Office workers in Guiseley will take part in an Apprentice-style challenge to raise money for Mencap Employees at Guiseley-based Ethica Resourcing and sister company Easypay Services are taking part in a week of challenges to raise money for Mencap, the charity that supports people with learning difficulties.

Staff will be taking part in a sponsored silence, selling homemade buns and hiking up mountains as part of the Leeds Mencap Apprentice Challenge.

Ethica managing director Sarah Shaw said: “We are choosing to support a charity that has a significant positive impact on families in our local community. Our sponsored silence aims to demonstrate how much we take the gift of speech and communication for granted.”

As part of the challenge, two members of staff are each raising money by undertaking part of the Three Peaks challenge.

Mandy Norfolk, 44, will climb Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis to complement 51-year-old Penny Hutton’s ascent of Snowdon.

Amanda Hobson, managing director of Easypay, said: “By raising money and increasing awareness of this worthy charity, more families get to benefit from the support provided by Leeds Mencap, helping them to remain positive in their lifelong journey of living with learning disabilities.”

A total of 19 people from the two companies are taking part in the competition to raise money for Mencap. Each team will take a £50 initial loan and turn it into the highest amount possible over a four-week period. Their efforts will be judged in an Apprentice-style competition and the team raising the highest amount will be ‘hired.’