Author: Vanessa Barrett

FBUK welcomes Soho Communications as first PR and communications corporate Partner

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

Family Business UK (FBUK) is delighted to announce that Soho Communications has become the first PR and communications agency to join its Corporate Partnership programme.

Soho Communications is a boutique PR agency based in Soho Square, London, specialising in corporate and consumer PR, media campaigns, brand building and profile raising for organisations and senior executives. The agency is led by CEO James Chapman, former political editor of the Daily Mail and director of communications at HM Treasury under George Osborne.

The agency works with a wide range of organisations across business, finance, hospitality, retail, recruitment and professional services, helping clients to build their reputations, communicate complex issues and influence the public and policy debate.

Soho has already worked closely with FBUK through its PR and communications campaign on Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), representing farmers and family businesses affected by the proposed changes to inheritance tax.

The campaign helped persuade the Government to increase the threshold at which the new inheritance tax rules would apply from £1 million to £2.5 million, a change which took around a third of businesses that would otherwise have been affected out of scope.

FBUK has established partnerships with carefully selected and highly respected organisations that provide compelling professional services, expertise and support to family businesses.

In welcoming Soho Communications to the FBUK Corporate Partner network, Neil Davy, CEO FBUK, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Soho Communications as our first PR and communications partner.
“Effective communication is increasingly important for family businesses, whether they are making the case for their contribution to the economy, navigating major policy changes or telling the stories behind successful multi-generational businesses.

“James and the Soho team have demonstrated a strong understanding of the issues facing family businesses and the ability to turn complex policy arguments into compelling campaigns that reach policymakers, the media and the wider public. We look forward to working with them as we continue to champion the contribution of family businesses and ensure their voice is heard.”James Chapman, CEO of Soho Communications, said:

“We are delighted to become the first PR firm to join FBUK’s Corporate Partner programme. Family businesses are one of the great strengths of the British economy, providing jobs, investment and long-term commitment to the communities in which they operate.

“Our work with FBUK and the businesses affected by the changes to APR and BPR showed what can be achieved when strong policy arguments are combined with powerful human stories and an effective media campaign. We are very pleased to deepen our relationship with Neil and the FBUK team and to bring our communications expertise to its members.

“Family businesses have an important story to tell about the contribution they make to Britain’s economy and society, and we look forward to helping FBUK ensure that story is heard more widely.”

Family businesses welcome long-term vision but call for stability and action

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech at Labour Party Conference, Fiona Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Family Business UK, said:

“There has been a strong emphasis on hope and optimism in Liverpool this week, and the Prime Minister’s focus on a long-term vision for the economy is welcome. Family businesses want to share that optimism, but they need stability, certainty and the confidence to plan for the future.

“Making it easier for British businesses to access public procurement and putting greater power in the hands of local leaders could offer real opportunities. Family firms are firmly rooted in the places they serve, creating jobs, investing locally and supporting communities for generations.

“But ambition must now be matched by action. The speech was light on how the Government will tackle the cost of doing business, and attention will now turn to a critical Autumn Budget at the end of the month.

“Family businesses are already dealing with the consequences of changes to Business Property Relief. The Budget is an opportunity for the Government to rebuild confidence and create the conditions family firms need to employ, expand and invest for the long term.

“Family businesses want to work collaboratively with the Government and are ready to play their part in delivering growth. But optimism cannot be built on rhetoric alone. It will depend on the choices the Government makes and the confidence those choices give businesses to invest in the future.”

When politics is uncertain, strong relationships matter

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

If an election were held tomorrow, nobody would win.

That is the headline from YouGov’s latest MRP poll of nearly 17,000 people. Labour would emerge as the largest party with 241 seats, but well short of a majority. The Conservatives would take 130 seats and Reform UK 123.

Of course, there is an important caveat: the next General Election is not due until 2029. This is one poll, not a prophecy.

But perhaps that is precisely the point.

British politics has become extraordinarily difficult to predict. No party currently commands even a quarter of the vote in YouGov’s latest voting intention polling, while its MRP suggests 37% of constituencies would be decided by five percentage points or fewer.

And if you want evidence of how quickly the herd can shift, look back just twelve months.

In September 2025, the same YouGov model projected Reform UK winning 311 seats, putting it within touching distance of a majority. Labour was on 144 and the Conservatives languishing on just 45.

Today? Reform is projected on 123, Labour on 241 and the Conservatives on 130.

A year is a long time in politics. Three years is an eternity.

For family businesses, that matters.

Family firms do not plan around electoral cycles. Decisions about investment, recruitment, succession and growth are often made with the next generation in mind. Yet those decisions are profoundly affected by choices made in Westminster.

So FBUK cannot afford to spend the next three years trying to guess who might form the next government.

We need to talk to everyone – and we need to do it now.

That is why we have spent this year strengthening relationships across the political spectrum, making the case that supporting family businesses should transcend party politics.

In the spring, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP joined us at our Policy Summit, where we launched our Policy Agenda, Building Britain for Generations.

At our Family Business Week reception last year, Andrew Griffith MP – now Shadow Chancellor – delivered the keynote address and we were joined by other Conservative MPs who have repeatedly drawn on FBUK research in Parliament when challenging the Government’s changes to Business Property Relief.

And we are making sure the family business voice is heard at the heart of the current Government too.

In Andy Burnham’s first week as Prime Minister, our Chief Executive Neil Davy joined a small group of business leaders for the Prime Minister’s first talks with business organisations. Neil used that opportunity to make the case directly to the Prime Minister and senior officials that unlocking investment and growth from family businesses means reopening the conversation on Business Property Relief.

Since then, Neil has held a roundtable with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, while our Policy and Public Affairs Director Matthew Jaffa was recently welcomed to No. 10 North for meetings.

That cross-party approach extends beyond Westminster. Across September and October, FBUK is attending the conferences of all four major political parties – Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Conservatives.

At each, our focus is the same: making sure family businesses are part of the political conversation, building relationships across the parties and making the case for the recommendations in our Policy Agenda.

That means engaging with politicians from across the political spectrum – not because we know what the political landscape will look like in three years’ time, but precisely because we don’t.

This isn’t political fence-sitting. It is political future-proofing.

Because whether the next election produces a majority government, a minority government, a coalition or something else entirely, the case for family business will remain the same.

Family businesses make up 93% of private firms. They employ 15.8 million people, generate £985 billion in GVA and contribute more than £422 billion in tax.

Those numbers do not change depending on who sits on the government benches.

Every major party talks about growth. But growth requires businesses willing to invest, employ and take risks – and the confidence to do so for the long term.

That is why our job is not to wait until an election campaign begins and then start engaging with whoever is leading in the polls.

It is to build the relationships now. To make the evidence impossible to ignore. And to build a durable, cross-party understanding of what family businesses need to thrive.

The next election may be unpredictable, but our message remains the same. Family businesses are ready to invest, employ and grow. With the right policy environment, they can drive growth in every part of the country and continue building Britain for generations to come.

FBUK welcomes National Mission on Work Experience and calls for support for family businesses

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

Responding to the new Work Experience National Mission, Neil Davy, Chief Executive, Family Business UK, said:

“Family businesses support the Prime Minister’s call for employers to provide an additional 200,000 work experience placements.

“Family firms have always invested in the next generation. Across the UK, family-owned businesses provide work placements, apprenticeships, entry-level jobs, training and long-term career opportunities for young people, rooted in the communities they serve.

“This is what family businesses have done for generations, and what they want to continue doing. They stand ready to play their part in creating opportunities and equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed. A strong partnership between education and business is essential to delivering the skills that good growth depends upon.

“Government has a vital role to play alongside employers and education. Family businesses need the confidence to invest for the long term, with a clear signal that those creating opportunities for young people will be backed by a Government committed to reducing the regulatory burdens associated with offering placements, apprenticeships and training.

“If Government can provide that confidence, family firms will help deliver the jobs, skills and opportunities that the next generation needs, while driving sustainable growth in every part of the UK.”

Rising employment costs put further pressure on family-run wholesale and retail sector

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

New labour market figures underline the growing pressure facing the UK’s family-run wholesale and retail sector as businesses contend with rising employment costs.

The latest ONS figures show that the wholesale and retail sector had 76,000 fewer payrolled employees in August than a year earlier – the largest fall in employee numbers of any sector. Across the economy as a whole, the number of payrolled employees fell by 145,000 over the same period.

The figures are particularly significant for family businesses, which form the backbone of the UK’s wholesale and retail sector. More than 510,000 family businesses operate in wholesale and retail – representing 91.3% of all firms in the sector.

Together, these businesses employ 2.73 million people, accounting for more than two-thirds (68.4%) of employment across wholesale and retail. Family firms in the sector also generated £974 billion in turnover in 2023 – more than family businesses in any other part of the economy.

The latest employment figures reflect the pressures the family business sector is facing.

Our latest Family Business Pulse found that 38% of family businesses identify rising employment costs as a significant barrier to hiring, while 29% say Employer National Insurance Contributions are among the tax measures having the greatest immediate impact on their business.

Despite these pressures, family firms remain ambitious. More than half (55%) expect to increase their workforce over the next 12 months, although 79% of those expecting to recruit anticipate only a slight increase in staff numbers.

Fiona Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Family Business UK, said:

“The latest employment figures should concern anyone who wants to see businesses investing, growing and creating jobs across the UK.

“Wholesale and retail is overwhelmingly a family-business sector. More than 500,000 family firms operate within it, employing over 2.7 million people and making a major contribution to communities and local economies across the country.

“Family businesses want to employ more people – our own research shows that 55% expect to grow their workforce over the next year. But rising employment costs are making those ambitions increasingly difficult to realise.

“Ahead of the Budget, Government should focus on creating the conditions that give businesses the confidence to recruit. That means reducing the burden of Employer National Insurance Contributions and carefully managing future increases in the National Minimum and National Living Wage.”

Forvis Mazars strengthens commitment to family businesses through FBUK partnership

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

Family Business UK (FBUK) is delighted to welcome Forvis Mazars as the latest organisation to join its Corporate Partner programme.

Forvis Mazars is a leading international professional services firm, supporting businesses, entrepreneurs, families and private clients across the UK and around the world. With deep experience advising family-owned businesses at every stage of their journey, the firm brings specialist expertise alongside a genuine understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges faced by family enterprises.

Spanning across 14 offices in the UK and over 100 countries globally, Forvis Mazars works with family businesses of all sizes, from entrepreneurial founder-led companies to multi-generational enterprises navigating questions of succession, governance, growth and wealth preservation. The firm provides integrated support across financial planning, tax, audit, accounting, valuation, corporate finance, risk management and consulting, helping business owners make informed decisions for the future. By bringing together specialists from across a wide range of disciplines, Forvis Mazars helps families genuinely balance the needs of the business with the aspirations of the individuals behind it.

Natalie Wright, UK Head of Family Business at Forvis Mazars, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Family Business UK and supporting its members across the country. Family businesses make an extraordinary contribution to the UK economy, creating jobs, driving innovation and investing in their communities for generations rather than business cycles.

What sets family businesses apart is often their long-term perspective. They are focused on stewardship as much as ownership, balancing today’s decisions with a responsibility to future generations. As a partnership, that mindset strongly resonates with us at Forvis Mazars.

We support family businesses through some of the most important decisions they will make, whether that is planning for succession, preparing the next generation for leadership, understanding the value of the business, managing growth or preserving family wealth. These decisions are rarely just commercial; they often involve balancing the needs of the business, the family and future generations, while preserving the values and legacy that have shaped the business over time. By combining deep technical expertise with a personalised approach, we help clients prepare for what’s next, make informed decisions with confidence and provide an unmatched client experience tailored to their unique circumstances.

Our partnership with FBUK reflects our long-standing commitment to family businesses and our belief in the vital role they play in building a resilient and prosperous UK economy. We look forward to sharing our experience, supporting members and helping more families make informed decisions with confidence as they plan for the future.”

This partnership further strengthens FBUK’s network of trusted advisers and reinforces a shared commitment to helping family businesses thrive across generations.

Contact

Natalie Wright
Office Managing Partner, Leeds & UK Head of Family Business
+44 (0)113 394 5327
natalie.wright@mazars.co.uk

Jamie Rhodes
Tax Advisory Director
+44 (0)113 394 2078
jamie.rhodes@mazars.co.uk

Business groups unite behind FBUK call to reverse BPR changes

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

Family Business UK has brought together leading business organisations representing more than 200,000 businesses to call on the Chancellor to reverse the changes to Business Property Relief at the Autumn Budget.

In an open letter to the Chancellor, organisations representing businesses across hospitality, retail, construction, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and the rural economy have united behind our call to restore 100% BPR for qualifying family businesses.

The intervention comes as attention increasingly turns towards the Autumn Budget and the decisions the new Chancellor will take to support investment and growth.

Despite the Government’s decision to increase the 100% relief allowance to £2.5 million per estate, the fundamental problems with the policy remain. Family businesses continue to tell us that the changes are affecting investment, recruitment and long-term succession planning.

Our message to the Chancellor is clear: the Budget provides an opportunity to think again.

A united voice from across British business

The open letter brings together organisations including UKHospitality, the Country Land and Business Association, Build UK, the British Independent Retailers Association, Builders Merchants Federation, Historic Houses, the Holiday and Residential Parks Association, British Home Enhancement Trade Association, Agricultural Industries Confederation, Retail NI, Craft Bakers Association, Trade Association Forum and the Road Haulage Association.

Together, the signatories represent more than 200,000 businesses across the UK.

The breadth of organisations supporting the letter demonstrates that concern over the BPR changes extends far beyond any one sector. Businesses across the economy are warning that the reforms risk diverting money away from investment and jobs, disrupting succession and making long-established British businesses more vulnerable to sale.

As the Autumn Budget approaches, this collective voice strengthens the case we continue to make to Ministers, MPs and officials: family businesses should be encouraged to invest for the long term, not penalised for passing successful businesses from one generation to the next.

Read the open letter to the Chancellor here.

The case for change

The evidence of the economic consequences continues to grow.

Research commissioned by Family Business UK found that the originally proposed reforms could put 208,500 jobs at risk, reduce economic activity by £14.86 billion and result in a £1.87 billion net fiscal loss by the end of the current Parliament.

The case for change has been further strengthened by recent research from Make UK, highlighting the damaging impact the inheritance tax reforms are already having on family-owned manufacturers.

This reflects what we continue to hear directly from FBUK members about decisions being taken now as a consequence of the changes – from investment being delayed or cancelled to recruitment plans being reconsidered and succession strategies being revisited.

Neil Davy, Chief Executive of Family Business UK, said:

“The Chancellor has a choice in his first Budget: make it harder for British family businesses to invest, employ and pass their businesses on to the next generation by sticking with his predecessor’s reforms, or give them the confidence to get on with building the economy.

“The next Budget is an opportunity to reset the relationship between Government and family businesses. Reversing these changes would send a powerful message that Britain wants businesses to stay here, invest here and grow here – not become forced-sale opportunities for overseas buyers.”

Keeping up the pressure ahead of the Budget

Restoring 100% Business Property Relief remains a central priority for Family Business UK and is at the heart of our submission to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget.

Over the coming weeks, we will continue making that case across Government and Parliament, alongside our members and the wider coalition of business organisations supporting this campaign.

The Government has already demonstrated that it is prepared to reconsider elements of the policy. Our message now is that it should go further.

The Chancellor’s first Budget is an opportunity to provide family businesses with the certainty and confidence they need to invest, employ and grow for generations to come.

Major New Report Warns IHT Reforms Could Undermine Family Business Growth

Posted on by Vanessa Barrett

“This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that changes to Business Property Relief are having real-world consequences for family-owned businesses and the wider economy.”

“Family Business UK has consistently warned that these reforms risk undermining the very businesses that drive long-term investment, create skilled jobs and sustain local economies. It is particularly concerning to see so many family-owned manufacturers reporting that succession plans are being disrupted and that investment decisions are being delayed as a result.”

“Manufacturing is a sector built on long-term thinking. Family-owned manufacturers invest across generations, not electoral cycles, and their contribution to Britain’s economic resilience, industrial capability and regional prosperity cannot be easily replaced.”

“The finding that some business owners are considering selling, including to overseas buyers, should give policymakers pause for thought. At a time when the Government is rightly focused on economic growth, reindustrialisation and strengthening UK supply chains, we should be creating the conditions for family businesses to invest and pass ownership successfully to the next generation, not making that transition harder.”

“We urge Ministers to listen carefully to the concerns being raised by manufacturers and review the proposed reforms to Business Property Relief before more damage is done. Family businesses want to invest, grow and contribute to the UK’s future success. Government policy should support those ambitions, not stand in their way.”