Waterside Holiday Group secures major acquisition deal in Cornwall

Dorset-based Waterside Holiday Group is expanding with the acquisition of its fourth holiday park and its first in Cornwall.

The company’s newly acquired park, named Tregoad, is sited near the picturesque coastal town and fishing port of Looe.

The new acquisition, covering 55 acres, is to be enhanced and refreshed together with new pitches for premium holiday homes.

Dave Bennett, CEO at Waterside Holiday Group, said: “We are committed to a phased redevelopment approach to ensure as little disruption to the existing park as possible.

“We’re keen to mirror our high-quality offering across our three existing sites, while staying true to the values of the traditional Cornish countryside and culture.

“This new development is a landmark moment for Waterside Holiday Group and we’re very much looking forward to taking the business to its next exciting stage.

“Our new acquisition has come at a unique time for our industry, as Covid-19 has significantly impacted many businesses.

“However, we have worked hard through this difficult period and I am delighted to report that we have recovered and maintained a stable and forward-thinking focus, while continuing to offer the enjoyable holiday experience our guests know and love.

“This new acquisition comes after a year of careful planning and consideration and forms part of our wider growth strategy.”

Waterside Holiday Group currently operates three holiday parks in Weymouth: The Waterside Holiday Park & Spa on Weymouth’s Bowleaze Cove, Chesil Vista on Portland Road, Weymouth, and Osmington, in Osmington Mills.

It was launched in 1963 by Ralph and Esther Jacobs.

The business has passed down the generations over the years, with granddaughter Miranda Jacobs now a Director of the business.

Tregoad is being handed over to Waterside Holiday Group by owners Pete and Tina Hannay, who have managed the park for 17 years.

Mr Hannay said: “We are incredibly proud to have grown our business into the success it is today but after much deliberation, we have made the decision to move on to other projects as we head towards eventual retirement.

“It was important to us to hand the reins over to a driven family business, so we are delighted to be welcoming Waterside Holiday Group as the new guardians of our much-loved park.

“We have every confidence their long-term commitment and investment plans will see Tregoad develop and flourish.”

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Bournemouth is Reassured as life insurance broker opens eighth office

A life insurance broker which has been named as one of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2020 has opened its first office in Dorset.

The office, in Oxford Road, Bournemouth, is the eighth location for Reassured.

The company, founded in 2009 by Steve Marshall, Chief Executive Officer, and Laura Benton, Chief Operating Officer, has been going through a major growth phase.

Team members (left to right) James Mather, Luke Elliot, Martin Millar, Nick Hall and Josh Beavis.

Despite the year’s challenges, it has remotely recruited and welcomed more than 100 new starters and opened four new offices – Bristol, Brighton, Chester and now Bournemouth – with plans to open two more before the end of the year.

The business has featured in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For for the last six years, securing 12^th position in 2020.

In 2019 Reassured was awarded Employer of the Year at the Inspire Business Awards.

Rob Crabb, Head of People, pictured right, said: “Bournemouth is the ideal location to draw upon the considerable talent we know exists across Hampshire and Dorset.

“The town is also a thriving business hub and home to many successful businesses, particularly in the financial services sector.

“Our Bournemouth start-up team – 13 sales agents and three sales managers – are already established and eager.”

Since it was founded, Reassured has helped protect more than 800,000 families.

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Photography exhibition raises more than £500 for the JTYAF

A fine art photography exhibition by award-winning Lorraine Finney raised more than £500 for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF).

Lorraine Finney (centre) presents a cheque to Pete and Linda Thornton of the JTYAF.

Lorraine’s first solo exhibition was held at the Hayloft Gallery in Christchurch and was deemed a big success.

She received support from Christchurch & District Arts (CADArts) members, Boscombe Camera Club, Bournemouth U3A Photography Group, Landscape Collective, friends, family, and Charlie Waite, one of the world’s leading landscape photographers.

The JTYAF was chosen as the recipient charity and received a cheque for £532.63.

Lorraine said: “I am honoured to support the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation with a contribution from my sales and pleased that it will help young people achieve their ambitions and dreams as I have achieved mine.”

Based in Ferndown, the JTYAF was founded in memory of Lieutenant John Thornton, a young Royal Marine Officer, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan at the age of 22 years.

His Foundation encourages and supports local young people to ‘climb as high as they can dream’, by providing scholarships and bursaries for their training and personal development in the pursuit of their ambitions.

The charity has no paid staff, no premises and is run on a purely voluntary basis.

Since 2008 more than £700,000 has been awarded to over 2,000 young people.

To view Lorraine’s collections of wall art please visit her website at www.lorrainefinneyphotography.com

Find out more about the work of the JTYAF at www.jtyaf.org