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GROWING
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES Profiling a selection of leading companies and their plans for the year ahead
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Word of mouth… Eric Barton checks out local dental care practice Arnica Fear is a strange thing. It can manifest itself in the weirdest and most irrational ways imaginable. I don t really like the idea of swimming in shark infested waters, or having a trudge around the odd ghetto or two at midnight wearing an expensive watch with a camera festooned over my neck. And just like those irrational fears that some of us have, a visit to the dentist can cause all sorts of unnecessary mental barriers. At Arnica Dental Care in Leckhampton, Cheltenham they know only too-well that this trepidation is for some patients very real and not irrational at all. Choosing the right private dental clinic is a very important decision and can be for some, a rather daunting task. We all want a dental clinic that we can trust to look after our oral health and wellbeing. It may be that you’re looking for an experienced cosmetic dentist who can give you the smile you’ve always wanted or even had in the past. You might even have that all too common irrational fear of dentists and require the skills and
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experience of a sedation dentist. Arnica Dental Care is in fact Cheltenham’s leading Dental Sedation Centre and therefore extremely well qualified and experienced to provide nervous, anxious patients with a range of sedation options including gas, air and
intravenous sedation. Arnica is very experienced at helping patients with dental phobias to fully relax and receive treatment. The early year’s story at Arnica Dental Care is one of camper vans, surfboards and a strong yearning by the owner to be one of the best in her professional field within the UK. When Dr. Ellie Ledger BDS FDSRCS (Ellie) qualified from Cardiff University in 1991 she spent her early career working in hospital dentistry, gaining a Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1994. She arrived in Cheltenham literally with a camper van and her surfboard and promptly set about joining the casualty department of Cheltenham General Hospital gaining extensive and valuable experience in maxillofacial surgery. This in short is reconstructive dental surgery after perhaps an accident or deep trauma. Ellie is now a registered specialist in surgical dentistry and regularly accepts referrals from other dentists for complex dental surgical procedures. She has also specialised in treating nervous and
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anxious patients and is qualified to administer various sedation techniques including intravenous sedation. Ellie also places and restores implants, having completed a year-long multisystem dental implantology course at Trafford General Hospital in Manchester over 13 years ago. At Arnica Dental Care they also place Zygomatic dental implants which is a procedure that involves anchoring longer than normal dental implants in the cheek bone. The procedure is considerably less invasive than the traditional sinus lift or bone graft so therefore the patient experiences less discomfort and the whole procedure can be completed in one day. Ellie commented, ‘’ this kind of implant technique produces a permanent fix. Not many dentists are
offering this as yet. In some cases a number of patients’ thought that their condition was too far gone for implants. This not the case now. The finished look produces great looking teeth that also feel fantastic’’. She went on to say, ‘’for some of our patients it’s simply life changing’’. Ellie places and restores implants herself, from simple single-tooth replacements to large bridges and complete mouth implant rehabilitations, keeping herself up to date by attending several courses a year and is also a member of the Association of Dental Implantology UK. So you see it’s a world of professionalism coupled to talent, linked to dedication. Arnica Dental Care is a truly privately owned business. In these days of the big corporate push who wants to have their oral and dental care swallowed up by the ‘big boys’ where sometimes the focus on the individual patient might not be where it needs to be? Dr Ellie Ledger goes on to further comment, ‘’ At Arnica it’s always about striking a balance between the needs of a successful practice and being completely patient focused’’. She goes on to say, ‘’in the last six years we have got bigger and growth has been at a healthy rate. Being focused on the practice itself and the needs of our patients has been key. And the actual growth has in a sense, been by
referral which is testament to our ability’’. She also says, ‘the next three years at Arnica will be very interesting as new techniques become available and of course some expansion of the business could well be on the cards’’. Ellie finally adds, ‘I get personal joy at seeing how we can change someone’s life for the better. I’m also very heartened about being able to remove any pain that a patient may suffering from due to a dental problem’’. It’s an ‘all girl’ team at Arnica which bodes well for that ‘lighter touch’ when it comes to handling patient anxieties. It’s all about being in touch with emotions and confronting them delicately. Arnica Dental Care’s clinic is situated on the tree-lined Leckhampton Road just 15 minutes’ walk from Montpellier, 5 Minutes’ walk from the Bath Road and within easy reach by foot, car or public transport from all areas in and around Cheltenham. For further information and or a friendly chat call Arnica Dental on 01242 655 554 www.arnicadentalcare.co.uk
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000 Business Profile Jelf Feb 15:Layout 1
“The way to succeed in business is to stay focused, be flexible in your approach and deliver on your promises.” Phil Barton
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The rolling stone… Eric Barton crunches the numbers with the JELF Insurance CEO Doing the same old thing is boring. Repetition in any sphere other than say, exercise or eating chocolate can make Jack a very dull boy. Like a shark that continually carves its way through the ocean, change and movement is not only good, but necessary for survival and the evolution of the species. And in a sense just like life and nature, a constantly evolving business model is key to both future growth and stability. The financial colossus that is Jelf was established in 1989 by its founder and deputy Chairman, Chris Jelf. Jelf's core business focuses on the provision of an extensive range of services and advice to companies. It’s a simple ethos and business offer that’s coursing through the very lifeblood of the company. Phil Barton, CEO, Jelf Insurance is a very affable Lancastrian with a financial services background going back more than 30 years. It’s a long, winding path of experience that’s made him one of the most respected professionals in his field. Prior to joining Jelf in 2003 he worked for AXA, where he was the Managing Director (IFA Sales) and Prudential, where he was Sales Director (National Accounts). Since then he has performed a number of roles including Head of Compliance, Group Commercial Director and Group Marketing Director. He was appointed CEO (Insurance) at Jelf in May 2010. Phil Barton commented, “2014 showed phenomenal growth for Jelf Insurance. We returned a 69% profit growth which was a stellar performance’’. Phil added, ‘In December 2014 we were voted National Broker of the Year which meant that we were voted the best out of 6000 brokers by the industry. That’s no mean feat and a real reflection on the high standards we have set at Jelf’’. The insurance business has over 800 staff in England and Wales with their head office in Bristol. As a full service consultancy, Jelf advises businesses across a range of services
including insurance, healthcare, employee benefits, commercial finance and financial planning. Phil went on to comment, ‘’we concentrate on understanding the risks that each client faces; building a bespoke solution that removes or manages these issues’’. In addition to their core focus on the SME market, Jelf has an increasing number of larger corporate clients. It has embraced a new regulatory environment in which the FCA oversees the general insurance, healthcare and mortgage markets. Furthermore, over the past ten years Jelf have made in excess of 40 acquisitions As part of this growth in December 2014 Jelf acquired Yorkshire based insurance brokers, Beaumonts Insurance Group Ltd. Beaumonts have offices in Leeds, Bradford, Shrewsbury and Doncaster, which will join existing Jelf Group offices in Hull, York, central Leeds and Manchester. Phil Barton said: “We were delighted that Beaumonts chose Jelf as their partner for growth. Together Jelf, The Insurance Partnership and Beaumonts have now created a new northern powerhouse stretching from Manchester to Hull’’. He added, “Jelf’s vision is to become the leading insurance broker in the UK, committed to delivering the highest levels of customer service to clients in the local communities in which we work.” Phil Barton goes on to further say, ‘’It’s all about having a strong balance sheet and a solid, well thought-out strategy of organic growth coupled with a planned path of targeted acquisitions’’. He went on to add, ‘’we are all about delivery and our clients will always come first. The business here at Jelf focuses on a simple and common way of working, together with delivering the best business solutions possible. Most of our competitors fail to achieve this’’. It’s very clear that this warm, engaging CEO is a people person who revels in both the success of the Jelf business and the clients they advise. Phil simply says, ‘’ I love working with my team and delivering results.
It’s all about keeping our promises to our clients’’. I’m keen to find out about the Jelf Cheltenham office. Phil Barton says. ‘We have offices spread throughout the UK. Cheltenham is at the very heart of our Gloucestershire operation. It’s a great place to have an office. I actually live in Cheltenham so I should know’’. Jelf intends to continue its growth strategy, driven by both organic activity and cross-selling over all divisions and by acquisitions. The acquisition activity will focus mainly on commercial insurance and healthcare, where there are attractive opportunities to create shareholder value due to the scale economies in these businesses. Phil Barton also comments, ‘the Group will continue to focus on SMEs, as well as larger corporate clients and High Net Worth individuals and may well continue to expand our footprint in England and Wales’’. He adds, ‘’Jelf’s future growth will be underpinned by the core belief that the customer must always come first. Away from work Phil is no couch potato, “I always like to do something full-on. I don’t tend to sit in a corner quietly with a good book. I like undertaking big cycling challenges, particularly for charity and I’m very keen on sport. I’m a bit of an Everton fan, so try to get to games when I can. Phil Barton closes by imparting some business wisdom, saying, ‘’the way to succeed in business is to stay focused, be flexible in your approach and deliver on your promises’’. It’s very plain to see with Phil Barton and the team at Jelf Insurance… that this is one rolling stone that won’t be gathering moss any time soon. Westmoreland House, 80-86 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7JT Tel: 01242 231000 www.jelfgroup.com
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000 Business Profile RE Group Feb 15:Layout 1
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‘Hire’ Success for Recruitment companies Lesha Chaplin-Park talks to Richard East about the growth of RE Resource Group and his diversification into other areas of the recruitment industry Having taken on various employment roles after leaving school, including the position of labourer in a builders merchant in the beautiful town of Hereford where he was raised, Richard East of Bourton-On-The-Water, was lured by the lucrative boom of the 1990’s recruitment industry where he enjoyed success working with leading agencies across Hereford. However, like all great entrepreneurs, Richard soon had a yearning to take his learned knowledge, hone it and set out alone. In 2001 he did just that, launching Re Resource Group, a recruitment agency in Cheltenham focusing on the industrial/warehousing, transport, food/agriculture and commercial sectors. “It was an obvious route for me to take at that time,” says Richard. “I had the passion and dedication to fulfill the often challenging role that is required in the recruitment industry. I had also gleaned a wealth of experience and knowledge in finding and placing the right candidates in the best roles." Combining the two,
Richard East
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along with his passion for business, provided the perfect formula to create an agency that could deliver at a time when the market was saturated with competition. Richard also practiced what he preached when it came to recruiting his own staff and in 2005 he employed a then 23-year-old James Gibb as a consultant specialising in the industrial and transport sectors. “I don't believe that I would have enjoyed such success with RE Resource Group if I wasn’t able to read people in order to place them in appropriate roles. When I met James, I realised straight away that his methodical and dedicated approach would work well with my more relaxed and creative angle.” After several years and several promotions, James became a partner and now overseas the overall running of the business including Finance and Operations for the group which today employs upward of 40 full time staff out of their 3 branches and onsite division.
Of course, no one could foresee the devastating crash of 2008, which plunged the country into a severe recession. However, RE successfully rode the storm, emerging the other side a stronger force with an even bigger presence in the Cheltenham area. “I dislike the term ‘recession proof’ as there have been many excellent companies across all industries who have, for various reasons, found themselves casualties of the downturn in the market”. Continues Richard, “I don't believe there is a magic formula that keeps a company buoyant during such a time. However, what we strived to do at RE was stay focused to our ethos of remaining efficient and cost effective, coupled with a friendly and understanding approach to building and maintaining relationships.” It is this ethos that has enabled the company to grow year on year to the point where this year it is estimated to turn over an impressive £19m and now boasts branches in Gloucestershire,
James Gibbs
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“In 2012 Richard noticed a void in the market for recruitment within the care industry and along with James and director Katie Armstrong, filled that void with the launch of Safehands Recruitment“ Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Not one to stagnate in his comfort zone, Richard is always on the look for a gap in the market relating to the recruitment industry and when he spots one, he pounces on it with the same vigour, ethos and strategy that has firmly positioned RE Resource Group in the No.1 spot for recruitment services in the area. In 2012 Richard noticed a void in the market for recruitment within the care industry and along with James and director Katie Armstrong, filled that void with the launch of Safehands Recruitment; a company specialising in the supply of temporary workers into the Healthcare industry. Appalling news items of careless workers in healthcare in recent times has highlighted the need for efficient, qualified, temporary staff, so much so that a mere 18 months after opening, the reputation of the company has grown to the point that they have recently opened their 4th branch, with more branch openings scheduled for 2015/2016.
Last year, Richard and James once again sought pastures new when they broke into the technical marketplace launching ‘Ambrose Recruitment’ with specialist recruiter Robert Dove. Ambrose is designed to provide permanent, contract and interim recruitment solutions to engineering and manufacturing companies. The job of sourcing skilled personnel for a wide range of businesses nationally was a brave move considering the ongoing lack of engineers available in the UK. “Meeting Robert was the difference between us launching Ambrose or not.” Says Richard. “Robert has a reputation in the industry for his longevity, professionalism and desire to succeed, however what sets him apart is his ability to understand what it is that attracts talented professionals to roles that comprise of executive positions to specialist industries.” The gamble has clearly paid off and since launching in autumn last year, the company has grown to such a degree
that 3 extra staff have been taken on this month to meet demand. “We are now operating on a nationwide basis sourcing graduates through to director level positions across a wide range of specialist industries including; aerospace, defence, automotive, fmcg, automation, process, general manufacturing, warehouse and distribution” says Robert Dove. “Our fast growth sends out a positive sign that the economy has finally recovered after a tough 6 years and whilst the skills shortage is a major challenge to many employers, our combined wealth of experience combined with our investment in IT and marketing, ensures we can access pools of talented professionals to fill these vacancies.” It is the investment as well as the evolution of change largely driven through advances in technology that is having a positive effect on engineering and manufacturing in the UK. This in turn has presented Ambrose with an excellent opportunity to meet the >
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challenges of the industry by working in partnership with some of the countries leading employers to fulfill their specialist recruitment needs. Listening to their clients needs has been a large part of the success for Richard and James, so when the question of training started being asked, they set up RE Training which not only complemented RE Resource Group, but filled a need for many of their clients. “We set up RE Training in 2014 to expand the services that we can offer to our customers in an ever more competitive market.” Says RIchard. “As well as legislative training, we understand that it is beneficial for businesses to offer staff training in a variety of other areas to ensure staff retention, productivity and confidence”. The company have set up a highly trained team of in-house training advisors as well as a pool of highly qualified freelance trainers for their extensive range of courses. Their bespoke training option is also an area proving successful for clients who have specific business needs. Other courses include; management, personnel, care, industrial, hospitality, social media, health & safety, first aid and food safety. Experienced trainers deliver the courses from various accreditation centres such as CIEH, HSE, Maybo, Highfields, City & Guilds and Edxcel. “We
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have listened to our clients and developed courses according to their requirements,” says Charlotte Harrison who has been instrumental in setting up RE Training with Richard and James. "Our most popular course is the Leadership and Management Level 3 – This is a fantastic course that puts the foundations in place for any business. So often we see hard workers that show initiative and intelligence being promoted to supervisors/ Team Leader/ Front Line Managers. However what we also see is that these individuals do not also automatically come with the tool kit required to be a successful manager. What this course does is gives each participant the skill set and confidence to be a successful leader." Another course proving immensely popular is the Food Safety Industry course. This course goes through food safety, hygiene and is tailored to an individuals specific work role. This takes up to 12 months to complete and can be fully funded if the participant meets the eligibility criteria. Like all of the RE Training courses, it enables a business to standardise its workforce, continue professional development and create a career path for their staff. As well as being passionate about the RE Group, Richard is also passionate about supporting a number of charities
and is Chairman of the Beavers Sports Society, which is a platform from which he raises funds each year for various causes. Richard was in fact in the top 3% of fundraisers for 2014 with the ‘Just Giving’ charity. “A good friend of mine recently lost his 5 year old son and the charity ‘Acorns’ were instrumental in making his short life so rewarding. By supporting causes such as Acorns as well as others, I feel as though I am giving something back.” So what does the future hold for Richard and his companies? “We are not a group of people who like to stand still. We have a great team and everyone in each business is passionate about growing their company and we have many plans in place to do just that. So whilst there is no doubt there will be more growth in 2015, one thing will remain the same…the good reputation and level of service that has become synonymous with the name RE Resource Group. www.reresourcegroup.co.uk
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Government funded training, helping you upskill your workforce For more information contact us on 01242 505 505400 5400 or info@re-training.co.uk info@re-tra f aining.co.uk re training, CPS House, 7-9 Ambrose Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3QR
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Excellence through experience Laura-Jayne Roberts reveals how motoring enthusiasts will be taken to indulgence-filled heights by luxury brand Top Marques Events Ltd For the motoring enthusiast seeking extra thrills and excitement, accompanied with indulgence and luxury, they need look no further. Top Marques Events Ltd offer bespoke escorted car tours. Each year the Top Marques Events team of passionate motorsport experts, research and plan an exclusive selection of unique driving journeys for classic, prestige and supercar owners. Created out of a jointly held passion for first class delivery, the team’s aim is to satisfy the seasoned traveller whilst exciting the motoring novice. The thrill of driving your prestige car on the best touring roads in the UK and Europe, whilst staying at the most luxurious hotels, is a truly unforgettable experience. Senior Directors, Julien Down, Fay Merrick and Simon Layton have enjoyed many classic motoring miles and together have a proven ability to create and deliver meticulously planned, enjoyable and memorable events. Having had a lifelong passion for prestige, sports and classic cars and been involved in the classic car movement, Julien has organised shows and classic runs for many years. He said: “Top Marques Events offers the discerning motoring enthusiast the opportunity to enjoy their classic, prestige, or supercar on the open road, while enjoying the very best scenery, some of the most relaxing luxury and all in the company of likeminded companions.” Julien has held many senior positions in the Private Banking arena, spanning a career of over 30 years. Leading teams across Mayfair and the South West, Julien has developed the breadth of experience to ensure a great attention to detail. Latterly, through the creation and delivery of many UK wide, high-class events, he has ensured an enviable track record amongst his clients and colleagues. Julien continues: “Our company is aiming to achieve the very highest standards of service and guarantees a robust hotel
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selection criteria - seeking out some of the smaller, less well-known gems, as well as some opulent, larger establishments.” Working alongside Julien, Fay is proud to have successfully designed and delivered a high profile and hugely successful events programme for Lloyds Banking Group - including a three-year sponsorship of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Having grown up with an E-type Jaguar and with a passion for all things “horse power” she said: “Having done our market research, there is no-one else offering car tours at the luxury end of the market.”
Julien furthered: “Top Marques Events has been borne out of the proven ability of all three Directors to work at the highest levels in the corporate arena. This experience, gathered over a combined 100 year time frame, has enabled the three strong team to deliver a high-end, bespoke, personal service to the private client.” Covering the most beautiful landscapes in the UK and Europe, the tours can vary in length from three to eight days and are exclusive, with no more than 20 cars on each trip. Some tours include roads known for their exhilarating complexity, while others are more relaxed and focus on the scenery. Third Senior Director, Simon, has gained a wealth of experience in both Commercial and Personal banking. His relationship and networking skills deliver a service of excellence and it is this, which brings significant value to Top Marques
Events. He shares a love of cars, especially his classic 1976 Triumph Stag. Commenting on the latest release of their 2015 tours he said: “The current tours on offer have been selected to combine our love of classic and super cars, culture, luxurious accommodation and fine dining.” Julien adds: “They have been selected to offer fun, excitement and very different driving experiences. We are keen to ensure a fabulous break for everyone taking part, so as well as stunning roads, we have included gastronomic treats, special visits for the wine lover, cooking demonstrations from some of the world’s very best chefs and even the opportunity of a fabulously picturesque helicopter flight!” “We are also aiming to ensure clients have an opportunity to learn about the history of the places we visit, so will come home, having learnt more about the culture and history of the country visited,” added Fay. “Throughout my career I have been in the fortunate position of creating and delivering events both in the UK and overseas for high net worth clients. This experience helps me to know what is expected. I thoroughly enjoy ensuring that everyone has a good time and seeing all the planning and attention to detail coming to fruition.” The whole experience begins the moment a client books their place and typically includes; a comprehensive information pack containing every detail about the tour; ferry or Motorail transport booking; luxury accommodation and dining experiences at key points; on-site overnight parking; personally accompanied by Top Marques Directors, providing a point of contact every day; additional trips to local points of interest; surprise treats along the way; and two tour support vehicles. The touring season opens with a five day Champagne Tour, taking in the ever-
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Russell Harper, www.harperphotography.co.uk
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popular Northern France region. Top class hotels, beautiful scenery, first class food and a gathering of motoring enthusiasts, promises to kick the 2015 calendar off to a flying start. Leeds Castle in Kent is the rendezvous point on Sunday 26th April and provides a suitable taste of the experience to come! The Eurotunnel will be taken down to Epernay, across to Amboise, returning northward through Le Mans and Deauville, before hugging the coast back towards Calais, returning home on Friday 1st May. One aspect of the Top Marques Events offer is that any ’special’ car, whether that is a vintage/classic vehicle, a cherished prestige car, or a more modern supercar, is welcomed on the tours. “One thing is for certain, we aim for each tour to be allembracing and this will offer a truly interesting and enjoyable aspect for all participants. Our absolute aim is that our customers will enjoy their experience so much, they will recommend us to their friends and relatives, so that they too will be able to experience the Top Marques difference,” enthused Julien. “Drivers and navigators will enjoy some great opportunities to learn about the country being visited and sample the produce of the area.” Fellow travellers can be safe in the knowledge they are being cared for by a truly experienced team, who are passionate about being able to offer the chance to amalgamate high service levels,
premium client care, professional standards and also a large degree of fun! Julien said: “Experience has shown that car enthusiasts tend to be a fabulous bunch of people, generally with a first class sense of humour! This all helps to ensure that working in Top Marques Events provides enjoyment and satisfaction when a job is well done.” In addition to the Champagne tour in April, there is a Swiss Alps Tour in July which will include some of the most exhilarating driving roads in Europe with the route set to encounter the famous Simplon and Gotthard Passes, while the Irish Castles Tour, in late September, will leave those taking part completely enchanted from the soft light, gentle mists and almost ethereal scenery. “From our tours we give our clients the very best experience possible. One of the things I enjoy the most about working in this business is receiving the positive feedback from clients. The fact that when they return to travel with us again, they will be friends as well as clients,” confirms Simon. The team is very keen to spread its offer beyond the UK and Europe. Plans are underway to work alongside a major specialist UK car rental business, offering beautiful cars such as the iconic E type Jaguar, the much loved “Big Healey”, Jensen Interceptor, Porsches, Aston Martins and of course, classic cars such as the archetypal MGB Roadster and
Triumph Stag. Julien believes: “This move will open the doors for foreign visitors to come over to the UK and tours are currently under development to welcome such visitors for runs around the Thames Valley, Cotswolds, Lake District and of course, Scotland.” Simon added: “I am really looking forward to expanding the business to cover all types of events and tours and offer them to a world-wide market base.” While Fay said: “I would love to see Top Marques Events going "global". I can see us flying clients and their cars overseas, while also running tours for guests visiting the UK, who would like to hire a classic/super car and enjoy a tour as part of their holiday.” Excellence through experience by Top Marques Events Ltd, is set to take motoring enthusiasts and the world of luxury, by storm. Top Marques Events Ltd is also delighted to be able to support the Prince's Trust Charitable fund raising efforts. For more information on the up-coming tours please go to www.topmarquesevents.com or to speak to a member of the team, just contact on Julien@topmarquesevents.com or 07722 596112.
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