Shepherd Neame's decade of support to a major charitable event has been recognised at a presentation ceremony.

The Faversham-based brewer has backed the series of annual KM Big Charity Quiz nights staged by the charity department at the KM Group, helping to raise more than £25,000 for charity each year.

The support stretches back for a decade which has helped the growth of the Canterbury heat of the charity event, now in its 14th year. The Maidstone and Ashford heats of the event celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2015 with Medway following the year after.

Sheps is a key partner to the KM Big Charity Quiz donating the stock for the Spitfire Charity Bar at each event, enabling every penny raised on the night to be donated to charity.

To formally thank the brewery for their support Geraldine Allinson, the KM Group’s chairman, presented Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame, with a silver salver in recognition of the brewery’s role in making the series of mammoth wine and wisdom evenings such a success.

Mr Neame said: “The Big Quiz gives us an opportunity to engage with a wide variety of charities and people throughout Kent. Its continued popularity and fundraising success means a partnership we look forward to continuing in the future.”

Mrs Allinson said she was grateful for all of Shepherd Neame’s support this year. She said: “Our Big Quiz events raise considerable sums for charities that are doing wonderful work throughout the county and beyond. These events have only managed to enjoy the level of success they have achieved thanks to Shepherd Neame's unstinting support and enthusiasm."

Follow Shepherd Neame's lead

Organisations can follow Shepherd Neame’s lead and work with the KM Group to support and engage with their local communities.

The KM’s charity department organises challenge events in Kent and Medway for good causes to use to gather sponsorship and boost their funds. These include the KM Big Quiz events, KM abseils, KM Charity Walk, KM Dragon Boat Race, KM Big Bike Ride, and the new KM Assault Course Challenge.

Companies can also support the KM Charity Team’s schools-based activities such as KM Walk to School, the green travel initiative to battle childhood obesity, or Buster’s Book Club, the literacy drive to encourage reading from a young age.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “Partner organisations such as Shepherd Neame are vital to the success of our work, which directly benefits children and charities across the county. With the help of these businesses we can stage appealing events that generate income for good causes, and at the same time raise the profile of sponsors and supporters to ensure doing good also benefits your business.”

Companies, charities or good causes interested in working with the KM Charity Team should call Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752 or visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.

Fact File

• Shepherd Neame operates 354 pubs across London and the South East and brews traditional Kentish ales and international lagers, under licence.
• The company’s 2012/2013 turnover was up 1.4% to £134.9m (2012: £133.0m)
• Shepherd Neame employs more than 1,300 people. An estimated 3,000 are employed in the brewery's tenanted pubs.
• It remains a private limited company with Jonathan Neame, the fifth generation of the family at the helm, as chief executive. His father, Robert Neame, took on the role of president in 2005 after serving as chairman since 1971. In addition, there are eight other family members working across the company.
• Established in 1698, Shepherd Neame is Britain's oldest brewer and can trace its origins back to the early 16century.