Asa Gurden Email & Phone Number

Trustee providing governance oversight to this national membership organisation

Current Chair - this body brings together key organisations from around the Outdoor Sector to identify areas for collaboration, consult and inform on key work around the sector and provide the voice of the sector to government and other external bodies.

Current role is the management of 12 centres across the UK with full P&L responsibility of this £5 million operation. Under my leadership the operation has doubled in size over the past 5 years.The group of centres vary in size with a range of buildings including listed properties and large areas of woodland. The focus of our services is around the development of young people, either directly or through supporting the adults who work with them. Scout Adventures also works with corporate clients to deliver developmental experiences. The role is also part of the leadership team of The Scout Association so involves contribution to national strategy and organisational development.The above has been achieved through;• Building the right team of people through development of staff and volunteers as well as recruitment• Establishing a result focused customer support team to drive up sales and improve the customer journey• Developing our products to meet customer needs with a focus on Education and Scout markets• Development of a high quality catering offer across the group• Improving facilities through either small cash interventions or larger capital projects• Additional centres though acquisition, franchise and managed services (financial growth doesn’t include franchised operations’ turnover)

Responsible for the development, based on market research, training and delivery standards of all education products for the largest provider of schools travel in the UK. My time with PGL was largely spent working on the transition from 3D Education and Adventure (the companies merged) with the objective of raising standards across the expanded operation as well as developing new products.Key Achievements• Merging of products and raising standards across the operation resulting in a 45% increase in guest feedback scores.• Smooth integration of two businesses including key IT systems, operational best practice and product ranges.