Willerby welcomes founder’s family for 80th anniversary VIP tour
The family of the man who founded leading holiday home manufacturer Willerby have enjoyed a VIP tour of the company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities. Jean Morris, the only child of Willerby’s founder, Walter Allan, travelled from her home in Devon to the company’s site in Hull for the occasion. The visit reunited 92-year-old Jean with her father’s legacy as Willerby begins a special year marking the 80th anniversary of the business. Jean was joined by her sons, Simon and Andy, and daughter-in-law Patricia for the memorable visit, during which they met Willerby colleagues, toured the impressive facilitiesand stepped inside Willerby’s newest model. Jean said: “I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to come back to Hull and see the current Willerby site. I’m completely amazed by it. “The thing which surprises me the most is the size and scale of the operation. My father started this business as a one-man band from a small shed and it’s grown to such an impressive scale. “I don’t think he could have ever imagined what it would look like all these years later, but I know he’d be delighted!” This year marks the 80th anniversary of Jean’s father founding the business. After moving to the Hull area from London in the early 1940s with his wife, Margery, and a young Jean, Walter Allan opened a saw mill and timber business in nearby Beverley. It was in 1946 that Walter transferred his business know-how and creative thinking into building caravans, driven by the emergence of caravan holidays in the post-war period. Walter was then a resident of Willerby, on the outskirts of Hull, hence the name of the new business. Following her father’s death in 1970, and since moving away from Yorkshire, Jean had lost touch with Willerby and was unaware of how much the business had grown. After reading a media article about the company’s achievements last year, Jean called Willerby’s head office to say her father would be proud to see how far the business he founded had come. The Willerby team jumped at the chance to reunite with Jean and invited her to take a tour of a modern Willerby holiday home at a luxury holiday park in Cornwall, close to where she lives. Following that reunion, Willerby invited Jean and her family to visit Hull, to tour Willerby’s facilities and see how the business her father founded has developed. The visit began with a meeting with Chief Operating Officer, Nicola Budge, and Chief Commercial Officer, Darren Black, who welcomed the family to the site and told them about the company’s operations today. Willerby Production Director, Aaron Cambridge, and Production Manager, Mark Cook, then led the manufacturing area tour, which took the family along one of Willerby’s fast-paced production lines, enabling them to see the entire process of how a holiday home comes together. During the tour, Jean and her family also had the opportunity to meet many of Willerby’s dedicated team members, including some of the company’s longest-serving colleagues whohave been with the business for over 40 years. Jean said: “My father really cared about his workforce and he was well-liked and respected by all his employees, so he’d be thrilled to hear so much positive feedback from colleagues who work for the business now. “Ensuring his employees were treated well was close to my father’s heart, so he’d be delighted to know that that ethos is still firmly at the heart of the business today. “He was also very innovative, creative and came up with numerous new products and ideas during the early days of Willerby, so it’s fantastic to see how the company is continuing to innovate and develop new industry-leading products.” The family also visited Willerby’s Showground and looked around the latest edition of Willerby’s flagship model, the Vogue. Production Director Aaron Cambridge said: “It was a privilege to meet Jean and her family and show them around our facilities, especially as we’re beginning a very special year marking 80 years since her father founded the business “I’ve spent my entire career in this industry and it has given me a brilliant working life, so I owe a lot to Walter for the part he played in not only founding Willerby, but being at the very forefront of starting the holiday home industry as a whole. “It was a pleasure to hear more about the early days of the business, as well as find out about what kind of person and employer Walter was. From Jean’s description and stories, I definitely think I would have got on with him!” The visit was not only special for Jean, but was also incredibly poignant for her sons Simon and Andy, who have fond memories of their Grandad from their early childhood. Simon said: “Mum has always been so immensely proud of her father and has always talked about him so fondly, sharing many happy memories of his time at the helm of Willerby. “As a family we’re delighted that she has had the opportunity to see what has become of her father’s business, which started from humble beginnings and has gone through such an impressive evolution.”
Cumbria park’s guides lead to cheque-in for Air Ambulance
Willerby cuts energy bills for holiday home owners and parks with new sustainability standard
Holiday homes market leader Willerby is introducing a new, ground-breaking standard specification for its models to cut their carbon emissions, make them more energy efficient, cutting energy bills meaning they are cheaper to run. Willerby is the first UK holiday homes manufacturer to introduce any kind of sustainability standard and the only one to offer a green build specification across the board. Willerby’s new GreEN Standard will apply to all static caravans1 manufactured from October 2022 and will be adopted in the design and production of all future new models. The change is the most significant innovation in the holiday homes industry since the introduction of double glazing and central heating. It’s a key part of Willerby’s drive to put sustainability firmly at the heart of all its design processes and manufacturing operations and reinforces the company’s status as the UK holiday homes brand leader. The GreEN Standard will reduce the energy consumption of Willerby’s holiday homes by up to 28%3, compared to models built to the previous specification. The new standard will mean Willerby’s holiday homes … Willerby has carried out comprehensive research into the carbon impact of its holiday homes in order to understand how this can be reduced. This included calculating the embodied carbon – emissions associated with materials and processes during manufacture – as well as the carbon footprint of holiday homes once in use. As a result, Willerby’s new GreEN Standard incorporates: Willerby CEO Peter Munk said: “Our new GreEN standard is a hugely significant development in our ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis. “Our industry has an important role to play in the pathway to a sustainable future and I’m proud we’re leading the way in our sector with the introduction of this new specification. It puts sustainability at the very heart of all our product development and manufacturing operations. “Further improving the energy efficiency of our holiday homes has the additional benefit of enabling owners to make significant savings on their energy bills, which is particularly important at this time when living costs are rising sharply. “Holiday park operators will also benefit from reduced running costs on their Willerby GreEN Standard rental units, as well as this initiative contributing to the increased sustainability of their operations. “In short, this is great for the environment and good for the pocket.” Willerby has worked with several of its customers in the UK holiday parks sector during the research and development project that has led to the introduction of the GreEN Standard. Willerby’s technical director Simon Tempest, the company’s board champion for sustainability, said: “As a major employer, and a leading player in the holiday homes industry, we recognise our responsibility to reduce the carbon impact of our operations. “We’ve done a great deal in this area already, with the introduction of a raft of green initiatives. These include installing biomass boilers at our Hull site which convert waste wood into energy to heat our manufacturing facilities, saving 1,000 tonnes of C02 annually and avoiding hundreds of truck trips to remove this waste. “The introduction of the GreEN Standard is a major leap forward in our sustainability journey and a game-changing innovation for the holiday homes industry.” For more information on the GreEN Standard, go to www.willerby.com/green-standard What it means for holiday home owners The GreEN Standard responds to the ever-growing desire for holiday home owners, like everyone else, to live more sustainably, reduce their energy consumption and save money on fuel bills. What it means for holiday park operators The GreEN standard delivers a series of benefits for Willerby’s customers in the holiday parks sector. 1Due to pitch constraints, our Ashurst models will not be built to the GreEN Standard specification. 212ft holiday homes only. 3Figure based on a Brookwood 40ft x 12ft three-bedroom model and 90 days occupancy. Saving based on 18p per kwh. 4Figure based on a Brookwood 40ft x 12ft three-bedroom model and 270 days occupancy. Saving based on 18p per kwh.
Papa John’s Delivers First Modular Pod to Haven’s Riviere Sands Resort
Leading pizza franchise Papa John’s has literally ‘delivered’ a new store to UK holiday park operator, Haven’s Riviere Sands resort in Cornwall. The new ‘modular pod’ is a new containerised solution, mainly built off site and craned into position ready for the holiday season. Amit Pancholi, business development director, Papa John’s UK explains: “We offer flexible formats for our franchised stores. This may be a mobile delivery unit, right up to a fully built and customized store. We worked together with Haven to develop the Riviere Sands modular pod which now demonstrates Papa John’s flexibility and diverse franchise options suitable for resorts, stadiums, leisure venues, amusement parks and more! “For Haven’s Riviere Sands park the team chose a bespoke modular 12x5m unit which is built off site and delivered on a low loader. The modular pod is an efficient, effective solution that minimizes site construction disruption. Once in situ, finalization of the build, including the heavy items such as oven and refrigeration are added, and connection to be up and running is completed in a matter of days.” Lucy Greene, Brand Opening & Development Manager, Haven confirms: “We are super excited about the modular unit! We lacked space within our existing buildings at Riviere Sands and so the pod is ideal! We have been able to place it precisely where we wanted – in the highest foot-fall area of the park – with minimal disruption for our guests. “Going modular also offers more opportunities to add further Papa John’s to other Haven parks in the future too. The format is totally bespoke, so we could even opt for a larger unit encompassing indoor seating for example. As for now, our guests are certainly enjoying a taste of Papa John’s at our Riviere Sands park.” Haven, part of the Bourne Leisure Group, owned by Blackstone, now has 29 Papa John’s located at its popular seaside holiday parks around the UK. The holiday park operator also opened new Papa John’s at Berwick Holiday Park near Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Wild Duck near Great Yarmouth earlier this year. Amit Pancholi continues: “The delivery of the pod at Riviere Sands is proof of concept that complies with all building regulations and opens up opportunities for leisure venues, stadiums and holiday parks and could even be supplied to be positioned in a pub car park. Planning permission can be easier to obtain depending on site, and with a 40-year design life, the pods can be more cost effective than a long property lease.” For those interested in running a multi-unit franchise or opening-up in a ‘non-traditional’ location, Papa John’s offers incentives in addition to world-class support, comprehensive training and national marketing. As a franchisor, Papa John’s supplies all the assistance needed to get your successful Papa John’s up and running. For further information please see: www.papajohns.co.uk/franchise For further information about Haven please see: https://www.haven.com/
Benefit from years of experience and a bespoke service with Plastica
Benefit from years of experience and a bespoke service with Plastica In March 2022, Plastica celebrated 50th years of trading in the swimming pool industry. The privately-owned business has built a reputation as one of Britain’s leading independent manufacturers and distributors of swimming pool products. Plastica manufactures from its 13,000 square metre factory, located on a 6-acre site in St Leonard’s in East Sussex. It is home to more than 78 loyal staff with years of experience and pride themselves in their commitment to manufacturing and exceptional customer service. Products are created using an impressive combination of state-of-the-art factory equipment and skilled staff crafting handmade parts. Their facility produces a range of products for domestic and commercial markets, including Solar, Heat Retention and Winter Debris Covers, Reels, Pool Liners, Relax Water Treatments for pools and spas and Stainless Steel and bespoke parts, such as Ladders and Handrails and in-house ABS pipework. Some if these products are sourced from different manufacturers from around the globe and many are produced in house which is generally their preference so they can control the quality. At Plastica, they know only too well the energy and money saving benefits of fitting a commercial heat retention swimming pool cover. Fit the right cover on your pool and you will see a reduction in energy bills of an average 23% per annum (figures based on actual independent live trials). Depending on the type of reel system you opt for, a payback period as short as 12 months can be expected. Hundreds of public heated swimming pools in the UK may have to restrict their services or even close their doors to the public this year due to the rising cost of heating the water. Leisure facilities are looking to cut operating costs through measures such as colder water, reduced opening hours, and limited showers. Other energy-saving measures such as LED lighting, variable speed drives, and swimming pool covers can all make a difference to costs. ‘Over 90% of a pool’s heat is lost through its water surface’ Plastica’s Managing Director, Edward Campbell-Salmon said “We have manufactured and installed thousands of commercial cover and reel systems from Olympic sized competition pools to freeform fun pools over the last 50 years. Our customers benefit from our products having unique specification advantages as standard. For example, on our commercial pool covers we provide hemmed edges, double welded seams down the length of pool covers (not the width), reinforced leading edges and stainless-steel reels. All resulting in less stress on the covers to prevent fraying, delamination and tearing, as well as a reduction in general wear and tear and ease of maintenance.” Fast and Efficient Commercial Covers The unique and durable covers almost eliminate evaporation and reduce humidity and condensation. Plastica’s reel systems are made with stainless steel to maximise strength, longevity and ease of maintenance. Plastica offer choices to accommodate any commercial pool requirement. Manual for smaller lighter pool covers and motorised systems – to reduce manual handling for poolside staff. Plastica has earned an enviable reputation for installing cover and reel systems to an agreed schedule. Vital for commercial centres that need to forewarn customers about any short pool closures. One benefit of manufacturing in-house is that it helps to keep control over production and ensures the customer reaps the rewards of a first-class product. With that in mind, let’s look at Plastica’s bestselling in-house Commercial products: 1. Motorised Reel System Fully automated cover and reel systems are increasingly popular. The benefits of fast and efficient cover operations include time savings and reduced manual handling for poolside staff. They include a safety features and ultra-quiet motors with soft start and stop electronics to prolong the life of the cover. 2. Light Motorised Reel System The Light Motorised reel system is ideal for small commercial swimming pools with a maximum 170sq.m cover. It can be used with a key switch and remote control. 3. Leading Edge The foam filled and reinforced leading edge helps the operation of heat retention covers and saves on wear and tear. It is recommended for all covers over 12m long and includes all tow ropes and reinforced reel ends. 4. Piggyback Mobile Reel System This system has proved popular with schools and local authorities. The dual tubes allow one reel system to cover a pool almost twice its width with ease. It can then be moved from the pool edge and stored when not in use. 5. Mobile Reel System This system is ideal for smaller commercial swimming pools and is like the Commercial Piggyback Reel but with one tube/axis. It is manufactured using a 127mm (5”) aluminium tube with nylon end bosses, high-grade polished stainless. 6. Supercover (5mm) Designed to roll perfectly on commercial reels, the 5mm Polyolefine closed cell foam cover has a tough woven top and bottom sheet for heat retention and strength. Available in blue or grey, it can be shaped and hemmed to your specification. 7. Premium (8mm) Heat Retention Cover Reduces costs and saves money by sealing the pool water surface to minimise heat loss through evaporation. The strong polyethylene coated woven top sheet with embossed and sealed underside is suitable for hydrotherapy pools. 8. RaeGuardTM Heat Retention Cover RaeGuard™ offers up to 90% of the insulating performance of a traditional 5mm foam, but with a significant reduction in the material cost. Featuring the unique GeoBubble™ Technology air cell design and enhanced UV stabilisation, RaeGuard™ comes with a 6-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 6-year plus expected lifespan. 9. EXTREME Lining A cost-effective system for lining both old and
Popular Holiday Park Paving
Why choose resin bound paving for holiday parks? The smooth resin bound pathways create a continuous flow through a holiday park and are often used as a guide to lead visitors to the main holiday park complex. Natural colours are the most popular to keep within a parks typically rural setting, however other colours can be used to segment areas of the park such as modern greys for seating or picnic areas or bright vibrant colours in the crazy golf garden. Shapes and patterns can be incorporated also to invioragate the fun areas of the parks entertainment sections. Where can resin bound be used? Walkways Tree surrounds Pool or pond surrounds Access roads Cycle paths Creating attractive outdoor spaces using for park visitors to enjoy will make their experience pleasurable but most importantly as I reputable park you will be providing spaces that are smooth and accessible as well as being easy to maintain. Resin bound gravel cycle paths, walkways, access areas, parking bays, and wildlife areas will look neat and in addition we can blend in unsightly drain covers and unkeept tree pits to hide them without preventing access to drains or limiting trees to water, due to the pavings permeable benefit. Public area upgrades may seem modest, but they can make a world of difference to the overall look and feel of the space. SureSet can make your public outdoor spaces perfect for long leisurely days. https://www.sureset.co.uk/commercial-paving/leisure-paving/
Gym Gear Lands Contract with Welsh Holiday Park Operator
A fitness solution provider has been awarded the contract to install a new gym at a holiday village in Aberystwyth. Preston-based Gym Gear has landed a contract worth £30,000, to provide Vale Holiday Parks, with a new state-of-the-art gym at Clarach Beach Holiday Village, in Aberystwyth. Gym Gear offers high quality commercial gym equipment at affordable prices, with clients including Stay City Group, LinkedIn, IKEA, G4S and NHS. The company’s services include facility layout and gym designs, financing options, and marketing and technical support. Transforming an unused space into a 72 square metre gym, the new offering, will provide the holiday village’s clients with a range of workout options suitable for all ages and abilities. David Bulcock, Gym Gear Director, said: “We have seen an increase in demand for gyms from holiday park operators since the onset of the pandemic. People are invested in their own fitness and wellbeing now more than ever, and for many, being able to work out on holiday really is an added benefit. “We were delighted to win the contract with Vale Holiday Parks, to design and install the gym at Clarach Beach Holiday Village, and we are looking forward to hearing the positive response to the new gym, from the holiday villages guests, this summer.” Vale Holiday Park Director Thomas Scarrott, and the team at Gym Gear, designed a gym with something for everyone. Thomas Scarrott said: “I understand that the needs of our guests are varied, when it comes to fitness and wellbeing, so I wanted to create a gym with a range of equipment for all to use. Our new gym offers a range of cardio and strength machines, and HIIT cardio gym equipment, which is a great option for holiday makers, as they can enjoy a full gym session in just 30 minutes. “I am delighted with our new gym, and the team and I are looking forward to opening the doors to our guests very soon. The service, and the quality of the products provided by Gym Gear has been fantastic, and we are hoping to open a new gym every year in each of our holiday parks, for all of our guests to enjoy.” The gym at Calrach Beach Holiday Village will be available for guests to use from this summer. To find out more about Calrach Holiday Village visit https://www.clarachbay.com/ To find out more about Gym Gear visit https://www.gymgear.com/
Hydratech launch Safeguard antifreeze range for caravans and motorhomes
Hydratech winterisation fluids are used by holiday park operators of all sizes throughout the UK. Their non-toxic, fully inhibited antifreeze solutions are trusted by service engineers and maintenance teams to ensure the smooth running of their operations, avoiding costly frost damage and unplanned maintenance. Safeguard, Hydratech’s new non-toxic antifreeze range has been especially formulated to provide superior winter protection for caravan, motorhome and marine craft wastewater and hydronic heating systems. Giving peace of mind during winter storage, the Safeguard Wastewater product protects toilets and water systems, including tanks, fittings, valves, pumps and drinking water systems. Offering freeze protection down to -46°C and burst protection down to -73°C, the antifreeze formulation is safe for aluminium, copper, brass and standard system plastics. Suitable for winterising hydronic heating systems in static caravans, touring caravans, motorhomes and marine craft, Safeguard Heating antifreeze delivers comprehensive protection against freezing and corrosion. Providing protection down to -40°C, Safeguard Heating’s long-life high temperature rated formulation contains synergistic corrosion inhibitors, that exceed ASTM D1384 standards. The product also contains broad-spectrum biological inhibitors and polyacrylates to prevent scale precipitation. Safe for associated system metals and plastics, Safeguard Heating will not damage standard rubber, hose or gasket materials. As well as being non-toxic, the Safeguard range is readily biodegradable (90% over ten days) and will not remain in the environment or bio-accumulate, making it safer for the application and local environment. Safeguard is available to buy direct from Hydratech in unit sizes from 1000L to 4L. Great emphasis is placed on 24-7 technical support before, during and after the sales process, complimented by an ‘always in time’ approach to stockholding and logistics. Call Hydratech on 01792 586800 or email: sales@hydratech.co.uk
The all electric future has arrived
Innovative electric utility vehicles which are tough and durable, cheap to run, and with zero emissions are now enabling caravan park operators to over come the barriers to environmentally-friendly on-site transport. Two new electric utility vehicles (UTVs) which are both ideally suited to the needs of the caravan park operator have been launched by leading electric UTV specialist Electric Wheels. The Norfolk-based firm, which supplies a range of electric buggies, people carriers and motorbikes for sale and hire, has launched the ‘Nipper’ four-wheel-drive vehicle and the ‘Runner’ two-wheel-drive vehicle. Both vehicles run with zero emissions, and with considerably lower running costs than comparable diesel-powered UTVs. They offer a surprisingly long range from a single charge, which takes six hours from a standard 13 amp socket and costs around £1 – about half a litre of diesel at today’s prices! The ‘Nipper’ can also be registered for on-road use. Both of the new UTVs are available from Electric Wheels on short- and long-term hire, or for outright purchase, offering maximum flexibility for park operators. The all-terrain Nipper is a fully road-legal 4WD UTV, complete with electric rear tipper and powerful 5kW motor giving a top speed of 28mph. Supplied with a lithium-ion battery, it has a range of up to 75 miles on a single charge, and comes with a smart on-board charger fitted as standard. The vehicle is fitted with a high and low range and diff lock, gas assisted adjustable shocks, power steering and a front winch. The 2.8m long Nipper has a cargo bed capacity of 200kg and a towing capacity of 750kg. The Nipper prices start from £12,495 +VAT, and is available to hire from £275 +VAT a week. It can be supplied road-registered. The Runner is an uprated 2WD utility buggy described as a ‘golf buggy on steroids’. The 3.35m long vehicle (a shorter version is also available) has raised suspension, a powerful lithium-ion battery and intermediate tyres. It has a fixed rear bed. The 5kW motor allows a top speed of 15mph, and the 48v lithium-ion battery pack gives a range of up to 62 miles on a single charge. It is fitted with a 16 amp weatherproof plug and a 13 amp adaptor. The Runner costs from £11,250 +VAT, and is available to hire from £235 +VAT a week. “These new vehicles are ideally suited to work within the caravan and holiday park sector, being agile and easy to drive around busy sites,” says Chris Hurdle, managing director of Electric Wheels. “Both vehicles offer whisper-quiet working and zero emissions, two factors which are increasingly important to caravan park operators – and their customers. And with the price of diesel soaring, the lower running costs of electric UTVs is an important consideration. “Both vehicles are fully customisable to suit each operator’s needs, with a whole range of accessory options. “The introduction of these two new UTVs is part of our commitment to overcoming the barriers to environmentally friendly off-road transport.” Since its foundation in 2019, Electric Wheels has grown to be the leading UK supplier of electric buggies, people carriers and motorbikes, with a growing range of innovative vehicles available for sale and hire. The firm has built a strong reputation for product quality, attention to detail and levels of service, and is now one of the UK’s leading suppliers of electric UTVs. Full details of all Electric Wheels electric utility vehicles can be found at www.electricwheels.co.uk.
