With over 50 years experience, PGL is the UK’s leading operator of School Trips, Activity Holidays for 7-17yr olds and a Family Active product – allowing parents to join in the fun too. We wanted to see just what makes PGL tick and why it’s appeal to children, parents and schools is so enduring. Flying Start spoke to PGL’s Marketing Executive Claire Hughes to find out.
The company, founded by Peter Gordon Laurence, started out as a canoeing specialist in the Wye Valley in 1957 (on the border between England and Wales). PGL then expanded into Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s the ‘PGL Experience’ was based on three main activities – canoeing, sailing and pony trekking, with accommodation in tents. PGL’s initial market was “young adults”, but during these early years the company established a key position in the organised school group market.
Over 50 years of experience later, there are 17 PGL Activity Centres throughout the UK and France offering everything from multi activity to specialist holidays including pony trekking, motorsport, surfing or dance!
PGL offers two main types of holiday.
Adventure Holidays and Summer Camps
This is where PGL really becomes ‘Parents Get Lost’ – a fantastic range of holidays for unaccompanied children from 7-17 years old. This guarantees an action packed daily programme, fun evening entertainments, friendly staff and the chance to make lots of friends. Holidays are offered at our centres in the UK and France throughout the school holidays.
Family Holidays
PGL decided to let the adults have some of the fun as well with activity holidays for all the family at selected centres in the UK and France. Their ‘Family Active’ holidays give families the chance to get out and discover the great outdoors, challenge themselves, spend time together and learn some new skills. These holidays include food, accommodation, tuition, equipment, use of centre facilities (e.g. swimming pool, games room, bar) and a full evening entertainment programme.
From the children’s point of view kids everywhere believe that PGL are the best when it comes to thrills, challenges and adventures – all rolled into one fantastic holiday! Children leave PGL with loads more friends, interests and feeling more confident – and they’re counting the days until their next PGL holiday!
For schools, PGL provides outdoor education, study and skiing trips and all in an excellent framework of safety. It is a founder member of the British Activity Holiday Association and a licence holder from the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and many activities have regulatory body approval. PGL promotes risk awareness, assessment and management so that children learn to remain safe. All of these things have led schools to entrust their pupils into PGL’s safe hands.
Happy to get excellent feedback from both children and schools, no wonder that parents wanted in on the act.
With all three areas covered there’s no wonder PGL is going from success to success.
Contact PGL via their web site at www.pgl.co.uk or by email on enquiries@pgl.co.uk or by phone on 0844 371 0101 and be assured of a friendly and helpful welcome.
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