function initGoogleMap() {
  
  // lat & long for siftgroups
  var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(51.453472, -2.593192);

  // map options
  var mapOptions = {
    zoom: 16,
    center: latlng,
    mapTypeControl: true,
    mapTypeControlOptions: {style: google.maps.MapTypeControlStyle.DROPDOWN_MENU},
    mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
  };

  // initialise map
  var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("google-map"), mapOptions);

  // marker generation
  var icon = new google.maps.MarkerImage(
    '/sites/default/modules/sift/site/sift_siftgroups_general_module/images/google-map/map-icon.png',
    new google.maps.Size(76, 75),
    new google.maps.Point(0,0),
    new google.maps.Point(0, 70)
  );

  // shadow generation
  var shadow = new google.maps.MarkerImage(
    '/sites/default/modules/sift/site/sift_siftgroups_general_module/images/google-map/map-shadow.png',
    new google.maps.Size(139, 54),
    new google.maps.Point(0,0),
    new google.maps.Point(0, 43)
  );

  // info window generation
  var mapPopup = '<p><strong>SiftGroups Ltd</strong><br />Bridge House<br />48-52 Baldwin Street<br />Bristol<br />BS1 1QB</p>';
  var info = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
    content: mapPopup
  });

  // add marker to map
  var siftgroups = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: latlng,
    map: map,
    icon: icon,
    shadow: shadow,
    size: (76, 75),
    point: (-40, -40),
    title: 'SiftGroups'
  });

  // click function for marker
  google.maps.event.addListener(siftgroups, 'click', function() {
    info.open(map, siftgroups);
  });
  
} //initGoogleMap()

$(document).ready(function(){
  initGoogleMap();
});