Dealings commence

Quintessentially English PLC
18 March 2004



                         Quintessentially English plc

                            NEW CASH SHELL LAUNCHED

                  Dealings commence Thursday 18th March on AIM
        Quintessentially English to acquire quoted or unquoted companies
                         Pro-active investment strategy
              Seeking businesses with significant growth prospects


Dealings commence today (Thursday, 18 March 2004) on the Alternative Investment
Market ('AIM') in Quintessentially English plc ('Quintessentially English'), a
new cash shell, which has been formed by Michael Gurner, Robert Coe and Graham
Ashley.


Quintessentially English has been established to acquire businesses which
because of their origin or connection with England and/or the English language
could be described as 'quintessentially English' and which derive particular
value from that association.  Amongst areas that the Directors have identified
as initially being worthy of consideration are the training and education
sectors.


The Directors intend to focus on identifying and acquiring businesses which they
believe have competent and proven management, proven profitability and that are
capable of generating revenue and cash with potential growth.


Michael Gurner, Chairman and Chief Executive, commented:


'We have brought together a highly experienced management team with a broad
range of skills to identify the businesses which Quintessentially English will
target.


I believe that there are exciting opportunities for Quintessentially English in
the areas of language, education and call centre training.  Globally, the
English language is the predominant tongue in business and the demand for
learning English is growing substantially.'


City Financial Associates Limited is the Nominated Adviser and Broker.


For further information:
Quintessentially English plc
Michael Gurner (Chief Executive)          07768 231 731


City Financial Associates Limited
Tony Rawlinson/James Caithie              020 7090 7800


Beattie Financial
James Chandler/John Moriarty              020 7398 3300
Directors


Michael Gurner, Chairman and Chief Executive

Michael Gurner is 59 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Citroen Wells
in 1967 and became senior manager at Lawrence Fenton Masters & Co.  (which later
merged with BDO Stoy Hayward) from June 1967 to September 1969 undertaking
management and systems consultancy for several small and mid-sized companies.
Since joining the merchant bank, Keyser Ullmann in 1969, he has spent most of
his career specialising in turning around under-performing and ailing
businesses.


Michael left Keyser Ullmann in 1972 to join the Ryan Group of Companies Limited
specialising in mergers and acquisitions ('M&A').  Between 1974 and 1982 he was
employed by Bell & Company (Westminster) Limited, a mid-sized construction
company, as managing director to turn around the business which had suffered
from a spate of bad debts and litigation caused by the property collapse of the
early seventies.  From 1982 to 1986 Michael worked for Holdmer Associates
Limited, a company controlled by him, where he offered consultancy and M&A
advice.


From 1986 to 1991 he was appointed managing director of a fully listed company,
Continuous Stationery plc, a business forms manufacturer and was responsible for
several acquisitions in that sector including Prontaprint, the quick print
retail chain in November 1988.  At the time of the acquisition, Prontaprint had
suffered its first loss for several years.  In the ensuing 18 months, this loss
was reversed.  Continuous Stationery plc became one of the largest business
forms distributors in the UK.  Michael left the company in March 1991.


After working further for Holdmer Associates Limited, in February 1992, Michael
began working with Postern Executive Group Limited ('Postern'), a leading UK
turnaround specialist which provided management teams for troubled companies.
At Postern's request, Michael joined the board of several companies which were
successfully turned around.  Successful assignments include Starmin plc in July
1994 (raising finance by way of a rights issue of £1.76 million in a £5.78
million fund-raising), and PSB Holding Limited, a pumped power plant business
owned by the National Grid Company plc, where he negotiated in conjunction with
Kleinwort Benson the sale of the business to a US buyer (Mission Energy of
California) for around £600 million when the original guide price was around
£300 million.



Robert Coe, Finance Director

Robert Coe is 58 and is the Senior and Founding Partner of Wilder Coe, Chartered
Accountants, which was established in 1972 and operates from two offices, one in
Central London and one in Hertfordshire and employs approximately 70 people.
The firm specialises in advising companies up to and including flotation,
encompassing disciplines such as audit and accountancy, taxation compliance and
planning, insolvency, business process outsourcing and company secretarial.
Robert specialises in advising on corporate finance transactions such as mergers
and acquisitions, pre flotation restructuring, fund raising and business
financing.


Robert is also currently a non executive director of Hercules Property Services
plc, a fully listed property facilities management company whose activities
incorporate property management, auctioneering and commercial agency.  As the
senior independent director of both companies, he chairs both the audit and
remuneration committees.


Robert has in the past enjoyed roles such as non-executive chairman of Stirling
Group plc, a clothing, design and manufacturing company which was fully listed,
part time finance director of Probus Estates plc (formally Premier Land Limited)
which at the time, was fully listed property investment company (1995 to 1998)
and, more recently, part-time finance director of New Media Industries plc
during its transition from Ofex to AIM and part time finance director of Hardy
Amies plc (formally Luxury Brands Group plc and Cardington plc) which is a brand
licensing and marketing company currently quoted on Ofex.


Graham Ashley, Non-Executive Director

Graham Ashley is 56 and has over forty years experience in stockbroking and
corporate finance. He started work with the firm of Read, Hurst-Brown
(stockbrokers) and was later a founding director and shareholder of Greig
Middleton Holdings Limited (stockbrokers). After a merger of Greig Middleton
Holdings Limited he became a director of Gerrard Limited and, following its
acquisition, a senior corporate finance director of Old Mutual Securities. He
has advised on acquisitions and disposals and fundraising across a wide range of
sectors and industries. He is currently a consultant to Arbuthnot Securities
Limited.


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