Yes, I’ve done the rounds!

Started my banking career at The Cooperative Bank in Newport in 1986 but moved on when offered a position on a management training scheme at Barclays who offered college day release to enable me to gain my banking qualifications – Associate of the Chartered Institute of Banking (ACIB).

Had a great time at Barclays from 1987 to 2010 primarily within SME/Corporate Banking.

In 1999, after moving to Cardigan, I lived on Pencwnc Holiday Park in a rented house. It took 6 months of tutoring from the now owner Ifan Davies before the penny dropped and the caravan holiday business was suddenly as clear as day. It was an awakening.

By 2002, after a move to Barclays’ Bristol Office, I had become a caravan park specialist. That became a national role as I shared my knowledge with other managers keen to develop their love of the sector. They were ‘volunteers not pressed men’ and the park sector was flourishing.

After a year as President of the Institute of Financial Services for Bristol & Bath I was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute (FCIB) in 2004.

In 2006 I took the plunge with my family and bought a caravan park on Dartmoor ‘Barley Meadow’. It was a dream come true. Still working full time with Barclays  but cutting grass, baking croissants and showing people to pitches. Hard work but fun.

2008 was a mixed year. Sold the park and then the recession bit hard. A tough time for parks with debts and banks losing their nerve.

By 2010 Barclays were restructuring and caravan parks weren’t on the agenda as a specialism any more.

I was then recruited into Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank to head their caravan park sector specialist team. For 6 months all was fine then FCA rules meant reducing leisure sector exposure.

In 2012 I moved to Parklife Group and had a hugely challenging year dealing with a group of diverse holiday and residential parks. It was a fantastic year spent in the industry I loved and I learnt so much.

Santander approached me in 2013 to work in a business development role that didn’t really suit me and there was next to no park sector involvement so I moved to Together Money in 2015.

Together was a fantastically successful enterprise. It’s an entrepreneurial business and very personal. Hard-work but invaluable experience. It gave me the confidence in how finance can affect peoples lives. Welcome back can-do!

After being fortunate enough to watch the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand in June 2017, I made the decision to become self-employed and follow my instincts. Having 30 years experience, a love of business funding and a genuine enjoyment of understanding peoples motivations would be something I should utilise as an independent broker and consultant. In October 2017 I left Together and Capisce took off almost immediately!