Bland Group
Encyclopedia
The Bland Group Ltd. is made up of a number of small operating companies
based in the British overseas territory
of Gibraltar
.
began a shipping
company from his house in Irish Town, Gibraltar.
In 1931 the Bland Group started Gibraltar Airways (later GB Airways
). The group sold GB Airways to EasyJet
in 2008.
CBE, now president.
, Morocco
and Andalucia.
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
based in the British overseas territory
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
History
The Gaggero family has been running the business since 1891 although the company began in 1810 when Marcus Henry Bland, from LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
began a shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
company from his house in Irish Town, Gibraltar.
In 1931 the Bland Group started Gibraltar Airways (later GB Airways
GB Airways
GB Airways was a UK airline; prior to its dissolution it was headquartered in "The Beehive," a former terminal building, at City Place Gatwick, London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, England. It operated scheduled services as a British Airways franchise to 30 destinations in Europe and...
). The group sold GB Airways to EasyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
in 2008.
The board
James Gaggero is chairman of the board of directors, with former chairman, Joseph GaggeroJoseph Gaggero
Joseph James Gaggero CBE KHS is a Gibraltarian businessman. He is president of The Bland Group of Companies, which concentrate their business in shipping, aviation and travel.-Early and personal life:...
CBE, now president.
Notable operating companies
- BeehiveBeehive (Gatwick Airport)The Beehive is the original terminal building at Gatwick Airport, England. Opened in 1936, it became obsolete in the 1950s as the airport expanded. In 2008, it was converted into serviced offices, having served as the headquarters of franchised airline GB Airways for some years before that...
- Griffon HoverworkGriffon HovercraftGriffon Hoverwork Ltd is a British hovercraft designer and manufacturer. It was founded after Griffon Hovercraft Ltd of Southampton, and Hoverwork Ltd of the Isle of Wight, were acquired by the Bland Group in 2008, then merged in 2009 .-History:...
Limited - HovertravelHovertravelHovertravel is a ferry company operating from Southsea, Portsmouth to Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. They are the only company operating in Britain with passenger hovercraft, after Hoverspeed stopped using their craft in favour of catamarans...
Limited - Universal Engineering Limited
The Gaggero Foundation
The Gaggero Foundation is an independent private charitable body established by the Gaggero family through the Bland group in 2008. The foundations purpose is to support and initiate programs that aid education, family welfare and community health in the geographic areas of GibraltarGibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Andalucia.