Giving Blood, Saving Lives — Ben Gonthier, Facilities Manager
Published On: September 2026
At Envirotech, our work doesn't stop when we leave site.
Across the business, our colleagues give their time, experience and energy to causes that matter to them and the communities in which they live. Whether that's supporting local charities, coaching sports teams, volunteering with youth organisations or raising money for good causes, these are the stories that reflect who we are as people.
This month we'd like to introduce Ben Gonthier, one of our Facilities Managers based in Cardiff. Outside of work, Ben is an avid supporter of the Welsh Blood Service, donating regularly.
Ben has been donating blood since he was 18 and, 26 years later, has no plans to change this anytime soon.
Speaking about how he started, Ben says:
"The Welsh Blood Service visited my sixth form college one day and I thought it would be a good thing to do, and I have been donating (albeit very inconstantly) ever since.
Male donors must wait a minimum of 12 full weeks between each blood donation and can give up to four donations in a calendar year.
The most common blood group for people living in the UK (44%) is group O, followed by group A (42%). This means these blood groups are the most commonly requested by hospitals for patients in need. The least common are B (10%) and AB (4%).
More patients can receive negative blood groups, yet only 15 per cent of people have a negative blood group, while most people (85%) are positive. However common or rare your blood group, enough must be collected to ensure it's there for patients in need at the 20 hospitals the Welsh Blood Service supplies across Wales. O negative blood, found in around 10 per cent of the population, can be given to anyone in an emergency and is also used for transfusions for babies, making it vital for every hospital the service supports."
The Welsh Blood Service celebrates its 80th birthday this year on 26th September.
As a certified B Corporation, Envirotech is committed to creating value beyond the workplace. That isn't achieved solely through environmental initiatives or corporate policies; it is demonstrated every day by colleagues who choose to support the communities around them.
To find out more about how you can donate blood, visit: https://www.blood.co.uk/
https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/
Ben Gonthier donating with the Welsh Blood Service