Month: May 2025

FBUK welcomes calls for BPR consultation

Posted on by Fiona Graham

Family Business UK has welcomed a call from a high-profile Parliamentary committee to delay the implementation of changes to BPR and APR to allow government time to consult on the changes.

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, has said it is concerned that no consultation, impact assessment or affordability assessment was conducted before the announcement of changes in the Budget.

The Committee adds that “the lack of proper evaluation of the impact of these changes means that the scale and nature of its impact … comes with a considerable risk of negative unintended consequences.”

Commenting on the report Fiona Graham, Chief Advocacy Officer at Family Business UK said “We welcome this report and congratulate the committee for recognising the damage this policy change will have.

“Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief are fundamental policies that support the family ownership of businesses and farms right across the country. Their impact extends way beyond farming into every sector of the economy.

“We have repeatedly called on Government to consult on these changes and warned Ministers of the unintended consequences of making blanket changes to BPR and APR before hearing from those most affected by them.

“Our research into the impact of the changes to BPR and APR stands as the only robust assessment of just how damaging these changes will be. It shows how business owners are already responding to these changes by cutting investment, activity and jobs, actions which could reduce economic activity by £15 billion and lead to more than 200,000 job losses, resulting in a £1.9 billion tax loss for the Government.

“We call on the Government to accept the recommendations of the EFRA committee in full and commit to a broad consultation with family businesses and farms to find a compromise solution that will prevent the forced sale or break up of good, productive businesses.”

Download our latest research on the impact of changes to BPR and APR.

FBUK launches new Family Council Guide

Posted on by Abbie-Louise Smith

A new practical guide to family councils has been launched by FBUK.

Written by Peter Leach, who is widely regarded as ‘the founding father’ of family business thinking in the UK, the guide aims to provide practical advice and support for any family business looking to establish an effective family council.

Family councils are a vital element of good governance within the structure of family businesses. Made up of family members, family councils form a vital connection between the family and the board.

They serve as a vehicle for educating family members about their responsibilities, it can help resolve family conflicts and play a central role in succession planning, ensuring a seamless transition of the business from one generation to the next.

Neil Davy, CEO of Family Business UK said: “One of my favourite expressions is ‘once you’ve met one family business, you’ve met one family business.’ Part of what makes each one different and special is how each family answers the question, ‘where are the boundaries between our family and our business?’

“Set up and managed well, family councils can foster effective dialogue and decision-making, promote stronger family relationships and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the family business. The purpose of our latest guide is to provide practical advice and support for any family business looking to establish an effective family council.”

The guide covers topics include Why have a family council, what a family council does, Its relationship with the Board and how family councils evolve as companies grow into multi-generational family businesses.

Featuring views and opinions from family council leaders at Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate and Covers Timber, the guide is available to download from the Member Resources area of the FBUK website.