Barnes joined insurance broking firm Lloyd Thompson in 1983, and today Jardine Lloyd Thompson is a leading risk management adviser and insurance and reinsurance broker. JLT is also a major provider of employee benefit administration services and related consultancy advice

At the latter part of 2007 Barnes invested in a Ford Focus WRC, a car in which he is very much looking forward to challenging his business partner John Lloyd in this year's BTRDA series. An eight day marathon rally in South Island, New Zealand is planned for October when Barnes and his regular co-driver Neil Dashfield will be switching from the World Rally Car to a Mk 2 Ford Escort.