LKQ Euro Car Parts customers donate more than £10k to automotive industry charity

Customers shopping in LKQ Euro Car Parts branches have collectively donated more than £10,000 to automotive industry charity, BEN, by adding £0.25 to their total when they check out.

The funds have been raised via a new partnership with Pennies, an award-winning provider that gives people the option to make digital ‘micro-donations’ when paying by card, as a way of encouraging them to give to good causes.

In the first four months since going live across LKQ Euro Car Parts’ 280-strong branch network, more than 40,000 individual donations of £0.25 have been collected at the tills.

LKQ Euro Car Parts’ chosen cause is its longstanding charity partner, BEN, which provides support for those working in the automotive industry and their families when they need it most.

Andy Hamilton, CEO of LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “We’re a people-first business – and that means we look after our own people, as well as our customers and those in the wider automotive industry.

“Most of the time, our focus is on taking proactive steps to ensure we’ve got happy, motivated colleagues delivering the best possible service to independent garages, as they adapt to change and prepare their businesses for the future.

“But everyone in our industry also needs someone to turn to when the going gets tough – and that’s where our ongoing fundraising for BEN’s vital support services comes in.

“The amount our customers have donated so far has surpassed expectations, and we look forward to seeing what can be achieved in the future.”

LKQ Euro Car Parts’ ongoing fundraising efforts will see Andy Hamilton joined by Trade SMR Director Anthony McAteer to climb Mount Kilimanjaro next October, in BEN’s biggest ever Industry Leader Challenge.

The ambition for the business is to raise more than £50,000 in total, combining the donations collected via Pennies and additional funds raised through sponsorship.