Yandell Publishing, the family-owned company behind School Travel Organiser, Group Leisure & Travel and a range of other specialist media brands and events, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.
Founded on 12th August 1986 by CEO Graham Yandell, the business began with the launch of magazines serving the meat industry. Four decades later, the company serves the group travel, school travel, food and meat sectors through magazines, websites, yearbooks, awards programmes, exhibitions and events.
To mark the milestone, Graham has reflected on the company’s journey in a special interview published by School Travel Organiser’s sister title Group Leisure & Travel.
In the interview, he explains how he took the decision to leave a senior publishing career and invest in building his own business, launching the company with ambitious plans and a commitment to quality journalism and trusted editorial content.
Among the highlights, Graham discusses the development of the company’s travel portfolio, including the launch of Group Leisure & Travel, and how Yandell Publishing later expanded into the school travel sector with School Travel Organiser, the Learning Outside the Classroom Yearbook and the annual School Travel Awards.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Graham highlights the importance of long-standing relationships with readers, advertisers, event partners and colleagues, many of whom have worked with the business for decades. He also cites the company’s resilience during the Covid pandemic as one of its proudest achievements, having continued publishing throughout a challenging period for the media industry.
Looking ahead, Graham says the company remains ambitious about future growth while continuing to adapt to changing markets and technologies.
Speaking about the business philosophy that has guided him for 40 years, he recalls advice from a mentor who told him: “We are here to change events, not record them.”
Yandell Publishing is marking its 40th anniversary throughout the year across its various industry events and publications.
Read the full interview with Graham Yandell on the Group Leisure & Travel website.
Yandell Publishing is the publisher of School Travel Organiser, the Learning Outside the Classroom Yearbook and organises the School Travel Awards. It also owns the Group Leisure & Travel portfolio, as well as producing media in the food industry.
