13. Taking on a family zoo business and making a success of it | Reggie Heyworth

How do you keep wildlife business running in the face of social, political and cultural change?

In this episode of All About Business, I speak to Reggie Heyworth, the owner of one of the UK’s biggest wildlife parks. Cotswold Wildlife Park, which was started by his father all the way back in 1969.  We discuss how he took over the business from his father, how they kept the animals alive during the pandemic as well as  his thoughts on the ‘anti-zoo brigade.’ 

Reggie grew up in the Cotswold Wildlife Park, a business his father started in 1969, and which has grown into one of the UK’s largest wildlife parks. For several years, he worked as a conservationist on the African continent. In 2012, he returned to the UK to take over the running of the park. He created the park’s famous gardens, and also runs a number of initiatives, including Keeper for the Day, where you can learn about the animals and how they are looked after. 

01:13 The Origins of the Wildlife Park

04:03 Early Challenges and Successes

10:29 Modern Zoo Practices and Conservation

21:07 Reggie's Return and Leadership

22:16 Impact of COVID-19 on the Wildlife Park

27:17 Navigating the Reopening Challenges

28:29 Reassessing Business Strategies

32:15 Difficult Decisions During the Pandemic

35:51 Leadership and Team Building Insights

37:44 The Importance of Loving Animals

41:19 Future of Wildlife Conservation

43:23 Creating a Beautiful Environment

47:01 Looking Ahead: Five Years from Now

48:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Visit Cotswold Wildlife Park

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