Swift Academy celebrate first graduates

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by Tom Leaning

The achievements of thirty employees have been recognised by Swift Group, the UK caravan and motorhome manufacturer, at their inaugural Swift Academy graduation.

Swift Group launched the Academy in Sept 2015, just over a year later there are over one hundred employees from all areas of the business studying a variety of business and management courses. The thirty graduates are the first to finish their course, and having enjoyed the experience many are looking to progress onto the next study level.

The Swift Academy was introduced as a key component of succession planning at Swift, developing talent from within and ensuring the business has the skills, knowledge and capability to be successful today and in the future. Employees study at a level appropriate to their experience and position and can work their way towards studying for an MBA (Master of Business Administration)

The Swift Academy has also become a key element in recruitment in the company with one of the region’s largest apprenticeship schemes employing ten students a year, along with a degree scholarship programme. Both opportunities enable students to earn while they learn, and Swift always welcomes applications for each.

Managing Director James Turner and Deputy Managing Director Amy Archer handed out the certificates.

‘The development of the Swift Academy was a new venture for Swift and it is tremendous to see what has been achieved for both the company and each person. Studying and working is not easy and requires dedication, a quality we appear to have in abundance. I wish each graduate and those currently studying every success’, said Ms Archer.

Latest UK survey reveals 17 million camping and caravan trips taken in 2016

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by Tom Leaning

A recent analysis of the caravan and camping market has reported that the industry is on the rise.

As the UK heads towards the annual Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC from 21 to 26 February 2017, just under four out of ten UK adults had experience of camping or caravanning in the past three years according to a Mintel report*.

A total of over 17 million camping and caravanning trips are estimated to have been taken by UK adults in 2016, over 15 million of which were in Great Britain, and include a spectrum of accommodation options from yurts, safari tents and shepherd’s huts to tiny two-berth mini and large luxury caravans, sophisticated motorhomes and holiday lodges. The total trips taken figure is expected to rise to 17.9 million in 2017 and to over 21 million in 2020, and Mintel forecasts Great Britain’s camping and caravanning market will be worth over £3.2 billion by 2020.

Of those camping in a tent in the last three years^, ‘getting away from it all’ is one of the key attractions (42 per cent) as well as ‘connecting with nature’ (41 per cent). Just 14per cent overall of those camping would welcome the opportunity to be disconnected from technology with no WiFi or internet, although surprisingly 32 per cent of music festival campers claimed they would welcome the lack of connection!

Among those interested in such leisure holidays, 16per cent plan to buy a tent from 2016 onwards, 9 per cent a towed caravan, 12 per cent a motorhome or campervan, and 10 per cent a static caravan or mobile home. Motorhomes are seen as adventurous and fun, comfortable and family-friendly, with secure, spacious, high quality accommodation. A multi-destination European trip attracted 55 per cent, while 34 per cent would aim for a North America tour and 37 per cent would use a motorhome to see a sports event.

Market drivers for camping, caravanning and motorhomes trips in recent years include a reduction in petrol prices and a desire for families to reconnect with their environment. A report published by The Wildlife Trust** found that children have become increasingly separated from nature, highlighting that fewer than 10 per cent of children play in natural areas, with 78 per cent of parents concerned their children don’t spend enough time interacting with nature and wildlife.

The government’s Climate Change Risk Assessment report 2012 (produced every five years) predicts that future climate change is likely to improve the appeal of the UK as a holiday destination for both UK and overseas visitors with increased summer temperatures and a longer summer season.

The NCC (National Caravan Council), the event arm of which runs the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, estimates in the UK at present there are approximately 550,000 touring caravans, more than 205,000 motorhomes and 330,000 static caravan holiday homes in use, totalling over one million leisure vehicles.

From Tuesday 21 to Sunday 26 February the Birmingham NEC will be home to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2017, with over 350 leading leisure brands exhibiting caravans, motorhomes, campervans, trailer tents, folding campers, tents, caravan holiday homes, camping equipment and accessories.

This year’s show has plenty of free, have-a-go features including an indoor children’s assault course and mobile climbing mountain. A towing and manoeuvring skills area offers expert tuition for those new to caravanning and motorhome holidays as well as those who want to brush up on their techniques. For pet lovers there is the much-loved dog agility arena.

Throughout the six days of the show the Discovery Theatre plays host to celebrity guests including Countryfile, and more recently New Lives in the Wild presenter, Ben Fogle; Kate Humble and Julia Bradbury discussing their love of the great outdoors; celebrity chefs including baker Selasi Gbormittah performing live cooking demonstrations; and the professionals sharing their top tips on owning leisure vehicles and camping holidays. New for 2017 are bushcraft workshops where visitors can learn essential survival skills.

Advance ticket prices are from £7 per person and children 15 and under enter free^^. Tickets are on sale now and can be ordered online: www.ccmshow.co.uk

Camping and Caravanning Club name new Chairman

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by Tom Leaning

The Camping and Caravanning Club have announced the appointment of Mel Hill as their new Chairman.

Mr Hill, from Mexborough, South Yorkshire, was appointed by the Club’s National Council during its November 2016 meeting at the Club’s Coventry headquarters.

Mr Hill, a retired Construction Manager, has a long and rich history with the Club. After a short time away from camping and caravanning, he re-joined the Club in 1987. Since starting off as a tent camper at school, he moved on to frame tents, trailer tents and caravans – he now owns a Lunar.

Robert Louden MBE, the Club’s Director General, said: “Mel has camping and caravanning in his blood, and is a great ambassador for the Club.

“He continues to be active within his local District Association and has held many important positions as a member of the National Council over the years. Most recently, he was the Club’s Vice Chairman between 2014 and 2016, before being elected Chairman in November – a fitting recognition of his hard work and commitment.”

Mr Hill continues to use his touring caravan most weekends, both when fulfilling duties as Chairman and enjoying local Club unit camping meets and events.

He said: “The touring industry continues to grow and more and more young families are joining us and getting into camping. The types of units available are changing to meet the needs of modern campers too, and manufacturers are developing new ranges and adopting new technologies to make camping more accessible and exciting.”

Along with the Chairman’s appointment, the National Council also elected Phil Henson as the new Club Vice-Chairman to work alongside Mel. Anne Dearling, who held the post of Club Chairman for the previous two years, now becomes Immediate Past Chairman.

The Camping and Caravanning Club is 115-years-old and appointed TV presenter Julia Bradbury as its Club President in 2013 – the first female to be bestowed with the title in history. The Club works with Julia, as well as explorer and Club Vice President Bear Grylls, and naturalist Chris Packham, to highlight the benefits of getting outdoors with camping.

The Club recently celebrated recording its highest ever membership of more than 293,000 households. To learn more about the Club, visit: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.

Holiday Park sets 60-year visitor record during NYE celebrations

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by Tom Leaning

A Cumbrian village’s population almost doubled over New Year with celebrating campers visiting the area.

Michael Holgate of Silverdale Holiday Park says his business set a 60-year record for people choosing to spend the New Year break away from home.

More than 1,000 guests were partying and popping the corks on their bubbly on 31 January, he says, nearly doubling the village’s population of some 1,500 people.

But not all families, said Mr Holgate, were staying in snug and centrally-heated holiday homes.

Also pitching up were scores of campers and owners of touring caravans, plus people with motorhomes and others booking one of the park’s glamping pods.

“The rise in people coming away for Christmas and New Year has been evident for some time, but this year the numbers rocketed,” said Mr Holgate.

“Many say that they have a much more relaxing break when everyone is on neutral territory and away from their usual family surroundings.

“We certainly find that it makes for a great stress-free atmosphere on the park, and we often find families coming together for impromptu parties,” he says.

Mr Holgate believes that Cumbria as a whole will benefit from the holiday year growing longer and producing fewer peaks and troughs throughout the calendar:

“Our six holiday parks employ around 135 people, and each year we find ourselves less reliant on seasonal staff and better able to provide more full-time positions.

“This allows us to attract higher calibre recruits, and to be able to invest in their personal training and development which benefits both them and us in the longer term.

“Four-season holidays also spread tourism spending more evenly throughout the year, and this helps the many smaller business which rely on our visitor trade,” said Mr Holgate.

This year, he added his business has also been able to provide New Year accommodation at two luxury cottages opened alongside Silverdale’s popular local pub, The Royal.

After standing empty since 2010, The Royal re-opened in spring this year following a £300,000 refurbishment project by Mr Holgate’s family business.

There is more information about Silverdale Holiday Park, and the five other Cumbria and North Lancashire parks belonging to the Holgates group, at www.holgates.co.uk

CaravanTimes wishes you a Happy 2017!

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by Tom Leaning

The whole CaravanTimes team would like to wish our readers a very happy 2017.

We hope you have had a great year and made some amazing memories with your caravans and motorhomes.

Now is the time to look forward to a fresh year ahead and more exciting times out on the roads, on campsites and in caravan parks with family and friends.

Have an awesome year everyone, and wherever you find yourselves, make sure you make 2017 a memorable year!

The CaravanTimes Team

Theft leaves caravan owners homeless over Christmas

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by Tom Leaning

Caravan owners were left homeless over Christmas after their mobile home was stolen from from a site in East Berkshire.

Thames Valley Police are appealing for information following the theft of the caravan and a 4×4 vehicle from Darlings Lane Stables in Darlings Lane near Maidenhead.

Both vehicles are believed to have been taken between 9pm on 23rd December and 2am on Christmas Eve, 24th December.

The Caravan was a Hobby Excellent 695 VIP with the serial number WHB19N57L0FF31104.

The 4×4 was a Toyota Hilux, with the registration LL62 VGG.

Police believe the vehicle and caravan may have been transported out of the country by ferry, as large gas bottles were removed prior to the theft, items which would not be permitted on a ferry or tunnel crossing.

Investigating officer PC William Holbrook said: “This was a particularly devastating crime as the caravan is the victims’ home, and this left them homeless over Christmas. Their onsite office was also ransacked.

“I am appealing for anyone who knows the whereabouts of the two stolen vehicles, or who knows the identity of the offenders, to come forward and contact Thames Valley Police on the non-emergency number 101.”

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Caravan business raises £8k for cancer charity

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by Tom Leaning

A Cumbrian caravan company has raised thousands of pounds for local cancer patients at its 35th anniversary ball.

More than £8,000 was raised for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation by Kendal Caravans at its celebration and fundraising night, according to the Westmorland Gazette.

The sum will provide a much-needed boost to the charity’s valued work in supporting cancer patients being treated in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Kendal Caravans, based at Selside, near Kendal, is one of northern England’s largest holiday home distributors.

The company head, Mark Molyneaux said in his gala speech: “The professionalism and commitment of our staff to providing a first-class service has helped build Kendal Caravans’ strong reputation in the holiday parks supply industry.

“I would also like to give a big thank-you to the many suppliers which had sponsored the anniversary ball, and whose support had enabled the event to raise £8,000 for a very deserving cause.”

Premier League footballer offers to buy caravan for homeless mother-to-be

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by Tom Leaning

West Bromwich Albion footballer, James McClean, has offered to pay for a caravan for a pregnant homeless woman.

Mr McClean offered to buy the woman, known only as Lisa, a caravan when he learned of her plight through a national newspaper.

According to the Express & Star of the West Midlands, Lisa, 36, is believed to be five months pregnant with twins and currently living in a tent under a bridge with her partner Wally near the River Medway in Kent.

The Northern Irish-born footballer said “no babies should be living homeless” and that he’d be “willing to buy the caravan himself”.

Mr McClean made his generous offer via his wife, Erin’s, Facebook profile:

The former Sunderland and Wigan Athletic player posted: “Look I know it ain’t much and even if it’s temporary until a house is found but being a father myself no babies should live homeless so I would be willing to purchase this caravan for them and keep them out of the cold.”

The 27-year-old Irish international attached an advert for a £1,750 Swift Corvette caravan for sale in Maidstone, Kent.

Scottish caravan park to bring back static homes with flotation devices

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by Tom Leaning

A Cairngorms caravan park is still picking up the pieces from last year’s devastating storm and wants new innovative safety solutions after Storm Frank left trail of destruction.

Storm Frank caused chaos throughout many parts of Scotland over the 2015 Christmas period, including at Ballater Caravan and Camping Park, located in the Cairngorms National Park.

Static caravans were seen floating down the river as floodwaters broke through the park and the village defences, according to Aberdeen’s Evening Express.

But since then the site has managed to reopen to touring caravans and is hopeful of seeing static caravans return next year – but with specialist flotation devices attached.

Alistair Cassie, one of the directors of the facility, said it was slowly getting back on its feet and, on the touring caravan side, had enjoyed a good year.

Mr Cassie told the Evening Express: “The tourist site is up and running. It was a late opening season but it has been a very successful season and people are delighted with the site.”

“People are saying it is a better standard than it was before – that’s the positive side.

“As far as the old part, we’re hoping to get a limited number of static stances – possibly 10 – for next season.”

However, Mr Cassie said for owners to get their holiday homes insured they were going to have to take extra steps.

“In order for people to get insurance, the caravans will have to be mounted on a floatation system,” he said.

“It’s basically a concrete base on the ground and the flotations are polystyrene blocks fixed to the caravan.

“If it does flood again – and that’s if, it might never – they rise up with the water and are anchored with chains.

“They rise with the water and no real damage is done and people can get insurance.

“It’s quite expensive to do, so we’re limited as to how many we can do, and it’ll depend on demand.

“We’re having a meeting with every past caravan user at the beginning of the year to gauge the interest.”

At the time of the flooding there were around 90 caravans on the site, but Mr Cassie said with the new regulations for the site that number would likely drop.

“The flood was one of those freak things that happened,” he said.

“Time is a great healer and people will forget, but then on the other hand people don’t want to take too many risks. But every time you drive up the road you take a risk and if it’s a one-in-200-year flood it’s quite a reasonable risk to take.

“We’re hopeful it’ll get back to what it was. If we change it dramatically all the services have to be changed – the drains and the electrics.

“If there’s not an uptake or demand for the statics we might have seasonal pitches again, but we’re limited as the toilet block can only handle so many people.

“We could take an extra 15 or 20 caravans and cope but anything else would put stress on the toilets and we’d have to build a new block which is mega money again.”

Mr Cassie, who runs the nearby General Merchant store and is a Royal Warrant holder, estimated the damage at the caravan park at around £500,000.

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

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By Tom Leaning

The team at CaravanTimes would like to wish all our members and readers a very Happy Christmas ahead of this festive weekend.

Whether you are out on the wintery roads, sipping mulled wine at a campsite or round the fire at home this Christmas, everyone at CaravanTimes hopes all our readers are full to the brim with Christmas spirit and spending quality time with friends and loved ones.

Merry Christmas everyone!

From all of us at CaravanTimes

Caravan park receives `best Christmas present` after winning appeal against closure

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By Tom Leaning

A caravan park owner in Gloucestershire is celebrating victory this Christmas after years of fighting against the threat of closure by the local council.

The fate of Beech Hill Farm in Westerleigh, which accommodates about 50 caravans belonging to residents of the nearby area, looked in doubt after an application to officially convert the use of land to caravan storage was denied by South Gloucestershire Council, according to the Gloucestershire Gazette.

Despite the land being originally designated for agricultural use, owner Deborah Martin was forced to look for alternatives for income after she discovered the land was a former landfill site and was unable to grow or farm anything on the site.

The caravan site was set up in 2003 and proved a popular service for residents in the Chipping Sodbury area, until an enforcement order to remove the caravans was made in 2007.

Nothing followed until 2014 when the enforcement officers visited the site, leaving Deborah with the decision of whether to close down or fight for the change of use.

But having applied in March last year, the proposal was denied due to being in the green belt.

When at capacity, the one acre site houses around 100 caravans, but the site has only been about half full for the past two years after concerns over the future of the site resulted in a number of the caravan owners leaving.

Deborah said that those who have remained joined the campaign, giving her the strength to fight on.

Ms Martin told the Gloucestershire Gazette: “It has been the support not just from those storing their caravans, but the community as a whole that has really kept me going. They have all been brilliant.”

Having filed an appeal against the decision, the case was heard at a hearing on 23 November, with dozens of patrons of the site turning out to show their support.

“Twice as many people turned out for the appeal hearing as the council’s planning inspector had prepared for,” said Deborah. “She said she had never seen anything like it before.”

The decision to uphold the appeal was announced on Thursday, 15 December, just in time for Christmas.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: “The planning inspector acknowledged that the proposal would be inappropriate development in the green belt which is harmful by definition.

“However she went on to say that for this particular application a number of very special circumstances exist which justify the development.”

Deborah said: “I am so glad I kept fighting, and overjoyed for all the people who have a caravan on our site.

“Many are elderly or disabled and are not able to holiday abroad, but there are also a lot with young families, who enjoy being able to get away for a weekend together.

“I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present for everyone, especially as some were panicking that they might have to sell up.”

Norfolk resort receives best park award

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By Tom Leaning

Judges of Norfolk’s most prestigious tourism awards scheme have named Searles Leisure Resort as the county’s best park.

The family-owned business based in Hunstanton in north Norfolk took the overall prize in the holiday park and village category in the EDP Hoseasons Tourism Awards 2016. It was described by the judges as the county’s out-and-out champion of “amazing and truly memorable” park holidays.

Searles’ accolade came at the end of a year which saw the park receive a raft of national awards for aspects of its business from environmental care to its quality standards.

But according to managing director Paul Searle, this home-grown honour has a special significance as it highlights the cream of the county’s tourism providers.

Having been based in Norfolk for over 60 years, said Paul, he and his family felt “proud and humbled” to have been judged as the perfect place for families to enjoy a park holiday.

From its beginnings as a small donkey field where caravanners could pitch up in exchange for a bag of potatoes, Searles today provides a vast array of holiday accommodation.

There are more than 500 caravan holiday homes and lodges, some with private hot-tubs, as well as 300-plus touring pitches plus luxury timber camping pods.

Its wide range of highly-praised attractions range from water zorbing, jet-skis, swimming pools and all-weather sports pitches to a gym, fishing, karts, tennis, archery and curling.

The park has also announced that the 2017 season will open with £1 million worth of additional activities which are being introduced this winter.

They will include an indoor “water wonderland”, a climbing wall with equipment and instruction, and an outdoor fitness park with an array of gymnastic challenges in the fresh air.

Judges of the EDP Hoseasons Tourism Awards, organised by the Eastern Daily Press, said that Searles is a vital and highly valued component of Norfolk’s £3 billion tourism economy.

The park, they pointed out, employs around 200 people, and provides valuable training and skills development opportunities to staff including many younger workers.

Judges also noted that Searles in recent times had recorded an impressive five percent year-on-year growth in visitor numbers with 2016 likely to prove an all-time record.

“This award is a fantastic finale to our season which will help give us a flying start to next year – and I hope the publicity will help boost other local businesses,” said Paul.

“We’re especially pleased that a strong emphasis in these awards was placed on the quality of the hospitality provided, and delivering this is largely in the hands of our staff teams.

“For that reason, they must take a large share of the credit for our success,” added Paul whose grandparents William and Alice Searle first registered the park in 1954.

Driving the park forward today are Paul together with his brother Andrew and sister Joanna. There is more information about Searles Leisure Resort at www.searles.co.uk