of the UK coatings industry as an attractive career pathway for the next generation of talent.
The ‘Coat Your Future’ campaign, which was unveiled at BCF’s 2025 annual conference in June, aims to combat growing recruitment challenges that the coatings and associated industries face, in combination with an ageing workforce and growing skills gaps.
From autumn 2025, with the help of the Coatings NextGen Council, BCF members will roll out the campaign at careers fairs, exhibitions, and interactive sessions, aiming to establish industry presence for students at crucial decision points for their futures.
In addition, the organisation will support members in creating links with local schools and colleges, helping them to champion the industry at a local level.
The BCF’s Coatings Careers Hub, first launched in 2019, has been consistently updated with content including apprenticeship routes, job listings, and sector insights. The BCF is also working on video content and case studies that spotlight real people working in the industry.
