Dorchester-based building firm give golden donation to support sailing on Portland (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester-based building firm give golden donation to support sailing on Portland

2:00pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Rachael Burnett

AN OLYMPIC developer has made a golden donation to support sailing on Portland.

Dorchester-based building company ZeroC stepped up after Weymouth and Portland Borough Council refused to support this year’s Sail for Gold event at the sailing academy.

The company donated £5,000 to support the prestigious event after reading a story in the Echo about the lack of funding.

Kim Slowe, managing director of ZeroC, said he felt it was important to support the regatta, which has generated millions for the local economy over the years as people involved stay, eat and shop locally.

He said: “We picked up on the fact that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council are unable to contribute to Sail for Gold and we wanted to put something towards it to get it off the ground.

“I think they still need more money but this will certainly help.

“I read about the situation in the Echo that the council were falling short on funding.

“We took the view that the Olympics created a world class facility on Portland and it’s up to us to make sure it stays as such.”

Mr Slowe said ZeroC, which developed the Olympic athletes’ village on Portland, wants to keep up the legacy of the Games last year.

He said: “This sort of world class event is of great benefit to the businesses and companies in the area.

“As a community we all need to do what we can to support these sorts of events because they give such a vital boost to the local economy.

“We also participated with the Olympics and feel part of it and wanted to keep the positive momentum going from that.”

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy sought a £7,000 grant from both the borough and district councils, and £10,000 from the county council.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was the only council out of three in Dorset to turn down a grant, even though the high-profile competition will be held on its doorstep and benefit the area.

Sailing academy bosses at Portland appealed for help to support this year’s event after the regatta lost its main sponsor, Skandia.

John Tweed, chief executive at the sailing academy, said: “We are delighted with the donation because the total net cost will be between £50,000 and £60,000.

“It’s great that we have had support and donations from the local authorities and from ZeroC.

“Kim Slowe has been a strong supporter of the academy and has backed events in the past so we are delighted that he’s come forward to support the regatta.

“It would be great if other companies could donate because it has a hugely positive impact on the economy in the borough as well.”