Running Imp Celebrating 37 Years

Founded in 1988 by our Chairman, Chris Illsley BEM, Running Imp started in the humble surroundings of his home on Branston Close in Lincoln. Over the years, we have grown into a successful business, creating jobs, and are known for delivering exceptional service whilst expanding into new and international markets.

As we have grown, we have relocated to larger premises and consistently supported various charitable causes in the heart of Lincolnshire, which led our Chairman, Chris, to be awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018.

Today, under the leadership of our Board of Directors—Chris Illsley BEM, Jane Illsley, Josh Illsley, Faye Watson and Molly Illsley—and with the dedication and support of our staff, Running Imp has become the UK's leading supplier for events from village fun runs to mass participation events worldwide. We are proud to supply organisations including the London Marathon, the Great North Run and Run For All, delivering over 4 million medals each year from our HQ at Jubilee House in Lincoln.

We are also committed to caring for the environment. In the mass participation industry, environmental sustainability is an increasingly important aspect of our operations, allowing us to make a positive difference at events worldwide while minimizing our ecological footprint.

We were the first in our industry to provide 100% recycled medals and pin badges and offer a free recycling scheme for leftover event medals, which can be returned to us for recycling in partnership with a metal recycling firm. Additionally, we have made significant strides in expanding our eco-friendly range of clothing and products, as well as adding over 220 solar panels to our premises.

We are grateful for your loyalty and continued support over the years; it has been integral to our success, and we look forward to celebrating the next 37 years together in business.

Thank you from all of us at Running Imp!