Member Article

Ethical Gap Year Business Set For Expansion

A fast-expanding ethical ?gap year? travel business has secured £100,000 investment to help it build on its six years of 100 per cent annual growth. Newcastle-based Madventurer, which was founded by Newcastle University graduate John Lawler, organises ?work and play? trips to more than a dozen countries across the globe, from Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania to Sri Lanka, Fiji and Peru.

Most ?Madventurers? take a trip lasting several weeks which combines a community project, such as renovating a school or community building, teaching or medical work, with more traditional gap year and holiday activities. John founded the company after graduating, taking a small party of student volunteers back to the rural community in the West African state of Ghana where he?d spent much of his own gap year ? and where he?d made such an impact that the local elders made him a village chief! Now, having secured a £100,000 investment from Evolve Finance, NEL?s specialist debt and mezzanine finance division, John ? who will shortly be heading off to Antarctica on his own latest challenge - is aiming to put more of the business infrastructure in place that will help secure Madventurer?s continuing growth and, in the medium term, develop the company?s name into one of the most recognised brands in its sector. John said: ?The whole idea of gap years and responsible, ethical travel has mushroomed in recent years, and my own experiences showed me how incredibly fulfilling it can be.

The enthusiasm with which all our travellers take to the tasks they choose is incredible and is only matched by the comments we get from them when they return. ?Amongst other things, the investment has enabled us to take on more staff, strengthen our marketing campaign and ensure our trips are fully ABTOT-bonded, measures which are collectively helping us to move the business to the next level.? For further information on NEL?s investment criteria, please visit www.nel.co.uk or call 0191 442 4300/01642 626309.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .