Family Business Week, which celebrates the contribution family businesses make to the economy and communities across the UK starts today, Monday November 24.
The event, which is now in its fifth year, shines a light on the millions of amazing family businesses right across the country.
From small, first generation firms to 350-year-old, 15th generation companies, Family Business Week is about telling their stories – stories about the businesses, the people and the communities they support.
Family Business UK (FBUK) Chief Executive Neil Davy said: “Family Businesses have been building Britain for generations. They are the rock on which our economy and local communities thrive.
“All of us interact with family businesses every day, often without knowing it. They are the brands that fill our shopping baskets, they build our homes, sell us cars, own ports and airports, they transport goods, look after us on holiday, brew our favourite tipples and serve it with a smile.
“Family Business Week is the chance for everyone to celebrate all this in a week of events and the sharing of their stories.”
Family Business Week is proudly sponsored by NatWest and supported by S&W, Julius Baer and PwC.
NatWest Business Commercial Mid-Market Managing Director Andy Gray said: “Family businesses are the backbone of our economy and are at the heart of local communities across the UK. They make up 90% of the UK’s total private sector firms, employ 16 million people and contribute £985bn in GVA to the UK economy.
“As the country’s biggest bank for business, at NatWest we understand the importance of supporting family businesses to grow, innovate and build for the future. We’re proud to be supporting Family Business Week for the fifth year in a row and we’re looking forward to celebrating the sector through our continued partnership with FBUK.”
Julius Baer International Head of UK Regions Jonathan Dobbin said: “The most enduring family businesses are those that stay true to their core values and purpose while boldly embracing change and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit to thrive for generations to come.”
S&W Partner Laura Hayward said: “S&W are delighted to sponsor Family Business Week, a great initiative to celebrate the incredible contribution of Britain’s family businesses driving innovation, creating jobs, and building legacies that last generations.
PwC Partner Dan Packwood said: “Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, driving growth, creating jobs and sustaining communities. Their long-term outlook and strong values make them uniquely resilient in times of change.”
This year’s event not only showcases amazing family businesses but also highlights their ambition and resilience as they look beyond UK borders.
Under the theme Global Legacies: Expanding Horizons for UK Family Businesses, it will focus on how family businesses can compete and grow on the global stage.
Almost 280,000 UK businesses currently export goods or services to more than 200 countries, contributing £838 billion to the economy.
Yet this represents just 11.5% of UK firms, highlighting enormous untapped potential for growth.
Throughout the week Family Business UK will run case studies, events and workshops to help businesses to take their first steps into international markets while supporting those who already have.
On Wednesday, FBUK will host a reception in Westminster which will bring together family business leaders, politicians, policymakers and voices from the wider family business community.
The event is set to be one of the highlights of the week and will provide an opportunity to connect, share experiences and recognise the vital role family firms play in the UK’s economy and society.
Neil Davy continues: “British family businesses are powering our economy both at home and overseas. Many are already exporting or trading internationally – from household names to thousands of small and mid-sized businesses – they are successfully reaching millions of customers overseas with the essence of their unique family values.
“With the right policy environment behind them, they have the potential to further drive UK economic growth on the global stage. Family Business Week is about showing that by backing the rich diversity of family-owned firms across the country, they can help unlock new avenues for growth.”
- For more information and to find out how to get involved visit the Family Business Week page.