UK’s largest independent youth expedition firm sets
sights on ethical expansion
26/05/09
The UK’s top independent youth expedition company, which has
influenced the lives of thousands of young people, has successfully
funded its latest expansion with investment from Finance Wales
plc.
Outlook Expeditions Ltd, based in Snowdonia, North Wales, is
already the first company of its kind in the UK to launch a
responsible travel training programme and be awarded CarbonNeutral®
company status.
With the ambition of continuing to lead the youth expedition
industry in promoting environmental awareness, it is now embarking
on an ethical expansion that will see it adding to the 3,500 plus
youngsters it has taken on educational expeditions around the
world. In 2008/9 Outlook will turn over £3million and is targeting
to double this over the next three years.
Led by joint managing directors Matt Wells and Rhys Davies,
Outlook was formed in 2001 to provide young people and schools with
a professional educational expedition service.
Now operating in more than 40 different destinations worldwide
Outlook offers teenagers the chance to take part in outdoor
activity programmes and life-changing expeditions, including a
combination of trekking through diverse landscapes, taking part in
environmental or community project work and visiting places of
cultural interest.
“We pride ourselves on being a truly unique business,” said Rhys
Davies, who before setting up Outlook came from a background of
co-ordinating and monitoring environmental and community
development projects worldwide.
“Not only are we enhancing the lives of thousands of young
people through educational expeditions and outdoor activities, but
we are taking the first steps to change the way people travel by
placing ethical and environmental issues at the top of our
agenda.”
As part of Outlook’s expansion, Finance Wales plc, a provider of
commercial funding to businesses in Wales, is investing £730,000
debt and equity in the business through the conversion of an
existing £260,000 loan and additional £470,000 capital.
Matt said the investment from Finance Wales plc will allow them
to proceed with their growth plans. “We are very pleased with the
follow-on funding from Finance Wales which endorses our business
model and allows us to invest for the future.”
He added: “The investment not only secures our capital base, but
will allow us to develop our unique selling point as the largest
independent provider of youth expeditions in the UK with a truly
ethical policy at its heart.”
David Staziker, Investment Manager at Finance Wales plc, said
the follow-on investment would underpin Outlook’s expansion. “With
an already high quality product and strengthened environmental and
ethical stances, Outlook Expeditions Ltd has a unique selling point
to a young audience that is fully conscious of its green
responsibilities.
“The additional financial investment gives Outlook a firm
capital base which will allow the company to continue it growth and
significantly increase its client base through enhanced working
relationships with schools, teachers and youth leaders.”
The investment will support Outlook as it looks for ways to
sustainably improve its operations and further develop its unique
responsible travel training programme supported by its specially
commissioned online carbon calculator.
As part of the investment and expansion, David Wood MBE MC has
been appointed chairman of the company.
In addition to its foreign expeditions, since its inception
Outlook has also supported nearly 50,000 young people through
UK-based outdoor courses, teacher training and education
programmes.
The participants’ training includes responsible travel
workshops, how to keep an expedition Environmental Log and an
introduction to carbon offsetting. Participants choose for
themselves whether to pay to offset their expeditions through The
CarbonNeutral Company – one of the world's leading carbon offset
and carbon management businesses - which Outlook commissions to
offset the emissions of its own operations.
The aim of the programme is that pupils gain an increased
awareness of their individual impact on the places they travel
through and how to turn this into a positive when possible.
“We believe that travel promotes awareness and that awareness
drives action. Every decision has a maze of pros and cons to weigh
up,” added Rhys. “We are not saying we have all the answers but we
hope that by taking part in our expeditions and programmes, young
people will develop key life skills and be better equipped to form
their own opinions on global issues.”
In addition to youth expeditions, the company runs outdoor
activity courses at its headquarters in Llanberis, Snowdonia, and
at its Scottish facility in Perthshire, as well as at individual
schools throughout the UK, often leading to long and short overseas
expeditions.
The company also provides teachers and youth leaders with Link
Teacher Training courses to enhance their personal and professional
development. Employing 32 full-time and 70 freelance staff, it is
planning to increase its full-time complement as part of the latest
expansion. More information about Outlook Expeditions Ltd can be
found at www.outlookexpeditions.com.
Business advisors on the deal were CIL (commercial due
diligence), Simple Effective Solutions (management due diligence),
Hugh James (legals for Finance Wales plc) and M&A Solicitors
(legals for Outlook).
For more information, please contact:
Helen Walker-Smith
Tel: 029 2033 8149
E-mail: helen.walker-smith@financewales,co.uk