BUSINESS people from across the UK gathered in Reading to support this year's Microsoft Challengers' Trophy.

Team captains from 100 blue-chip companies attended a special meeting at the IT giant's campus in Thames Valley Park in preparation for the fundraising event, which kicks off in June.

This year's competition consists of a series of

team-building physical and mental endurance tasks and aims to raise more than £300,000 for the NSPCC, the charity involved in child protection.

The teams will meet in Snowdonia, Wales, on Wednesday, June 11, for the four-day challenge.