Pictured above: Rob Ball
A Birmingham company which ploughs all of its profits into
charities to conserve wildlife in Africa has launched a
ground-breaking travel agency based on ethical tourism around the
globe.
Rednal-based HR and management consultancy Naturally Concerned
is spreading its wings to launch a travel business based on
wildlife and environmental conservation. All net profits go to wild
animal conservation in central and southern Africa.
Naturally Concerned was set up in 2008 by personnel and
management expert Rob Ball, who previously held senior director
positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover. He established the
company in memory of his wife Alison who died from brain
cancer.
All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison's favourite
wildlife charities. She was passionate about animal conservation in
Africa and travelled there often.
The new travel company offers all types of holiday and business
travel, but specialises in holidays which help animal conservation
in Africa, dolphin and whale watching holidays, orang-utan viewing
in Borneo and other ethically-based holidays.
Rob Ball said his wife loved being in Africa observing and
photographing animals in the wild and she was enthusiastic about
helping animals under threat.
"When you lose a spouse it causes you to pause and re-examine
your priorities in life. Having spent more than 25 years in the
corporate world I decided it was time to use my expertise in a more
constructive and thoughtful way. That's how Naturally Concerned was
born. Alison's passions were travel and animals, so this is a
natural progression for the business," he said.
"Naturally Concerned Travel operates under ethical guidelines
based on conservation and concern for the environment. We aim to
preserve the environment to which we travel, and ensure that local
people are treated fairly and with respect, and benefit from
tourist intrusion into their world. We aim to ensure that we have a
positive impact on the destinations we visit," he said.
Naturally Concerned Travel operates as a franchise of Explorer
Travel and is ABTA and ATOL protected.
Rob Ball is a former director and head of HR development at MG
Rover. He was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005 and
soon after was appointed HR director with GKN
Autostructures.
He left there to set up Naturally Concerned following his wife's
death in 2008. Naturally Concerned Travel also promotes travel as
an employee benefit for other organisations.
Aged 56, he is president of the Warwickshire Cricket League,
president of Bournville Cricket Club and a former committee member
at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is also a graduate of
Common Purpose, the people development charity which encourages
managers to become better leaders at work and in society.
His daughter Natalie - a professional actor who trained at
Bristol Old Vic - is a co-director in Naturally Concerned.