In 1919 a group of soldiers from Leeds were demobbed close to Bayford in Hertfordshire. When they returned to Yorkshire they chose that village name for their new coal merchant's business. Since then the Bayford Group has been involved in a variety of businesses but the core has always been energy.

Moving into oil distribution in the early 1960’s and then into petrol retailing in 1969, the company began to diversify into property investment and development, opencast coal mining, shipping, electronics, pollution prevention and fuel cards.

The acquisition of Burmah Oil in 1995 took the oil business to a national level and other acquisitions quickly followed. Alongside the property entrepreneur Jack Petchey the group led the acquisition of the Save Group PLC, the UK’s largest independent petrol company out of administration in 2000.

The acquisition of the Gulf brand quickly followed and the company was by now supplying fuel across the whole of the UK.

A move into providing fuel cards to businesses across the UK in the early 90’s led to partnerships with all the oil majors alongside Bayford’s own brands. The acquisition of the large fuel bunkering company Routemate consolidated Bayford’s place as one of the largest and earliest pioneers in this sector. This business grew substantially leading to the formation of The Fuel Card Company PLC.

A Family Management Buyout (FAMBO) was completed in 2004 by the current Chief Executive Jonathan Turner and along with Managing Director Elizabeth Slater they continued to expand and develop the group.

The Sunday Times recognised the Bayford Group on more than one occasion as a Top 100 Company to Work For as the team grew the business organically as well as through acquisitions with strong team spirit.

Following the disposal of some of the Group’s energy activities investment continues to be made in fuelcard businesses, diverse property interests and environmental initiatives.

The group Head Office at Bowcliffe Hall, Bramham, adjacent to the A1 is a prime location for our national business interests. It also provides and exclusive home from home environment for tenants and is an ideal environment for business meetings and functions.