More and more businesses in Wales are using the HSBC Cardiff 10K Run as a profitable way of networking with other companies and giving something back to their communities.

The Run, which is now in its 24th year, takes place on September 7 at Sophia Gardens and already lots of companies both small and large have been signing-up to take part in the event’s ever popular corporate team challenge.

Launched in 2005, the corporate team challenge provides businesses with a cost-effective opportunity to cultivate links with other companies while supporting one of Wales oldest and biggest charities.

In its first year the challenge attracted just four business entries. This confidently grew to seven in 2006, before last year a record 17 companies took part including Enterprise Rent a Car, Moneypilot and Dolmans Solicitors. This year Kidney Wales predicts it will receive around 30 entries underlining the Run’s growing appeal to the corporate sector.

Last year’s corporate team challenge winners were Newport-based electrical steel specialists Cogent. The company will again be entering a team this year.

Mike Anthony, a continuous improvement coach with Cogent, said: The good thing about taking part in the Run is that it brings people together from inside the organisation who would not normally spend time together.

Entering a team for the first time this year are Cardiff-based design and advertising specialists Peter Gill and Associates.

Account director Jason Gill said: As a business we believe it is important to engage with the Welsh charity sector, particularly organisations like Kidney Wales who undertake such life-saving work.

The opportunity to meet and engage with our businesses and develop new partnerships is of course an added bonus and one of the reasons why the HSBC Cardiff 10K is such an attractive opportunity.

Entry to the corporate team challenge is just