Forward Travel has acquired leisure golf holiday provider Find a Golf Break, backed by a £2m funding package from HSBC and Arete Capital Partners.
The deal will enable Forward Travel to accelerate its expansion into the consumer travel market, while strengthening its core business-to-business operations.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, Forward Travel is a trusted partner for professional athletes, tournament organisers, and broadcast production teams. With a specialism in professional golf and a growing footprint in other sports including football, the business provides bespoke, end-to-end travel management services. Clients include DP World Tour, R&A, LET, LPGA, IMG and Whisper TV.
The acquisition of Find a Golf Break marks Forward Travel’s first major step into the leisure travel market.
The deal also sees seasoned travel entrepreneur Steve Turner join Forward Travel as chairman. Turner, who recently exited CMAC Group following its £80m sale to ComfortDelGro, brings decades of commercial and operational experience to the board.
The £2m investment package comprises £1m debt financing from HSBC and £1m in equity from Arete.
The backing from Arete will also provide working capital to drive forward growth plans. Forward Travel currently operates with 20 staff and projects headcount will rise to more than 30 within the next year.
Forward Travel is on track to achieve £16m revenue in 2025, with a three year plan to triple its revenue.
The deal was led by Mike Fletcher, Ben Hatton and Briony Fagan from Arete, with legal support from Hill Dickinson (Laurence Laidler, Elan Iorwerth), tax advisory services by Alvarez and Marsal (Richard Dillea, James Wilkinson) and debt advisory services by Leanord Curtis (Mike Dinnell).
