{{Short description|English billionaire businessman (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Done | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|02|06|df=y}} | birth_place = Salford, United Kingdom | death_date = | death_place = | education = | occupation = Group Founder and CEO, Peninsula Business Services | years_active = | known_for = Businessman<br /> Co-founder of Betfred | spouse = Anne Done (m.1968 d.2021)<ref name=":0" /> | children = 2 | relatives = Fred Done (brother) }}
'''Peter Eric Done''' (born 6 February 1947) is an English billionaire businessman. He is a co-founder of Betfred and the founder and group managing director of Peninsula Business Services, established in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/blog/author/peterdone/|title=Peter Done - Business Expert, Author at Peninsula UK|website=Peninsula UK|language=en-GB|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216215916/https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/blog/author/peterdone/|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Early life == Done was born in Salford, Lancashire, England on 6 February 1947.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Roue |first=Lucy |date=16 December 2018 |title=From 'Salford slums' to billionaire businessman - the story of Peter Done |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/salford-slums-billionaire-businessman-lesser-15543747 |access-date=17 May 2021 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> Done has three siblings, including Fred Done.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Richard |date=24 July 2023 |title=Peter Done: I lost Betfred to my brother on a coin toss, but I'm still a winner |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/peter-done-i-lost-betfred-to-my-brother-on-a-coin-toss-but-im-still-a-winner-ppj8tn60q |access-date=24 July 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> He attended Trafford Road School in Salford and Winton Senior School in Eccles, Greater Manchester.<ref name=":5" /> At age 15, he left school along with his brother to work at their father's illegal bookmaking business.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=16 January 2020|title=Who are Fred and Peter Done, the brothers behind Betfred bookmakers?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/16/who-are-fred-and-peter-done-the-brothers-behind-betfred-bookmakers|access-date=17 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> At 17, Done managed a betting shop for another company. "You weren't even allowed in betting shops until you were 18, and I was managing one at 17".<ref name=":2">{{Citation|title=The Betfred Story - The Complete Tale| date=24 December 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qUzj4Xd2kQ|language=en|access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref> At age 21, he acquired his own shop in Pendleton, England.<ref name=":0" />
== Career ==
=== Betfred === {{Main|Betfred}} In 1967, Done co-founded his own bookmaking business with his brother using money they received betting on the 1966-67 World Cup.<ref name=":2" /> They received a £75,000 loan from NatWest.<ref name=":5" /> Originally, their business was named Done Brothers, but eventually, it was changed to its current 'Betfred.' In its early days, Betfred was a family business; Done, his brother, their father, their mother and both of their wives helped run the store throughout the week. Done's role at the time was as a sales and marketing director.<ref name=":2" />
The 1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak caused many bookmaking businesses to close. Betfred managed to stay afloat by pivoting from horse racing — the major sport that involved betting — to afternoon dog racing.<ref name=":2" />
After 12 months of successfully being in business, Done and his brother decided to expand by buying another storefront. They bought their new shop at £250 and made the money back within the week.<ref name=":2" /> Peter managed the second shop while his brother Fred stayed at the first one. Their sister would go on to manage their third shop.
As of 2018, Betfred has over 1,650 shops and a turnover of approximately £10 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 December 2008|title=Fred Done {{!}} Football Betting {{!}} Bookmaking {{!}} Betting Players {{!}} Football Magazine|url=http://www.inside-edge-mag.co.uk/football/features/93/the_players.html|access-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202134238/http://www.inside-edge-mag.co.uk/football/features/93/the_players.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 }}</ref>
==== Conflict of interest with Health Assured ====
In January 2020, Done and his brother came under public scrutiny after reports emerged that Health Assured, another company the two owned, was earning millions of pounds through government contracts to provide gambling addiction treatment for public sector workers. The arrangement prompted conflict of interest allegations from NHS chief Claire Murdoch and a number of MPs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Rob |date=2020-01-16 |title=Betfred owners make millions from company treating gambling addicts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/16/betfred-owners-make-millions-from-company-treating-gambling-addicts |access-date=2026-05-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== Peninsula === In 1983 Done and his brother co-founded Professional Personnel and Management Services Limited after having to pay £9,000 to settle an employment tribunal.<ref name=":0" /> In 1989, after the business was failing leaving their £450,000 investment at risk, Done and his brother Fred tossed a coin to decide who would lead the company's turnaround, which Done won.<ref name=":5" />
The business didn't find success until Done identified its potential and decided to focus his abilities and time on it. He planned to advertise its services on the road for six months, then return to work with his brother at Betfred.<ref name=":0" /> "I was supposed to be coming back from Peninsula after six months and we were going to get a manager in, but 35 years later I'm still in the business".<ref name=":2" />
In May 2012, Peninsula Business Services acquired a 65% share of Employsure, an Australian advising firm specialising in industrial relations, which was registered as a company in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 May 2012 |title=Peninsula Business Services turns to down under |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/peninsula-business-services-turns-to-down-1233137 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2013, Done injected a cash investment of £1.6 million to improve and develop the HROnline app. This app helped employers manage different types of human resource activities such as sickness, employment, holidays, and lateness recording.<ref name="calvinayre">{{cite news |last1=Davy |first1=Lee |date=29 November 2013 |title=Betfred Co Founder Peter Done Invests £3.9m in his Battle Against Sickness & Absence in the UK |work=calvinayre |url=https://calvinayre.com/2013/11/29/business/peter-done-battle-against-sickness-absence-in-uk/ |accessdate=2 October 2015}}</ref>
As of 2021, Done is the founder and current managing director of Peninsula.<ref name=":5" />
It claims to be the UK's largest provider of employment law, human resource, health & safety, and employee assistance program consultancy services.<ref name="calvinayre" /> Its subsidiaries include Employsure, Peninsula Canada, Croner Tax, Croneri and Croner Group. The company headquarters is the Peninsula Building in Manchester and it employs over 3,500 people worldwide, working in five countries.<ref name="BestCompanies">{{cite web|title=Peninsula Business Services|url=http://www.b.co.uk/Company/Profile/305891/|website=Best Companies|accessdate=2 October 2015}}</ref> The Canadian Peninsula branch houses over 200 employees, 3,000 clients, and operates in nine Canadian provinces (Peninsula Team, 2020).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=February 2020 |title=Peninsula Receives Best Professional Services Award at CanadianSME |url=https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/ca/employer-advice/peninsula-receives-best-professional-services-award-at-canadiansme-business-awards-2019/ |access-date=17 May 2021 |website=Peninsula Canada |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2023, the business hit £100 million profit for the first time,
== Charity == Done, along with his brother, have charitable trusts set up. Their main donations are to children (children hospitals, children's charities). They once donated one day's worth of Betfred profits to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital during the Cheltenham festival.<ref name=":1" /> They also once donated £200 per century break played at the Snooker World Championship to the Jessie May children's charity — the final amount donated was £40,000.<ref name=":1" />
In March 2021, Peninsula raised £1 million for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital charity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased pressure on the staff, Done decided to increase their pledge to £2 million.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Whitear|first=Sam|date=7 April 2021|title=Peninsula Group raises £1 million for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity|url=https://businessmanchester.co.uk/?p=13974|access-date=17 May 2021|website=Business Manchester|language=en-GB}}</ref>.
Done and the Peninsula Group reached their £2 million fundraising target at the end of 2022 and vowed to help the hospital further with an addition £1 million pledge in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/chance-meeting-between-ava-10-25762728 | title=Chance meeting between Ava, 10, and business tycoon led to £1m promise | date=16 December 2022 }}</ref>
In April 2024, a new charity partnership was announced between Peninsula Group and Air Ambulances UK, DEBRA UK and Together for Short Lives. The company pledged to raise £3m over 3 years for the 3 charities <ref>{{Cite web |title=Peninsula Group announces new £3m charity partnerships |url=https://www.peninsulagroupglobal.com/peninsula-group-foundation/peninsula-group-announces-new-ps3m-charity-partnerships/peninsula-group-announces-new-ps3m-charity-partnerships |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=www.peninsulagroupglobal.com}}</ref>
== Awards and accolades == In 2015, Done was shortlisted for the Service Industries award by the Great British Entrepreneur awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peter Done shortlisted for The Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2015 {{!}} Peninsula UK|url=https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/sco/blog/peter-done-shortlisted-for-the-gbe-service-industries-award/|access-date=17 May 2021|website=Peninsula Scotland|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2019, Done was awarded the Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award.<ref name="glassdoor">{{Cite web|last=Whitear|first=Sam|date=20 June 2019|title=Peninsula MD Peter Done rated as the best CEO in the North West|url=https://businessmanchester.co.uk/2019/06/20/peninsula-md-peter-done-rated-as-the-best-ceo-in-the-north-west/|access-date=31 May 2021|website=Business Manchester|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Done lives in Salford.<ref name=":0" /> He married Anne Done in 1968 and together they had two children.<ref name=":0" />
Done owns a home in Ladyhill, Manchester, as well as homes in the Lake District and Nice, France.<ref name=":5" />
In 2023, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated his and his brother's net worth at £1.87 billion.<ref name=":5" /> Fred and Peter Done and family paid £136.8 million in tax in 2022; fifth place on ''The Sunday Times Tax List'' of the UK's 100 biggest taxpayers.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=The Sunday Times Tax List reveals UK's 100 biggest taxpayers |url=https://www.news.co.uk/latest-news/the-sunday-times-tax-list-reveals-uks-100-biggest-taxpayers/}}</ref>
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in May 2025, his and his family's net worth is £2.915 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2026, Peter Done was named at the top of the Sunday Times Tax list with an estimated £401.1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Robert |date=2026-01-31 |title=Who are the UK’s biggest taxpayers? The 2026 Tax List revealed |url=https://www.thetimes.com/money/tax/article/uk-100-biggest-taxpayers-2026-tax-list-nqsjk2bvn |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Done, Peter Eric}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:English billionaires Category:English businesspeople Category:Conservative Party (UK) donors