A Company Well Connected supporting Open Water Safety Days

Funding Vital Water Safety Days in Glasgow

Our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles isn’t just a policy on a page, it is a lived value. We believe that as our business grows, we have a clear responsibility to uplift, protect, and empower the local communities we serve.

A prime example of this commitment in action is our ongoing work with the Glasgow Eastern Merchants & Tradesmen’s Society (GEM), where HF Mechanical & Electrical Managing Director, John A. Ferguson, recently stepped into the role of Chairman.

Through GEM’s generous funding, they have been able to support the Darcey Sunshine Foundation as they delivered the first of three Open Water Safety Days at Pinkston Watersports.

Crucial Life Skills for Local Youth

With an alarming rise in open water tragedies across Scotland over recent months, delivering practical water safety education to young people has never been more urgent. Prevention through education saves lives, and this initiative ensured that young people from North United Communities and Parkhead Youth Project were equipped with the confidence and knowledge to stay safe near water.

During the session at Pinkston Watersports, participants were taught key lifesaving concepts:

The Water Safety Code: Recognising hidden hazards and assessing risk around rivers and canals.
Float to Live: Crucial techniques to counteract the immediate, physical effects of cold water shock.
Safe Rescue Techniques: Practical ways to assist others safely without putting themselves in danger.
Bystander CPR Training: Emergency response skills that give young people the ability to save a life when seconds count.

The day also featured a powerful contribution from Duncan Speirs of the Christopher Saving Lives Campaign. Duncan shared a moving tribute to his late son, Christopher, driving home the devastating impact of water incidents and highlighting the critical need for accessible rescue equipment along our waterways.

Driving ESG Impact Through Community Action

John A. Ferguson’s role as Chairman of GEM directly reflects HF Group’s core ESG strategy. By directing funds and leadership toward initiatives like the Darcey Sunshine Foundation’s water safety program, HF helps deliver tangible social value across four key pillars:

ESG Focus Area	How This Initiative Delivers
Community Engagement	Partnering directly with local youth groups in the East End of Glasgow to build safer, more resilient communities.
Skills-Based Leadership	Applying senior executive leadership to historic charitable societies like GEM to maximise their local impact.
Targeted Charitable Giving	Directing funds to high-impact, life-saving educational programs that directly protect young lives.
Regional Social Fabric	Strengthening local safety infrastructure and educational awareness across Glasgow’s waterways.

Looking Ahead

This session at Pinkston Watersports was the first of three funded Open Water Safety Days taking place over the coming weeks. We extend a huge thank you to the team at Pinkston Watersports, volunteers Carol, Chrissie, and Matthew, Duncan Speirs, and the Darcey Sunshine Foundation for their vital work.

As John A. Ferguson leads GEM into its next chapter, HF remains dedicated to the “tradesman’s bond”—staying A Company Well Connected to our roots, our people, and our community.