Million Makers success

Taking on the Million Makers challenge

In 2025, a group of Ipsum Graduates signed up to take part in the Million Makers challenge, a nationwide fundraising competition delivered by our official charity partner, The King’s Trust.

Million Makers aims to bring together businesses from across the UK and challenges them to think entrepreneurially, develop fundraising ideas, and raise money to support the King’s Trust’s mission – giving every young person the chance to succeed. The Trust supports young people aged 11–30 to build confidence, find employment, or start their own business.

From ideas to impact

Team Givesum was formed to take on the challenge, tasked with raising funds through a series of creative initiatives alongside their day-to-day roles. Team members took on a variety of roles, from organising meetings and creating business plans to planning events and delivering fundraising activities.

Early in the programme, the team took part in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch, where they developed and presented a sales pitch and business plan to external Dragons and Ipsum colleagues, including Mark Homfrey, our Head of Procurement.

Over the course of the programme, the team carried out a range of fundraising initiatives, including bake sales, a tuck shop, a pumpkin carving competition, a Christmas prize draw, and an abseil. Some team members also acted as points of contact with The King’s Trust, attended regular meetings, and reached out to suppliers and external partners to support the campaign through donations.

One of the standout initiatives was the charity abseil, which pushed participants, Rebecca, Lauren and Izaak well outside of their comfort zones and raised a total of £2,705! Alongside this, bake sales and on-site fundraising events helped maintain momentum and engage colleagues across the whole business.

More than fundraising

Beyond the money raised, the Million Makers challenge gave the team the chance to develop new skills and work across the business. Team members learned more about fundraising, event planning, and engaging with suppliers, gaining experience that couldn’t be replicated elsewhere.

As part of the programme, some team members attended Million Makers’ events, including a visit to The King’s Trust office in Manchester, where teams shared ideas and experiences. It was a challenging experience and one the team looks back on with pride.

Givesum’s highlights

We caught up with members of Givesum to hear about their experience of taking part in Million Makers.

Rebecca Gallagher said: “I worked with people across the business that I wouldn’t normally get the chance to. I really enjoyed the experience. The abseil was my overall highlight. It was challenging and I was absolutely petrified but I am proud of Izaak, Lauren and I for completing it together.”

Patrick Mullarkey added: “Overall, I had a very enjoyable experience, regardless of the hardships. I’ve learned many useful things surrounding fundraising and Ipsum itself. The amount we raised is a real achievement, and I’m proud of Emily, Adam, Rebecca and Izaak. The mentorship of Ewan Donald and Mark Homfray was essential to our success.”

Emily Baines shared: “The months have flown by. I found the Million Makers programme extremely beneficial, and it gave me more confidence with organising events and outreach with our suppliers.”

Ewan Donald, mentor to the team and Ipsum’s Head of ESG, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the what the Givesum team managed to achieve. They sacrificed their own time to ‘give back’ and ensure that we raised as much money as possible for the Trust – really epitomising what Ipsum is about. These funds are vital and give many disadvantaged young people their only chance to succeed.”

Through ambition, teamwork, and creativity, the Givesum team made a tangible difference for The King’s Trust and the young people it supports. They exceeded their £10,000 target, making a real impact for the charity. We’re incredibly proud of Team Givesum and grateful to all our supporters – colleagues, friends, family, and local businesses.