Vinci Uk Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£230,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: ~4 months (applications close March, decisions announced July)
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

• Website: www.vinci-uk-foundation.co.uk
• Email: contact@vinci-uk-foundation.co.uk
• Phone: 0121 717 1820
• Address: 2050 The Crescent, Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham B37 7YE

Overview

The VINCI UK Foundation was established in 2016 as the charitable arm of VINCI, a major civil engineering, construction, and facilities management company. Registered with the Charity Commission (number 1171871), the Foundation's mission is to promote social cohesion and combat exclusion across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Since its founding, the Foundation has supported 289 charities and community projects with nearly £1.8 million in grants. In 2024, the Foundation awarded £230,153 in grants to 38 charitable projects. The Foundation's distinctive approach combines financial support with hands-on involvement from VINCI employees, who sponsor projects and contribute their time and professional expertise over a 12-month partnership period. Contributing businesses include VINCI Concessions, VINCI Energies UK and RoI, VINCI Building UK, VINCI Facilities, Taylor Woodrow, Ringway, Eurovia UK, VINCI Construction Grands Projects, Belfast International Airport, Bachy Soletanche, Freyssinet, Gatwick Airport, and NUVIA UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• One-off grants: £3,000 - £10,000 for innovative projects addressing social exclusion
• Application method: Annual application cycle with fixed deadline (applications typically January-March)
• Fund type: Capital/tangible goods only (equipment, vehicles, IT, furniture, building works)

Priority Areas

Projects must address at least one of four areas of action in the fight against social exclusion:

1. Access to Employment: Supporting those excluded from the job market; basic training for individuals with no qualifications
2. Insertion Through Housing: Enabling access to housing for underprivileged individuals
3. Inclusive Mobility: Improving transportation access for employment, healthcare, and education
4. Building Better Communities: Strengthening social links and fighting social isolation in underprivileged neighbourhoods

What They Don't Fund

• Wages, salaries, or running costs
• One-off events (exhibitions, demonstrations, temporary projects)
• Intangible expenses
• Projects with total costs exceeding £100,000
• Individuals
• Political or religious organisations
• Unregistered and profit-based organisations
• Government-run initiatives
• Large organisations
• Projects without VINCI employee involvement

Ready to write a winning application for Vinci Uk Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (7 trustees)

• Tom Jones – Chair (appointed 15 October 2020)
• Scott Wardrop – Trustee (appointed 29 July 2015)
• Robert Gillespie – Trustee (appointed 20 December 2021)
• Scott Van Der Vord – Trustee (appointed 31 March 2022)
• Martin John Pedley – Trustee (appointed 18 September 2023)
• Stephane Carayol – Trustee (appointed 15 February 2025)
• Emmanuel Costes – Trustee (appointed 15 February 2025)

Key Staff

• Ruth Ottley – Head Coordinator

Leadership Quote

Ruth Ottley, Head Coordinator, stated: “The grants and sponsorships from the VINCI UK Foundation are direct, tangible actions that allow us to make a real difference.”

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Foundation also has 43 volunteers involved in its work.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Review the Foundation's eligibility criteria to determine if your project qualifies.

Step 2: Complete Quick Eligibility Test

Take the online eligibility assessment before proceeding.

Step 3: Submit Application Form

Complete the official application form available on the website.

Step 4: Send Required Documents

Forward all mandatory supporting documents to contact@vinci-uk-foundation.co.uk

Key Requirements

• Organisation must be registered with Companies House, Charity Commission, or both
• No political or religious orientation
• Organisation must have been established for 12+ months
• Must have a VINCI employee sponsor (contact the Foundation if you don't have one)
• Project must be located near VINCI company offices to ensure effective sponsorship
• Total project cost must not exceed £100,000
• Successful organisations must wait at least three years before reapplying

Annual Timeline

| Period | Activity |

|--------|----------|

| September – December | Examination period: discussions with local coordinators to design projects |

| January – March | Application period: formal submissions accepted |

| June | Assessment period: Selection Committee reviews applications |

| July | Results announced; grants awarded |

| August – October | Partnerships begin; financial aid provided |

Decision Timeline

• Applications close: End of March
• Results announced: July
• Approximately 4 months from application deadline to decision

Reapplication Policy

Successful organisations must wait at least three years before submitting another application.

Application Success Factors

VINCI Employee Sponsorship (Critical Requirement)

The involvement of VINCI employees is one of the Foundation's core values. Every funded project must have a VINCI employee sponsor. If you don't have an existing connection to a VINCI employee, contact the Foundation directly for assistance. The sponsor commits their working time and expertise over a 12-month period, providing mentoring, practical advice, and professional expertise.

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on the Foundation's documented criteria:

1. Tangible, long-lasting impact: The Foundation only supports projects with measurable, sustainable benefits. "One-off events won't be supported, even if they are socially oriented."

1. Broad beneficiary reach: “The project should benefit a wide range of local community groups. The more beneficiaries, the more chance of being successful.”

1. Innovation: Projects should offer innovative approaches to tackling social exclusion in one of the four priority areas.

1. Clear project documentation: Applications must include detailed objectives, budget, beneficiaries, and implementation schedule.

1. Proximity to VINCI operations: Projects should be positioned near VINCI company offices to enable effective sponsorship.

If the Foundation is Over-subscribed

“If the Foundation is over-subscribed, applications from smaller charities will be looked upon more favourably.”

Recently Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

• Teapot Trust (£10,000): VR equipment for hospitalized children undergoing art therapy
• Excel In Life CIC (£7,000): Salon redecoration, laptops, and cooking workshops for individuals with additional support needs
• Zarach (£5,000): 33 beds to combat child bed poverty
• The Friendly Bus (£7,000): 16-passenger minibus for vulnerable community members
• Band Of Builders (£7,500): Text helpline and mental health support for construction workers
• Crawley Film Initiative CIC (£5,000): iMac equipment for film training programmes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. VINCI employee sponsor is mandatory – This is non-negotiable. Contact the Foundation early if you need help finding one.

1. Capital costs only – Focus your application on tangible items (equipment, vehicles, IT, furniture, building works). Wages and running costs will result in automatic rejection.

1. Smaller charities have an advantage – When over-subscribed, the Foundation favours applications from smaller organisations.

1. Demonstrate broad community impact – Applications serving more beneficiaries have higher success rates.

1. Geographic proximity matters – Your organisation should be reasonably near VINCI operations to enable meaningful employee sponsorship.

1. Plan for a long-term partnership – This is not a transactional grant; it's a 12-month partnership involving employee time and skills.

1. Use the examination period wisely – September-December is the time to engage with local coordinators and refine your project before formal applications open.

References

• VINCI UK Foundation Official Website –
• Charity Commission Register – VINCI UK Foundation (1171871) –
• VINCI UK Foundation Eligibility Criteria –
• VINCI UK Foundation Selection Process –
• VINCI UK Foundation FAQ –
• How to Submit a Project –
• 2024 Grants Announcement –
• Charity Commission Trustees Page –