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 Park04:03 Early Challenges and Successes10:29 Modern Zoo Practices and Conservation21:07 Reggie's Return and Leadership22:16 Impact of COVID-19 on the Wildlife Park27:17 Navigating the Reopening Challenges28:29 Reassessing Business Strategies32:15 Difficult Decisions During the Pandemic35:51 Leadership and Team Building Insights37:44 The Importance of Loving Animals41:19 Future of Wildlife Conservation43:23 Creating a Beautiful Environment47:01 Looking Ahead: Five Years from Now48:07 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsVisit Cotswold Wildlife ParkFollow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.comThis podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk