Overview
PGL takes its name from the initials of its founder - Peter Gordon Lawrence - who started leading canoe trips down the River Wye in 1957. The initial market was young adults but during the early years PGL established a key position in the organised school group travel market. Lawrence died in 2004 following complications with a heart condition.
The company was sold in 2007 to Holidaybreak Plc and formed the first part of the Holidaybreak 'Education Division'.
At the beginning of the 2010 season, PGL had 21 centres in the UK, 2 centres in Spain, 10 centres in France, contracts with numerous ski resorts and 'Action Stations' at Eurocamp in France and 'Go Active' at 7 Pontins sites located in the UK.(Prestatyn, Southport, Blackpool, Camber, Brean,Pakefield). Some of the largest centres are Boreatton Park (Shropshire) and Caythorpe Court (Lincolnshire).
The purchase in 2005 of 3D Education and Adventure, their biggest competitor, gave the company two more centres on the south coast, one on the Isle of Wight and a contract with Pontins to provide children's activities on their sites. Though with Pontins going into administration in 2010 and its subsequent purchase by the Britannia Hotels Group in 2011 the contract between Pontins and PGL ceased to be
PGL's largest area of business is school trips and educational travel. These range from activity and adventure trips to subject focussed trips (Science, ICT, Maths, Field Studies and French Language courses are all offered).
PGL closed Court Farm in July 2012 following a development plan for the site. Plans have now been submitted by PGL to turn this site into houses.
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