Founders

Miles Peckham graduated from Cheltenham College in 1973. After working with merchant Bank Banque Belge until 1978 he became co-owner of Sky Signs Ltd. This was sold to the Hawley Group plc in 1980 and following a demerger he then worked for Carraun Group plc until co founding Watermark in 1985. Having been listed on OFFEX and then on the Alternative Investment Market the Watermark Group plc became fully listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. Miles completed an MBO of Watermark Event Management in May 2001 where he is currently the CEO.

An enthusiast of many outdoor challenges, Miles completed the Sydney to Hobart offshore sailing race in 1981. In March 2003, Miles became the Chairman of the pole2pole charity as it was originally known which today is called The Muscular Help Foundation. He was a member of Michael McGrath's North Pole team in April 2002 and also his South Pole team in January 2004.

Born in 1965, Michael McGrath was educated by the Jesuits at St John's Beaumont near Windsor and then at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. In 1982, he was diagnosed with the debilitating muscle wasting disease Muscular Dystrophy. Two years later he rejected a place on the esteemed Savoy Trainee Management Scheme in London. In 1988 Michael graduated with honours in Hotel Management and Business Studies from what is now known today as Oxford Brookes University (what was in 1988 Oxford Polytechnic).

After working for W R Christopher Foyle for five years, McGrath worked for two of the UK's leading performance improvement agencies, specialising in people development, incentive management and employee motivation. Michael was elected in 2001 as a Trustee and Member of the National Council for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign [MDC] of Great Britain & Northern Ireland serving in this post for two years. In April 2002, Michael joined The Christopher Cope North Pole Expedition in aid of Muscular Dystrophy. Michael's team consisted of Major Craig Kerry Williams and Miles Peckham. This fundraising expedition raised in excess of £200,000 for MDC.

After some 14 months of careful planning, Michael McGrath left the UK on New Year's Day (1st January 2004) together with Miles Peckham, Pedro Munoz and Babs Powell. On the 13th January 2004, Michael (assisted by Miles Peckham) walked the final 310 metres, reaching 90 degrees South in Antarctica. This standalone fundraising expedition (known as pole2pole) raised £50,000 for The Muscular Help Foundation. Michael McGrath made history by becoming the only disabled person in the world to have successfully conquered both North and South Poles.

In February 2004, he was appointed by the Area President for Hilton Hotels UK & Ireland as the company's disABILITY Champion (a figurehead role). That same year, he was honoured by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace for his significant contribution to national life and included in The Queen's 2004 Christmas Day Television Broadcast to the Nation reinforcing diversity as a strength. In May 2005 he received the prestigious 2005 Business Traveller [Middle East] of the Year Award in Dubai, presented to him by Kate Adie.

In December 2005, McGrath was invited to speak as part of the inaugural European Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Series on behalf of a leading international investment bank held to observe the United Nations' International Day of Disabled Persons, promoting further understanding of disability issues and mobilising support for the dignity, rights and well-being of the disabled community.

Today, McGrath is in demand as a motivational speaker, provoking, stimulating and inspiring change amongst audiences that include global companies, public sector organisations and places of learning.