In April 1983, Philip’s private company purchased the Channel Express Group which, at that time, distributed flowers grown in the Channel Islands to wholesale markets throughout the UK, and freight from the UK into the Channel Islands. From that original business, he has developed the Group into a leading UK leisure travel provider. Having decided that the Company needed wider access to funding in order to accelerate its growth, Channel Express Group plc was floated on the USM in 1988. In 1991, it changed its name to Dart Group plc and moved to a full listing on the London Stock Exchange before moving to AIM in 2005.