Strong Man With Gentle Heart

Posted on January 16, 2020

Strong Man With Gentle Heart

ABOVE: In 2002, John passed the baton of Hoburne to chairman to his daughter, Rosie Kennar both pictured here.

Former chairman and non-executive director of the Hoburne Group, John Burry, has died at the age of 88. A strong man with a gentle heart, John had a huge influence on many people’s lives and was an inspiration to everyone at Hoburne and the wider tourism industry.

John was chairman of the Hoburne Group for 38 years, during which time, he not only grew the holiday park business, but he presided over the continuing success of the property and development arm as well. Golf courses were acquired, and hundreds of houses built under the Hoburne Development brand. Industrial and retail units, along with offices, were also constructed. John took on several distinguished roles. He was chairman of the National Caravan Council during the 70s, where he played a key part in the fight to improve standards in services within the industry. He served as Official Verderer of the New Forest from 1993 to 1999 for which he was awarded an MBE and in December 1994, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire. John grew the holiday business by acquiring a further six stunning holiday park locations, but he presided over the continuing success of Hoburne Development until he passed the baton of chairman to his daughter, Rosie Kennar, in 2002.

Today, Hoburne owns eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, plus three golf clubs under the Hoburne Golf brand and a residential and commercial development operation under Hoburne Development. Established in 1912 in Dorset, the family business is now in its fifth generation of the Burry family, creating one of the south’s largest and most successful family-owned tourism companies. John’s support for numerous organisations, charities, and individuals, extended beyond practical input where his expertise and wisdom were always highly valued. Through the Burry Charitable Trust, donations totalling around £1.75 million to date have been made to numerous organisations, and these were often given anonymously because John found it embarrassing to be thanked.

Booming Sales

Posted on November 3, 2017

Booming Sales

Figures released by the National Caravan Council (NCC) reveal the total number of new motorhome and caravan owners had risen to over 56,000 nationwide.

The ‘staycationing’ boom was reflected at the recent West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show with motorhome registrations in the year to the end of June up by 14 per cent to 13,162; new caravan holiday homes and lodges were up by nine per cent to 21,214, and touring caravans were up by seven per cent to 22,185.

The nine-day show, which ran from September 30th to October 8th, attracted around 15,000 visitors with displays at award winning Shrewsbury dealership Salop Leisure showcasing the latest innovations for 2018 with the launch of exciting new models.

Conference Success For NCC

Posted on August 1, 2016

Conference Success For NCC

The 2016 NCC Conference attracted delegates from across the country.

More than 200 delegates from the UK’s caravan industry attended the National Caravan Council (NCC) Conference 2016.

This year’s line-up of guest speakers included Nick King, Insight Director at Autotrader; Carl Castledine, CEO at Away Resorts; Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing at The Caravan Club and Alex Marshall of Management Consultants CIL.

Hot topics included adjusting caravan products for Millennials and developing new ways of promotion. There were also insights into how technology is changing the world, the state of the UK and worldwide economy and how positive thinking can influence business in a positive manner.

Rounding off the successful event was Kevin Keegan OBE, who gave an after dinner speech and helped to raise £2,440 for the NCC Benevolent Fund charity.

John Lally, NCC Director General, said: “From start to finish our speaker line-up was excellent this year, delivering fresh insights and new perspectives while stimulating plenty of debate in the process.

“Getting together as an industry is really important. Following a successful 12 months for many, it remains vital our industry continues to innovate and attract new entrants to the market, to improve its customer service and product quality and embrace self-regulation.”

Blue Sky Thinking

Posted on July 13, 2016

Blue Sky Thinking: Alicia Dunne of the NCC forecasts blue sky prospects for the park home sector…

The UK park home sector can look forward to a bright future on the back of housing shortages and an aging population.

As the UK faces up to an ever-aging population, the park home sector is in an increasingly strong position, believes Alicia Dunne, Deputy Director General of the National Caravan Council. Alicia says improvements to the quality of the accommodation and the broad product offering will continue to make park home living an attractive housing option. “The sector is boosted by technical advantages in construction methods and by its greener credentials and improved energy efficiency provisions,” says Alicia. “With the changing demographics in the UK, demand for this type of flexible and affordable accommodation is likely to increase. With this in mind, changes to planning laws would help the industry to fulfil its potential, and play its full part in solving the country’s current housing shortage.”

UNITED INDUSTRY

The NCC is the trade body for the entire UK ‘caravan’ and recreational vehicle industry, encompassing touring caravans, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes and residential park homes. As such, the NCC’s work in the residential park sector – in the housing footprint - is different from the work it does in the leisure sector. The NCC is committed to promoting the interests of its members in the park home sector – from the manufacturer right through to the park operators.

Says Alicia: “We try to ensure that every park home-related business has a voice – and we have a direct dialogue with our members through our Park Home Strategic Panel and the relevant technical panel.”

Alicia joined the NCC in January 2000 as Policy Advisor before becoming Deputy Director General. Her chief responsibilities are public affairs including representation with government; negotiation with regulatory bodies and advising on impact of new or proposed legislation; policy development; committee administration (NPHC, Parks Section and Caravan Holiday Home Distributors); advice to members on regulatory matters and operation of the NCC conciliation and complaints handling service.

Says Alicia: “The park home sector has made a strong start to 2016, with the number of park homes dispatched by manufacturers up by around 14 per cent on last year.

“This sector follows closely the fluctuations in the residential housing market and the related upturn reflects positively on the demand for this popular form of housing lifestyle.” The park home sector has seen significant regulatory change in recent years and the NCC has maintained a close relationship for over 20 years with Government (Westminster and devolved administrations) and other regulatory bodies to ensure that dialogue is maintained, change is relevant and proportionate, and park members’ views are represented.

Alicia Dunne, the NCC Deputy Director General says the park home sector is in a strong position.

LOBBY GROUP

As Alicia explains: “One recent example was that the NCC engaged with a Minister-led working group in Westminster that is looking at the impact of the Mobile Homes Act (2013) in England ahead of a formal review of the legislation in 2017.” “Over the last few years, there has been primary park home legislation passed in all the constituent parts of the UK and publication of a new construction standard for residential park homes has been issued by the British Standards Institute (BS3632:2015).

One of the main successes of the NCC, in recent years, has been helping to shape the legislation across the UK and ensuring that park members are equipped with the tools they need to maintain compliance. The NCC also helped secure the publication of a new build standard - BS3632:2015 -which raises the bar significantly, especially in relation to increased levels of insulation and in ventilation. The influential body also assisted in the introduction of an Energy Efficiency Rating Scheme for park homes to give consumers an informed choice of product. It is now a mandatory element of product approval.

“The NCC has helped to both shape the legislation and give unique technical advice to the BSI. We provide members with the tools to ensure that they are compliant and can build to the highest standard approved for the sector,” says Alicia

EMBRACING CHANGE

“Our park members have had to embrace many changes to the ways in which they operate their businesses in recent years,” Alicia reflects. “There is a danger that if the regulatory burden continues to increase apace, many of the reputable operators might simply decide to sell up and leave the industry. “Another key challenge relates to the acquisition of planning consents - the overwhelming number of local authorities do not take park home developments into account as part of their planning policy/local development plans,” continues Alicia. “It is important that any definition of affordable housing is amended to explicitly recognise the unique housing contribution and planning circumstances of park homes, in order to deliver land for park development."

National Caravan Council Limited
Tel. 01252 318251
Email: info@thencc.org.uk

Lincolnshire Parks Get Tough On Crime

Posted on September 2, 2015

Lincolnshire Parks Get Tough On Crime

Members of the Caravan Park Watch Scheme at Park Resorts’ Southview Leisure Park in Skegness.

Holiday parks in Lincolnshire have seen a 45 per cent drop in crime levels, thanks to a successful crime prevention scheme in the county.

A partnership between Lincolnshire police, local holiday parks and other stakeholders, the Caravan Park Watch initiative has gone from strength to strength since it was started in 2014 and now has in excess of 50 member parks.

Members of the Caravan Park Watch scheme and the National Caravan Council (NCC)recently met with Boston and Skegness MP, Matt Warman, to brief him on its success in the area.

MP Matt Warman said: “The Lincolnshire Caravan Park Watch scheme is leading the way when it comes to preventing crime and sharing resources and ideas across the sector.

“The huge reduction in crime to date is testament to all the hard work that has been put into developing this important partnership.”

Challenging Outdated Perceptions

Posted on April 20, 2015

The new Freedom To Go campaign aims to introduce a younger generation of holidaymakers to caravan and motorhome holidays.

Challenging Outdated Perceptions

The UK’s largest clubs for camping and caravanning – the National Caravan Council (NCC) and The Camping and Caravanning Club have joined forces to promote the benefits of caravans and motorhomes to a new generation of holidaymakers.

Designed to attract younger audiences to this much-loved style of holiday, the ‘Freedom to go’ campaign will draw on the appeal of the great outdoors and the freedom to explore that owning a leisure vehicle presents and will include a dedicated website plus nationwide advertising.

“A key objective of the campaign is to decrease the average age of leisure vehicle ownership by five years and get new entrants into the market,” commented Jennifer Summers, NCC group marketing director.

“In order to do that, we aim to turn the perception of camping and caravanning on its head and illustrate the appeal of this type of holiday to modern families and adventurous travellers alike. There hasn’t been a better time to convert more British consumers to this type of holiday and grow the market for all types of leisure vehicle ownership.”

The campaign will showcase beautiful British destinations and unique adventures that touring holidays make possible whilst recommending which type of leisure vehicle will suit individual needs and tastes.

Nick Lomas, director general of The Caravan Club added: “This is an important step the industry is taking. The Caravan Club is delighted to help champion this initiative.”

Open Season Showcase

Posted on April 8, 2015

The resident clown on the Holiday Resort Unity stand was popular among the shows younger visitors at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome show.

Open Season Showcase

The UK’s largest start of season holiday showcase, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show descended on the NEC in February and once again proved itself to be an unmissable exhibition.

With over 350 exhibitors and a host of well-known personalities, provided a popular platform for companies to showcase their latest products and innovations. The star-studded line up featured guest appearances from Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell, TV presenter Helen Skelton and DJ and former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler.

Popular TV personalities Ben Fogle and Matt Baker officially opened the show and later took to the Expert’s Theatre for a Q&A session with visitors. Matt, a two times BAFTA winning presenter with a love of the countryside, proved a hit with visitors as he helped to promote the work of The Caravan Club on its stand. Addressing first-day visitors, he said he was encouraged to see so many young people at the show and enthused about the benefits of families getting out and about together.

His counterpart, broadcaster, traveller and adventurer Ben also drew in the crowds as he delighted the audience with accounts of his adventures rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, crossing Antarctica on foot and running across the Sahara.

A highlight of the show was the dog agility displays, which returned to the NEC following the success of last year’s sessions. Demonstrating both agility and obedience, there were performances by Hall Green Retired Greyhound Trust, Romanian Rescue Dogs and Lucy Heath of The Company of Animals to name but a few.

Organised by NCC Events, a wholly owned subsidiary of industry trade body the National Caravan Council and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club, the show brought together all the leading manufacturers, including Bailey, Coachman, Elddis, Lunar, Swift, Trigano, ABI and Adria, not to mention some of the UK’s leading dealers with many special editions to see.

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Impact Of Scottish Parks Revealed

Posted on December 19, 2014

Impact Of Scottish Parks Revealed

The Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum (SCCF) undertook an assessment of the economic impact of the holiday park sector in Scotland.

Holiday parks in Scotland are worth an estimated £700 million to the Scottish economy, according to new figures from the Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum (SCCF).

For the first time ever, the SCCF has successfully gained an accurate picture of the economic value of the holiday park industry in Scotland, following a major survey across the country.

The research has identified the significant contribution which holiday parks make to the Scottish economy, as a result of visitors’ spend and expenditure by park owners in operating their parks. Results of the survey also reveal that over 5,680 full-time jobs are created by the holiday park sector alone.

David Key, a representative of the National Caravan Council and chair of the SCCF commented: “The Committee is delighted with the results, because we have, for the first time, established the value of this sector to the economy. £700 million is a significant contribution, as are the 5,688 FTE jobs.

“Caravan parks are important to the rural economy because of the jobs they provide and the money spent by their visitors. This report enables the SCCF and the sector as a whole to present robust data to the Scottish Government, to local authorities and to tourism organisations.”

The findings confirm that the holiday park sector attracts a large number of non-Scottish tourists, with 57 per cent of all holidaymakers to Scottish parks visiting from outside of the country. Visitors tend to take a holiday or short break on a holiday park several times over the course of a year, with renters and tourers taking, on average, 4.1 holidays per year, and owner-occupiers taking, on average, 9.1 trips per year.

Forty-five caravan park operators took part in the survey - some of whom operate more than one park - who, together, provided information on 89 parks. An online survey was undertaken of 7,034 people who had taken a holiday on a holiday park in Scotland in either 2013 or 2014.

Holiday Snaps: Rod Tucker

Posted on September 19, 2014

Holiday Snaps: Rod Tucker

Rod Tucker is the managing director of Hoburne Ltd and Burry and Knight Ltd, which run seven holiday parks and three golf courses. Rod was previously CEO at Haulfryn Group and was chairman of the National Caravan Council from 2010 to 2012.

How do you see the UK Holiday industry at the moment?

Both the caravan sales and rental markets are buoyant for quality holiday parks. People are booking more breaks last minute and there is a growing trend of families taking more short breaks rather than one long holiday. It’s the same picture with holiday home sales; people are looking to get away at weekends and for shorter mid-week breaks.

What are the main challenges facing the industry?

It comes down to legislation; the VAT on tourism being so much higher in the UK than the rest of Europe penalises British holidaymakers and more red tape doesn’t help any business. Despite assurances from the Government about cutting red tape, it’s not happening.

How have customer expectations changed during your time in the holiday business?

I have been in this industry for 40 years and naturally in that time I have seen huge changes. People want better facilities in the way of swimming pools and gyms and they demand more quality accommodation. Top of the range accommodation at Hoburne gets fully booked very quickly, but even standard caravans have double glazing and central heating now. It’s a far cry from when I started.

If you had to identify one element, what is the most crucial aspect of your business?

Customer service, without a doubt. Hoburne is a family-owned and run business, not venture capitalist-backed, and Holiday Snaps Rod Tucker is the managing director of Hoburne Ltd and Burry and Knight Ltd, which run seven holiday parks and three golf courses. Rod was previously CEO at Haulfryn Group and was chairman of the National Caravan Council from 2010 to 2012. Rod Tucker, Hoburne Holiday Parks has a very loyal customer base. Customer service is at the heart of all we do and our reputation for quality, fairness and value is something we work hard to protect.

What has been your most interesting experience in the industry?

I had a very interesting couple of years as chairman of the National Caravan Council. I got to meet some really interesting people and work with great companies, like Hoburne. I also enjoy upgrading holiday parks, making improvements and introducing better facilities.

What does a typical day in the office for you entail?

There is no such thing. I may be in the office having meetings or I may be out visiting the parks, or our golf courses or housing developments; meeting managers and looking at ways to move the business forward. I am not one for sitting in the office; I like to be out and about.

What is the best piece of business advice you've been given?

Two things; firstly to be honest and frank with everyone. Secondly, to ensure the presentation of the parks is right because you don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Where do you go on holiday?

Outside of this country, I like Greece and Italy, but I love travelling generally, abroad and in the UK. Children are so happy with swimming pools, playgrounds, entertainment and beaches or wide open spaces to play in.

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