Mark Mclaren Email and Phone Number

Doing my bit to educate and entertain visitors to the UK from A-Z via M (Argentina via Mongolia to Zambia so far), focussing on Oxford and Cotswolds, Bath and the south west, Isle of Wight and other destinations in England and (soon) Wales. Proud possessor of a D1 driving licence.

More information and to register: https://www.cardeliverycharges.com/This is a legal action filed in the UK before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) on 20 February 2020 against five of the world’s leading shipping companies to recoup “over payment” on behalf of all affected UK consumers and businesses. I am honoured to be the CAT approved Class representative instructing law firm Scott+Scott UK LLP. The defendant shipping companies are MOL, “K” Line, NYK, WWL/EUKOR and CSAV. This UK legal action follows the EU finding that the defendants were involved in a cartel. The EU fined these companies €395m in 2018. Bringing a claim through the CAT ensures that all affected motorists and businesses in the UK are automatically included in the claim. UK motorists and companies who bought or leased new cars affected by the cartel between October 2006 and September 2015 are automatically included in the class and would be eligible for compensation. Claim value up to £60/ per new car bought or leased. Affected cars include passenger cars and light commercial vehicles such as vans, which represent over 80% of all new car and van purchases. Examples of affected cars include Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen and Renault. There is no cost to being part of the claimant group. The claim is funded by litigation funder Woodsford Litigation Funding. It was certified by the CAT on 18 February 2022.

The General Optical Council is the UK regulator for the optical professions with statutory responsibility for setting standards. Lay Members serve on the GOC's Fitness to Practice Panels and related Committees. Re-appointed to serve a further 4 year term from December 2023.

Freelance policy and public affairs consultant. Current and recent clients include: Riverstone, Veterinary Surgeons, the Music Managers Forum, Which?, The Open University, Council of Property Search Organisations (COPSO).

Member of the statutory Legal Services Consumer Panel . The Panel looks at consumer issues in the legal market and is responsible to the statutory Legal Services Board. Term limited to a 6 year term.

TPO is one of the leading property redress organisations in the UK. Approved by CTSI, NTSLEAT and others. Following a governance review, the TPO Council and Board were combined in July 2018 to form a Unitary Board of which I was a Non-Executive Director. I served on the Finance and Performance Committee and chaired the TPO Consumer Forum. The appointment was term limited to 8 years.

Assisted Saga plc during the Coronavirus pandemic, in particular on public policy and public affairs relating to their cruise ship business which was laid up in Tilbury docks for almost 18 months.

Senior Associate at Fairer Finance, blogging on a range of consumer issues

Public Affairs Manager in the OU's Government and External Relations Team on an interim & part time basis, focusing on the OU's extensive cross-party political relationships as they enter their 50th year: OU50.

Board Member Trustee of £100m+ pension fund responsible for governance, financial and investment decisions and overall performance

Helping out on the fantastic campaign funded by some great people in the music industry who want to tackle online ticket touting and get consumer law enforced better. I cover policy and public affairs. In March 2018, our campaign was awarded Consumer Campaign of the Year at the National Campaigner Awards.

Part of the Campaigns Team, providing strategic public affairs advice to, and retaining the confidence of, the CEO and senior leadership team on a very wide range of consumer public policy issues. Served on numerous official advisory groups for Government (including BIS, DCLG, MoJ and DWP), Regulators (such as Ofcom, ICO and LSB), Ombudsmen (such as Legal Ombudsman) covering a diverse range of complex consumer policy issues: home buying, legal services, telecoms, consumer rights). Specialism: UK Parliament (all parties and both Houses) and Government (Whitehall: Ministers, Officials and SpAds). Particular specialism: House of Lords. Experience working with Scottish and Welsh devolved governments and in EU (Council of Ministers, Commission and Parliament). Stakeholder relationship management with wide range of key stakeholders including regulators, think tanks, trade associations and ombudsmen. ‘Go to’ person for any internal query about politics and policy making.

Public Affairs lead on cross cutting consumer issues and general public affairs advice. Served on numerous official working groups and advisory committees representing Which?.

Public Affairs lead on legal services, housing and consumer issues

Clients included: Age Concern (now Age UK), International Longevity Centre, Business in the Community, a number of Crossbench Peers (Members of the UK House of Lords).

Various roles working for Age Concern UK (now called Age UK) in public affairs, government and parliamentary relations.

Key role: political communications to ICAEW members and support role on ICAEW Westminster and Whitehall relations.

Key role: liaison with HM Treasury and DTI post Big Bang and managing parliamentary relationships with relevant Select Committees and All Party Groups