Winners Invest Lottery Cash in Employer

March 6, 2009 (InfoPowa News) — Recessionary climates can produce extraordinary events, and the U.K. media are currently carrying an interesting report of a 13-member lottery syndicate that struck it lucky … and decided to use their winnings to ensure their employer's survival, along with their jobs.
 
The syndicate won £3.9 million on the lottery, but instead of dividing up the prize they decided unanimously to present the cash to company owner Andy Whitaker (44), who has managed to keep the family-run motor repair firm going despite a terrible time for the car industry.  
 
The employees will pledge most of their winnings into the firm ASK Rewinds in Accrington, Lancashire, becoming investors in their own future in the process.
 
Whitaker, his wife and a fellow director are members of the winning syndicate, and have already pledged to plough their share of the lottery windfall back into the firm to help safeguard the jobs of their 18 workers.
 
Whitaker told local reporters: "Everybody is obviously really delighted to scoop such a big win but it's also great feeling that a lot of the lads have got the firm so close to their hearts and want to be a part of it.
 
"Normally you hear about people wanting to spend their Lotto winnings on themselves and high living but it's great the workforce are thinking about their futures too — despite it not being a good time for savers.
 
"We're going to have a staff party to celebrate and I think everyone will be enjoying the win with their families.
 
"But we'll go back to normality on Monday. Despite the credit crunch and all these companies going under, we have been holding our own and the company is doing fine .
 
"But we are planning to inject cash into the company and it's nice to know we have a safeguard."
 
The syndicate matched the winning numbers 6, 25, 33, 37, 42, 43, and bonus ball 23, after buying their winning ticket from a newsagent.