Employees selected entrepreneurs to support with a loan and, when the loan is repaid, the funding is used to support CARE’s poverty-fighting programmes.

Pentland’s focus has been small footwear or clothing businesses “that align with our roots”.

These include the Glorious Group, a second-hand clothes outlet in Zambia, as well as artisan clothes makers, shoemakers, tailors and embroiderers.

Sara Brennan, positive business director at Pentland Brands, said, “We’re proud we can play a small part in providing routes out of poverty by collaborating with charities that are already changing lives.”

Pentland’s companies include Speedo, Kickers, KangaROOS and Canterbury.

Photo credit: CARE/Peter Caton