MQL launches dedicated Holiday Home Division
Miriad Quest Leisure (MQL) has launched a dedicated Holiday Home Division, supplying caravan parks, holiday home operators and industry professionals across the UK. The division offers caravan and static holiday home parts, including appliances, plumbing equipment and furniture from leading suppliers. Customers can also access specialist and hard-to-source products, plus replacement solutions for obsolete items. Expert technical support and next-day delivery on orders placed before 3pm help customers find the right parts and keep their businesses running smoothly. The team supports both independent holiday parks and national operators, with products and advice tailored to their needs. Explore the Holiday Home range Meet the team Two experienced industry professionals will lead the division. James Fischer – Product Manager James brings more than 28 years’ leisure industry experience, including business development and account management roles at LKQ Leisure & Marine and ApelsonAppliances UK Ltd. He also has practical site maintenance experience with ParkdeanResorts. Mobile: 07889 112828 Email: jfischer@mql.co.uk Shirley Herbert – Sales Manager Shirley has over 20 years’ industry experience, with a background in account management and internal sales at Arleigh International Ltd, Unipart Leisure and LKQ Leisure & Marine. Mobile: 07889 112819 Email: sherbert@mql.co.uk Together, James and Shirley bring product knowledge and first-hand understanding of the challenges facing caravan parks and holiday home operators. Established industry support MQL has supported manufacturing, retail and repair businesses since 1977. Operating from Uttoxeter and Nuneaton, it combines extensive stockholding with technical expertise and round-the-clock access to its online product portal. The company is a member of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA), National Caravan Council (NCC) and Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA), supporting its commitment to industry standards and developments. Open a trade account Open a trade account to access the expanding holiday home range as products become available to order. For help opening an account, sourcing parts or learning more about the division, contact Holiday Home Sales: Telephone: 01283 586045 Email: holidayhomesales@mql.co.uk
Keep every corner of your holiday park connected
From a routine maintenance call to a guest who needs urgent assistance, clear communication helps holiday park teams work together. Apex Radio Systems explores how operators can keep staff connected across the site while supporting guest service, operational efficiency and staff safety. A holiday park can feel like several businesses operating within one site. Reception welcomes arriving guests, housekeeping prepares accommodation, maintenance keeps facilities working, and leisure, hospitality and security teams manage their own busy schedules. For guests, these activities should come together as one seamless experience. Behind the scenes, that depends on people sharing information and reaching the right colleague when something needs attention. A maintenance issue in a lodge, a delayed accommodation handover or a guest needing assistance away from reception can quickly involve several departments. When staff cannot contact one another easily, small problems can take longer to resolve. Reliable communication deserves the same attention as other operational essentials. It helps teams coordinate their work, supports staff who need assistance and gives managers a clearer picture of what is happening across the park. Start with the way your park operates Every park has different communication requirements. A compact touring site will have different needs from a large holiday resort with accommodation, restaurants, entertainment venues and extensive grounds. Before choosing equipment, operators should consider who needs to speak to whom, where those conversations happen and what might prevent a message getting through. Can reception reach maintenance without leaving the desk? Can housekeeping report a problem while moving between accommodation? Can an evening team contact the duty manager from the far end of the site? These practical questions provide a useful starting point. Existing buildings, terrain and working patterns should all inform the solution, alongside plans for expansion or changes in staffing. The aim is to make communication straightforward enough that staff use it confidently throughout their shift. Help everyday tasks move forward Many communication challenges begin with ordinary requests. A guest reports a faulty appliance. A member of housekeeping finds a room that needs maintenance. Reception needs to confirm whether accommodation is ready. Two-way radios allow staff to share short messages without repeatedly dialling individual colleagues. Where appropriate, a group call can keep the relevant team informed at the same time. That can help departments coordinate tasks and reduce unnecessary journeys back to an office or reception desk. It also supports clearer handovers: someone can acknowledge the request, confirm who is responding and provide an update when the work is complete. For busy parks, the value lies in making these everyday exchanges easier. Guests may never see the communication system, but they experience the service it helps teams deliver. An approved photograph of a two-way radio being used by a maintenance or housekeeping team member. Suggested caption: Simple, direct communication helps reception, housekeeping and maintenance coordinate tasks across the site. Plan for moments when support matters Alongside routine operations, teams need a clear way to ask for help when an unexpected situation occurs. A guest may become unwell, a member of staff may encounter aggressive behaviour, or a problem may require several departments to respond together. In these situations, staff need to know how to contact the right people and communicate their location clearly. Some radio systems offer features such as emergency alerts and lone-worker functions. Their suitability depends on the equipment, configuration and working environment, so operators should discuss the specific requirements before selecting a system. Technology should support established procedures. Staff still need to understand who receives an alert, what action follows and how the park manages incidents. A communication review is therefore an opportunity to look at both equipment and working practices, helping ensure the two fit together. Check coverage where staff actually work A radio that performs well beside reception may behave differently inside a plant room, behind a building or at the edge of the grounds. Coverage should be assessed in the places staff use throughout the day, including accommodation areas, service buildings, leisure facilities and quieter parts of the site. Depending on the park, the answer may involve conventional two-way radios, a repeater system or cellular push-to-talk technology. Each approach has different requirements, and cellular options depend on suitable network connectivity. Practical testing helps operators understand those requirements before committing to equipment. It also highlights whether existing radios remain suitable or whether changes to the site have created new gaps. Accessories deserve consideration too. Earpieces, headsets, charging arrangements and carrying options can make equipment easier to use in different roles. Support frontline staff appropriately For teams dealing with challenging interactions, body-worn cameras may form part of a wider approach to staff safety and incident management. They can provide a record of an interaction when deployed appropriately. However, operators should consider where cameras are needed, who will use them and how recordings will be managed. Clear policies, staff training and appropriate arrangements for privacy, access and retention are essential. Cameras should complement communication systems and incident procedures. The right approach will depend on the park and the responsibilities of its frontline teams. An approved body-worn camera product photograph or a genuine team photograph. Suggested caption: Communication and recording technology should be selected around staff roles and supported by clear procedures. Build a solution that fits your team A successful system needs to work for the people carrying it. Ease of use, battery requirements, durability and training all influence whether equipment becomes a dependable part of daily operations. Operators should also consider seasonal demand. Purchasing may suit established year-round requirements, while hire can help support temporary teams, events or periods of increased activity. Apex Radio Systems supplies and hires two-way radios, body-worn cameras and cellular communication solutions. Its team can help operators consider their site, staff roles and operational priorities when exploring the available options. As a Motorola Solutions approved Platinum Supplier, we’d be happy to assist your needs. For park owners, the starting point is simple: identify where communication currently slows work down or makes it difficult to get support. Addressing those
Wicksteed Celebrates 150 Years of British Manufacturing
In 2026, Wicksteed proudly marks 150 years of British manufacturing in Digby Street, Kettering. Founded in 1876, Wicksteed has built a legacy of engineering excellence, innovation, and quality UK manufacturing that continues to shape our business today. Our origins lie in pioneering engineering — from manufacturing the world’s first hydraulic hacksaw and inventing a bread slicing and buttering machine, to developing early automatic car gearbox technology. This rich history of British engineering innovation laid the foundations for Wicksteed’s future success. In 1918, Wicksteed entered the world of play – a move that would go on to shape generations of childhoods across the UK and beyond. For more than a century, we have remained dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-quality, safe, inclusive, and imaginative playground equipment. Today, Wicksteed is proud to be recognised as the UK’s leading playground equipment manufacturer, supporting local authorities, councils, schools and communities nationwide. Beyond this milestone, our focus continues to grow. We design and supply steel, timber, inclusive, and bespoke play equipment, drawing on an in-house design team that works closely with local authorities, councils, schools, and holiday parks to create play spaces suited to their specific needs. From standard ranges to fully bespoke schemes, our approach is built on the same engineering foundations that have shaped our work for over a century. Here’s to 150 years of Wicksteed, 150 years of British engineering, and over a century of creating inspiring places to play for generations to come. To find out more, get in touch today for a FREE site visit and consultation. Web: www.wicksteed.co.uk Telephone: 01536 517028 Email: sales@wicksteed.co.uk
The Holiday Park Awards – a new platform to celebrate the very best of the UK holiday park industry
Entries for the inaugural Holiday Park Awards open this September, creating a new independent platform to recognise excellence, share best practice and bring the sector together. By Melanie Brook MCIM, Founder of the Holiday Park Awards The UK holiday park industry has plenty to be proud of. Independent and family-owned parks sit alongside larger groups, supported by specialist suppliers, advisers and service providers. Together, they create memorable holidays, careers and significant value for local communities. Much of the work behind that success happens quietly. Teams solve problems, improve guest experiences, invest in their parks and raise standards every day, often without recognition beyond their own businesses. The Holiday Park Awards has been created to change that. Launching this autumn, the new awards programme will provide an independent platform dedicated specifically to the UK holiday park sector. Its purpose is straightforward: to celebrate excellence, encourage the sharing of good practice and strengthen connections across an industry built on long-term relationships and trust. Recognition with a wider purpose The awards are designed to recognise the people, parks, teams and businesses making a positive difference across the sector. That includes the achievements visitors see, such as exceptional customer experiences and high-quality facilities, as well as the less visible work taking place behind the scenes in leadership, marketing, operations, sustainability, accessibility and team development. The ambition extends beyond one evening. The Holiday Park Awards will become the flagship of a year-round platform focused on three ideas: celebrate, educate and collaborate. Recognition matters, but so do opportunities for operators and suppliers to learn from one another, build relationships and support the sector’s development. Independence will sit at the heart of the programme. In an increasingly competitive market, and at a time when the reputation of the wider sector can sometimes be affected by the actions of a minority, credible recognition has real value. The awards will highlight businesses that are investing in their customers, their teams and their communities, while encouraging the transparency and high standards that help build public confidence. The idea grew from conversations with people working across the industry. Again and again, the same themes emerged: operators wanted recognition that understood the particular realities of running a holiday park, suppliers wanted meaningful ways to support their customers, and teams deserved an opportunity to see their work celebrated on a national stage. That feedback has helped shape a programme rooted in the sector itself, rather than one borrowed from wider hospitality. Key dates for the inaugural awards Entries will officially open on 22 September 2026, giving holiday parks and industry businesses the opportunity to put forward their achievements from the past year. Entries will close on 20 November 2026. Judging will take place throughout December 2026 and January 2027, followed by final deliberations. Finalists will be announced in mid-February 2027. The programme will culminate in the inaugural Holiday Park Awards ceremony at Sandy Park in Exeter on 22 April 2027. The evening will bring together park owners, operators, managers, teams and suppliers from across the country for a celebration of the people and organisations moving the industry forward. Businesses considering an entry can start preparing now, well ahead of September: identify the strongest story, gather evidence and results, and speak to the team members who delivered them. The most compelling entries are rarely those with the biggest budgets; they clearly explain the challenge, the action taken and the difference it made. An opportunity for the whole industry The strength of any awards programme depends on the breadth of the industry it represents. For that reason, the Holiday Park Awards is being developed to feel relevant and accessible to businesses of different sizes, from long-established family parks to growing groups and specialist suppliers. Excellence can look very different from one organisation to another, and the programme aims to recognise progress, innovation and impact in context. It is also an opportunity to bring together a sector that is geographically dispersed but closely connected. The awards night will create space to celebrate with colleagues, meet new contacts and strengthen existing partnerships. For finalists, it will offer valuable third-party recognition that can be shared with teams, customers and local communities. For the wider industry, it will create a growing bank of positive stories that demonstrate the quality, resilience and ambition found throughout the holiday park sector. A robust judging process will be essential to earning that confidence. Entries will be assessed against clear criteria by judges with relevant experience, with the December and January timetable allowing proper consideration before the finalists are agreed. Sponsors will help make the programme possible, but commercial involvement will remain separate from judging decisions. Sponsorship opportunities remain available The programme is already supported by a growing group of industry partners, reflecting strong confidence in the need for dedicated, independent recognition. Headline sponsor Parks in Video is joined by Holidaymaker App, Pitched, Metpow, HPL Recruitment, ParklinkSupply Parks, Holistic Thinking Holidays, Ruth Badger Consultancy, ParcVu Booking Experts and Walter Geering. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses that want to align their brand with excellence in the sector and play an active role in establishing the awards from the beginning. For suppliers and professional service businesses, becoming involved in the inaugural year offers a chance to support the industry, celebrate customers and colleagues, and be part of a new platform as it grows. Organisations interested in the remaining opportunities are encouraged to make contact early, as availability across the sponsorship levels is limited. A celebration the sector can share The first Holiday Park Awards will mark an important milestone, but the longer-term goal is broader: to build a trusted platform that helps the industry grow, connect, learn and celebrate success. The UK holiday park sector is full of people doing remarkable work, and their stories deserve to be seen. From 22 September, those stories can begin to take centre stage. Find out more: holidayparkawards.co.uk
Combined Heat and Power that works under all circumstances
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a proven technology that has helped businesses cut energy costs for decades. By generating electricity and heat efficiently from a single fuel source, CHP can sharply reduce electricity bills while only modestly increasing fuel costs. However, due to the most common technology available for CHP application being a gas engine, which only run effectively on natural gas, it has been restricted to use to by businesses on the grid. Microturbine technologies, provided by Capstone Power Solutions have no such restrictions. Capable to running on multiple gaseous fuels, including commonly used LPG, it is available to all businesses, no matter where they are located. Capstone Microturbines also offer other great benefits, that help improve your sustainability and profitability. • Lowest in class emissions – Ensuring the clean air around your business remains that way • Minimal maintenance requirements – With only one moving part maintenance downtime and costs are kept low • No coolant or oil requirements – Reducing risks of environmental damage through spills and not adding to your COSHH requirements • Heating resilience – Provides extra heating capacity, so a boiler failure no longer means a loss of hot water • Electrical resilience – Turbines can run off-grid, allowing for critical electrical systems to keep running in the event of a power cut To find out more about Capstone Microturbines and how they can benefit your business, contact Capstone Power Solution on 01422 400021 or info@capstonepowersolutions.co.uk http://www.capstonepowersolutions.co.uk /
How to plan for changing guest expectations
Holiday park operators should consider how their accommodation can continue to meet changing guest expectations, according to longstanding lodge manufacturer Pinelog. Research by VisitEngland in 2025 found that 29% of UK adults had searched specifically for sustainable holiday accommodation. Mintel has also identified growing interest in holiday parks among Gen Z, alongside an increase in solo and adult-only visits. Pinelog Sales Account Manager Judy Barwell said: “Pinelog has been in the holiday park sector for more than 40 years and has seen significant changes in what guests look for from their accommodation. “Expectations have continued to develop since the 2020 Covid pandemic particularly around comfort, flexibility and quality.” Future accommodation investment by holiday parks should take account of changing visitor profiles, operating costs and environmental considerations, as well as the number of units available. Judy added: “Year-round use is becoming increasingly important for many operators as they look to extend their seasons and improve occupancy.” Insulation, thermal performance, ventilation, energy efficiency and long-term running costs should all be considered when selecting new accommodation. “BS3632 is the gold standard when it comes to energy performance,” added Judy. Layouts should also reflect how guests use lodges today. Open-plan living remains popular, while en-suite bedrooms, utility areas, outdoor spaces and features such as hot tubs and saunas can add value for different audiences. A varied mix of lodges can help parks appeal to extended families, couples, pet owners and guests seeking accessible accommodation. Judy said: “Quality, durability and adaptable design has always been integral to Pinelog. “This approach has enabled holiday parks to respond to changing customer needs and is a key reason for our longevity in the sector.” To find out how a Pinelog lodge could help maximise year-round income at your holiday park, contact 01246 942842 or visit www.pinelog.co.uk.
Park owners and visitors urged to share their views in vital new tourism research
Industry leaders have launched a new project to better understand the economic impact and wider benefits of holidays taken across all forms of accommodation on UK holiday parks and campsites. They are running two surveys – one for park owners and operators and another for visitors. The project is being led by the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance (UKCCA), of which both HARPA and the NCC are members. The work builds on the success of the UKCCA’s influential Pitching the Value reports (2019 and 2024), which demonstrated the sector’s enormous contribution to UK tourism. The 2024 study found that holiday parks and campsites generated £12.2bn in visitor spending, contributed £7.2bn GVA, and supported 226,745 FTE jobs across the UK. These findings continue to be instrumental in securing investment, shaping policy discussions, and strengthening the sector’s voice at both national and local levels. With key government decisions affecting tourism businesses now being formed, updated evidence is essential. Park owners and operators are encouraged to complete the online survey, with the results expected in 2027. They will include data at UK, country and regional level and will be useful to the sector as a whole, supporting lobbying and campaign activity and helping to demonstrate the sector’s wider economic contribution to policymakers and local authorities. The findings will also be valuable to individual holiday parks and campsites when applying for planning permission. In order to make the data robust and representative we need your help and would be grateful if you would complete this survey. Meanwhile, the UKCCA is also urging parks to encourage their guests to share their staycation experiences. The national visitor survey examining domestic tourism comes at a time when more holidaymakers are seeking flexible, affordable and sustainable breaks closer to home, with demand for UK holidays continuing to grow and evolve. It will gather insight into visitor expectations, travel habits and holiday experiences. As a thank you for taking part, respondents will be entered into a prize draw to win a UK holiday. Prizes include: • A four-night stay at Braithwaite Village Camping and Caravanning Club Site in the Lake District • A three-night stay in Experience Freedom glamping accommodation (from the Caravan and Motorhome Club) UKCCA spokesperson Bob Hill, of Bob Hill Leisure Consultancy, said: “Despite ongoing economic pressures and changing customer expectations, the holiday park and campsite sector remains resilient and forward-looking. Operators across the UK are continuing to invest and improve their parks, accommodation, facilities and sustainability initiatives, demonstrating their confidence in the future of domestic tourism and the enduring appeal of holiday parks and campsites. “The sector already contributes more than £12 billion in visitor expenditure to the UK economy and supports more than 226,000 jobs, particularly in rural and coastal communities. Holiday parks and campsites are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, from supporting local employment and businesses to championing community projects and charitable initiatives, the sector plays an important role in local economies and social wellbeing. “This research will help build a clearer picture of what today’s holidaymakers value most from UK breaks, while also highlighting the sector’s contribution to jobs, investment and regional tourism economies.” The surveys are open now and take only a few minutes to complete. The park owner/operator survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UKCCAWPOperator26 For the guest survey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UKCCAPR
Caravan Park & Camping Site Outdoor Care: A Practical UK Operator Guide
In today’s competitive caravan and camping industry, first impressions matter more than ever. Guests expect more than just a place to pitch – they’re looking for clean, well-maintained surroundings, durable grass areas and safe, accessible facilities. For site owners and franchise operators, delivering this consistently across the season can be a challenge. This guide, created by the experts at ProGreen, outlines the key outdoor areas to focus on, and how to manage them effectively year-round. 1. Start with Strong, Durable Grass Pitches Grass pitches take the greatest strain on any site. Between vehicle movement, foot traffic and the unpredictable UK weather, it doesn’t take long for pitches to become worn, patchy or muddy. Best practice: • Use a high-wear, fast-recovering seed mix designed specifically for caravan sites • Overseed regularly to prevent thinning • Repair worn areas early to avoid pitch downtime ProGreen’s specialist caravan grass seed is formulated to thrive in UK conditions, delivering reliable growth and strong recovery able to withstand heavy use. For operators, this means faster turnaround between bookings, less time spent on repairs and consistent quality throughout the season. For guests, it creates a much better experience, thanks to firmer ground, less mud and a cleaner finish. 2. Keep Hard Surfaces Clean, Safe & Presentable Hard surfaces such as pathways, patios, decking and access roads are just as important as the pitches themselves. If they aren’t maintained, not only do they quickly become unsightly, but they can also create safety hazards, with slippery surfaces posing a risk to guests and staff alike. Best practice: • Treat problem areas regularly, not reactively • Focus on shaded and high-moisture zones • Build surface cleaning into routine maintenance schedules Products like AlgoClear Pro hard surface cleaner are designed to tackle algae and organic growth quickly and effectively, helping restore surfaces with minimal disruption. 3. Implement a Proactive Weed Control Plan Weeds don’t just affect appearance – they signal poor maintenance to guests and can quickly spread across both grassy and hard surfaces. Common problem areas include edges of pitches, fence lines and boundaries, and gaps in paving and access routes. Best practice: • Move from reactive to planned weed control • Treat early to prevent escalation • Ensure you are using selective and total weed control depending on your requirements A structured weed control programme helps maintain a clean, consistent look across the entire site, while reducing labour time spent on repeated fixes. ProGreen has a wide range of weed control options, from total weed control, ideal for hard surfaces, and selective weed control for use in grassy areas. 4. Ensure Staff Are Trained & Compliant Using professional-grade outdoor treatments correctly is essential, not just for results, but for safety and compliance. Best practice: • Ensure operators hold relevant certifications (e.g. such as PA6 spraying) • Follow correct application procedures • Prioritise health & safety at all times Training gives your team the confidence to apply products safely and effectively, avoiding costly mistakes or misuse, which maintains standards across the site. ProGreen’s highly-skilled in house trainer can deliver a range of in-person training courses, which can be held at your facilities or their dedicated training facility. Online courses are also available for a number of training needs. 5. Take a Joined-Up Approach to Site Maintenance One of the biggest challenges for site managers is juggling multiple suppliers and solutions.A more effective approach is to treat outdoor maintenance as a joined-up system, where: • Grass, hard surfaces, weed and pest control are managed together • Advice and support on best products and application schedules come from one trusted partner This improves your site’s efficiency, consistency and budgeting, ultimately raising your overall site standards to give your guests the best experience possible. Ready to Raise Your Site Standards? Whether you need advice on the right products, support building a maintenance plan or a tailored quote for your site requirements, ProGreen can help. As a holiday park owner or operator, you can enjoy an exclusive 10% off your first order with ProGreen using code CIPO10 at checkout, or you can quote this code via telephone if you’d prefer to speak to someone. Visit progreen.co.uk to explore the full product range or call the team on 0330 912 8837, who will be able to offer a bespoke quote and maintenance plan tailored to your site.
Moving the Caravan Industry with Confidence
Behind every successful caravan park is a logistics partner capable of delivering units safely, compliantly and on schedule. As a leader in the specialist movement of caravans and portable buildings all over the UK and Europe, Neill & Brown Global Logistics understands the unique demands placed on caravan and park operators. From transporting new units direct from manufacturers to relocating pre-owned caravans between sites, handling oversized and out-of-gauge loads is part of its day-to-day operations. Neill & Brown provides a fully managed, end-to-end service led by Neill & Brown director Stuart Dean. “Abnormal load transport is never simply a matter of getting from A to B; it requires detailed planning, route assessments and strict compliance with legislation,” he says. The Neill & Brown in-house team manages the entire process, securing permits, notifying police, highway and bridge authorities where required. This ensures every movement is completed safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption. “The movement of caravans and park homes demands specialist knowledge and careful coordination,” explains Stuart. “Every route, every load and every client requirement is different, which is why planning and communication are absolutely critical.” The company also operates dedicated abnormal load escort services across Yorkshire, the North East and the North West, helping to protect both loads and other road users. With extensive experience in transporting long, wide and high indivisible loads, Neill & Brown brings reliability and consistency to even the most complex projects. As a fourth-generation family business with more than 100 years of heritage rooted in the Hull and Humber region, Neill & Brown combines a proud history with a forward-thinking approach. Today, it supports a diverse customer base across multiple sectors, offering UK, European and global logistics by road, rail, sea and air. Its services extend beyond transport to include warehousing, customs clearance, packaging and insurance. With more than 200,000 sq ft of secure storage and daily timed collections and deliveries, the company handles everything from general cargo to hazardous and specialist loads. “What sets us apart is our personal approach,” adds Stuart. “We work closely with our customers to make sure every move is delivered safely, compliantly and exactly as planned.” For caravan and park operators, this means a trusted logistics partner that understands the industry and delivers a professional, dependable service every time. Contact Neill & Brown on:
