A team of nearly 150 staff at chartered accountancy firm Bishop Fleming has started a virtual challenge to circumnavigate the globe.

The company, which has offices across the south west including Truro, has launched the challenge as part of its Back:Better campaign as it looks towards the end of the Coronavirus restrictions and returning to normal operations.

Designed to foster employee engagement among its people, the challenge will also promote health and wellbeing and provide vital fundraising opportunities as part of the firm’s approach to corporate social responsibility.

Managing partner Andrew Sandiford said: “After an unprecedented 18 months of being distanced from each other, this challenge is a great initiative to bring us back closer together whilst having some much-needed fun.

“We are an innovative, relationship-led business and that is why we’re launching our Round the World challenge – we want as many of our people, their families and our clients to join us in the attempt.”

Paul Seymour, marketing director and challenge leader, added: “The flexibility of our challenge is what makes it so inclusive. Any activity that can be measured can be included, such as walking, hiking, running, cycling, swimming, rowing or even stand-up paddle boarding, meaning it will appeal to people of all abilities. Literally every step will count.

“We’ve plotted a route that takes in six continents and 31 countries – a total of 40,000 miles and will be using an innovative online platform to aggregate the activities of our people and plot our journey in real-time.”